Alan Titchmarsh's 5-word quip about ITV future as he welcomes new Love Your Weekend member

Alan Titchmarsh cheekily joked about his ITV show’s future as he welcomed a new regular member of the Love Your Weekend team. Welcoming adorable trainee guide dog Titch onto the show, the nation’s favourite gardener quipped: "They can't cancel us now!”

Alan’s playful aside wasn’t broadcast, but was overheard by Alan and Jacqui Falder. The two Guide Dogs volunteers are looking after the adorable golden retriever-Labrador cross puppy as he goes through his first phase of training.

Speaking exclusively to the Express.co.uk, Jacqui explained that while they have been training guide dog puppies for a few years now, with Titch “it's different because people keep recognising him down the high street”.

Even after making just one appearance, the playful pup had already become a canine celebrity.

Jacqui’s husband Alan adds: “He’s already been recognised , partly because of the name that he's got. And quite a few people that live around here are aware that Alan Titchmarsh lives in the area.”

He adds that prior to that initial broadcast, they had to “bite their tongue” and avoid mentioning Titch’s TV connections. But soon after Titch’s first episode aired, they were already being spotted in the street by fans.

Alan describes how one impressed woman passed them in the street while they were out walking Titch, and doubled back to double-check was really him.

The pup’s fame is only likely to increase as the series progresses. Love Your Weekend’s current run continues until June next year, and there’ every chance that Titch’s story will continue into the next season too. Alan recalled: “I think they’d cut it out but when Alan Titchmarsh was introduced to him and had Titch in his arms, he said ‘They can’t cancel us now, can they?’

Alan and Jacqui will only have Titch with them for the first phase of his training. But they say they will be philosophical when the time comes for them to leave them and move on to the next phase of his training.

Jacqui explains: “I was a nurse for 43 years, and I would give my everything to the patients that I was with, and then I'd walk away for them, switch off and go on to the next one.

"And I can do that very much with guide dogs. We give them everything when we've got them. And then I'm quite happy for them because we know they're going on to do something brilliant.

“I'm not saying that they, disappears from us and moves on to the next stage will not be a difficult day. It will be a difficult day. But, we all sort of know that hopefully, he'll progress and do some really good work. And that's that's the reward that we get.”

There are some 17,000 Guide Dogs volunteers who give their time, and love, to desperately-needed guide dog puppies around the country.

Each dog goes through a rigorous training schedule before being carefully matched with a suitable person who they will be partnered with for life.

The Guide Dogs charity lost a lot of valuable time through the Covid pandemic, with training coming to an almost complete halt, and they’re actively seeking suitable volunteers to make up the shortfall.

It takes a special sort of person to make the grade, but Alan and Jacqui say the rewards are incredible. Apart from anything else, they get to spend time with the adorable Titch, who’s almost devoted to them as he is to his favourite toy unicorn.

Find out how you can support the Guide Dogs Puppy Appeal by clicking here.