Horticultural heart-throb, best-selling novelist, chat show host, TV presenter… there seems no end to the variegated talents of once tiny “Titch”, the Yorkshire plumber’s son. After beginning his career as a donkey-jacket-wearing parks department apprentice, he found fame 10 years ago with BBC1’s Ground Force and suddenly became a household name and poster boy for the potting shed brigade. With his relaxed, savvy and genial manner, 58-year-old Alan’s popularity has blossomed into fronting programmes such as Gardeners’ World and The Nature of Britain, and presenting television coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show and Last Night of the Proms. He’s even been voted runner-up to George Clooney in a poll to find the Sexiest Man on TV! This year he adds another role to his bulging CV—as High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, which has been his second home since 1999. It’s where he leaves the plants behind, and gets passionate about the Island’s puffing steam trains, pedal appeal and finds inspiration for his page-turning books.

You’re a long way from your native Ilkley—what inspired you to put down roots on the Isle of Wight?
My wife Alison and I fell in love with the Island around 10 years ago, after I bought a beautiful old motor cruiser, a 38ft-trawler yacht, and we used to pootle up and down the Solent and across to Cowes. We have lived in Hampshire for more than 25 years, and used to keep the boat at Chichester, but having liked the Island so much, we decided to move her over and buy a flat in Cowes. We absolutely adore it here.

What was it that appealed to you?
It suits me! I love being on the Island, because there’s a wonderful feeling of being a little distanced from the hurly burly of life, which makes it really special to me. And for an Island that’s 23 miles by 13 it has tremendously varied scenery—it goes up and down, there’s a fantastic coastline, great woods, streams—oh, and an amazing steam railway, which is one of my big things.

So it’s not just Percy Thrower who was one of your schoolboy heroes—you’re a bit of a Casey Jones fan on the quiet then?
Oh yes! I absolutely love steam trains, and one of my favourite train journeys in the world is the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, which goes from Havenstreet to Wootton Creek and Smallbrook Junction. They have the most beautiful carriages, all at least 75 years old, so taking a ride is like going back in time. When you look out of the carriage windows on a bright spring day it could be 50 years ago, travelling through unchanged scenery… it really is the most beautiful little countryside run.

Do you like to get out on the water?
I love it, it’s a great escape, I can disappear and sail off into the sunset. When you’re on a boat you’re looking at nature in the raw. It’s a different element from soil to immerse yourself in, but there’s a similar affinity. We haven’t sailed entirely around the Island yet in one go, but went part way round for the 150th anniversary of the America’s Cup. And yes, there have been a few scrapes in great stormy seas when we bounced along a bit—which is one reason I was delighted to become a patron of Cowes Inshore Lifeboat. It was my way of putting something back—and because I thought I’d probably need it one day!

You’re also the new High Sheriff, so a very busy chap—where do you head for a bit of “me” time?
We love the brasserie at The George Hotel in Yarmouth and use that a lot, and we enjoy lunch at the New Inn at Shalfleet, where they do very good fish, and the Seaview Hotel on the north-east coast does a fabulous Sunday lunch. I love walking on Tennyson Down and would recommend it to anyone. The poet moved to the Island in 1853 and lived at Freshwater Bay in the South West. He found the downs behind his house a source of inspiration and I think anyone who goes there will see why—and it’s a fantastic way to work off a good lunch!