Alan тιтchmarsh has hit out at ITV’s Grantchester, saying the part of the show is ‘awful’ and confessing a complaint that ‘drives him nuts’. 

The horticultural expert and author, 75, known for his extensive knowledge of plants and wildlife, interviewed actors Tessa Peake-Jones and Rishi Nair during Love Your Weekend on Sunday.

The show originally followed Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a Cambridgeshire clergyman who becomes entangled in investigating a series of mysterious crimes in his small village of Grantchester. 

But Sidney was later succeeded by William Davenport (Tom Brittney), before former Hollyoaks star Rishi Nair joined the cast last year as vicar Alphy Kotteram. 

Tessa Peake-Jones plays Sylvia Chapman, the vicarage’s devoutly religious housekeeper. 

While speaking to Tessa and Rishi on Love Your Weekend, Alan тιтchmarsh admitted that one aspect of the crime drama regularly leaves him frustrated. 

Alan тιтchmarsh has hit out at ITV’s Grantchester, saying the part of the show is ‘awful’ and confessing a complaint that ‘drives him nuts’ 

The show follows William Davenport (Tom Brittney), a Cambridgeshire clergyman who becomes entangled in investigating a series of mysterious crimes in his small village of Grantchester (pictured L-R: Tom; Robson Green as Geordie Keating; Rishi Nair as Revd Alphy Kotteram)

He said: ‘There’s one thing about Grantchester that drives me nuts… It’s the blooming wisteria outside the vicarage, it’s awful! It’s false, it’s artificial, it doesn’t look real’

‘Why doesn’t it look real to you?’ a confused Tessa asked, with Alan bluntly replying: ‘You can tell it’s not real.’

‘But you’re an expert! Do you think the public can tell?’ Tessa then probed, to which Alan divisively admitted that he thinks the audience would notice.

‘It’s just like Bridgerton, it’s awful,’ he added, before Rishi chimed in: ‘It’s not the first time we’ve heard that.’

Alan continued: ‘We’ve seen series nine but you’ve finished series ten, so it’s going to be in that as well, isn’t it? Wisteria doesn’t flower all year round. It flowers generally in about May/June.’

A determined Tessa explained that the series is set in the early summer, but Alan continued to double down on his opinion.

But it is not just Alan who has had complaints about the show’s series 10 return as Grantchester fans all had the same issue after the hit ITV detective drama returned in January. 

The new season involved DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) and Reverend Will Davenport returning to solve another spate of murders.

But it was the departure of fan favourite Will which caused the biggest stir among viewers, with social media awash with complaints about the decision.

Horticultural expert , known for his extensive knowledge of plants and wildlife, interviewed actors Tessa Peake-Jones (left) and Rishi Nair (right) during Love Your Weekend on Sunday

While speaking to Tessa and Rishi on Love Your Weekend, Alan тιтchmarsh admitted that one aspect of the crime drama regularly leaves him frustrated – the fake plants 

But it is not just Alan who has had complaints about the show’s series 10 return as Grantchester fans all had the same issue after the hit ITV detective drama returned in January 

It was the departure of fan favourite Will which caused the biggest stir among viewers, with social media awash with complaints about the decision. 

The departure of fan favourite Will caused a stir among viewers, with social media awash with complaints about the decision

Read More CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Grantchester on ITV1: One look at the new vicar and knees turn to jelly

The actor, 34, joined the popular show to play the new lead character for its fourth series in 2019 after roles in Outlander, The Syndicate and Humans.

He made the decision to leave the show in 2023, explaining that it was ‘time for the baton to be pᴀssed’.

Fans of Grantchester are less than happy, however, following the airing of series nine’s first episode at the start of 2025.

One posted on X: ‘It’s so good to have #Grantchester back. Tom Brittney will already be missed. Not ready for Will to go. I will miss Will terribly.’

‘It shows how mentally unprepared I am for next week because that end scene already made me emotional.’

‘I’m not ready for change, can’t you stay Will.’

Some users compared the loss of Revd Davenport to that of his predecessor Revd Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton.

One user posted: ‘Love #grantchester being back I’m going to miss Will, I preferred him to Sidney (maybe a controversial opinion) tbh.’; ‘Will miss Tom as I did James.’ ; ‘I miss Sidney.’

Grantchester’s next episode will air on ITV on Saturday, March 29.