Alan Titchmarsh struggled to hold back tears as he shared his concerns for his two daughters while talking about his family life. During Sunday’s instalment of his ITV morning show Love Your Weekend, the beloved gardener engaged in banter with his celebrity guests Jenny Agutter and Tenee Bailey as they talked about television and movies.

This cheeky exchange paved the way for an open discussion about Jenny’s infamous role as Bobby in the classic 1970s children’s film, The Railway Children. The nostalgic film clearly holds a special place in his heart for one particularly stirring scene. After watching the poignant moment where Bobbie reunites with her father, Alan became overwhelmed by tears.

He revealed that the movie struck such a chord with the horticulturist that his wife Alison, along with his daughters Polly and Camilla, gifted him a bench for his garden engraved with Jenny Agutter’s emotional line from the film: ‘Daddy, my daddy’.

Speaking to The Times, Alan confessed the sentimentality of the film is so profound for him that he often excuses himself whenever his daughters watch it. In a touching revelation, the doting dad revealed that although his girls are now in their forties, their names remain on the bedroom doors of their family home.

He wrote in his column: “Fathers of sons have expectations. Fathers of daughters have worries. You worry about them all the time. I mean, not in a paranoid way, because I delighted in their company and they’re now mums themselves and I’ve got four grandchildren.

"But you’re only as happy as your unhappiest child and that spreads to grandchildren as well,” he concluded. Alan, who often shares his green-fingered tips on Instagram, also shared his concerns about the darker side of social media.

He confessed: “I do worry about social media and its impact, though. It can encourage introspection and become something of an obsession. I contribute to it but hopefully in a more wholesome way.”

It comes after Alan admitted in a candid chat with Best magazine about the challenges he faces in his later years, particularly when it comes to pet ownership.

He pointed out that getting older and having a more flexible work schedule means he's away from home more, which complicates having a dog. Nevertheless, Alan continues to find joy in caring for his grandchildren's furry friends.