Tommy Walsh, the burly builder and television presenter who brought power tools and practical expertise to the BBC’s gardening makeover show Ground Force, has died. He was 69.
Walsh became a household name alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock on the programme, which ran from 1997 to 2005. The trio transformed gardens for members of the public in just two days, with Walsh handling the heavy landscaping and construction work while his co-hosts focused on planting. The show attracted up to 12 million viewers and made the 6ft 5in Walsh a star after years of running his own building and landscaping business.
Reluctant Star of Ground Force
Walsh almost missed his chance to join the show. While working on a building project at the London home of TV producer Carol Haslam, she showed him a video of a pilot programme she was developing with Titchmarsh. Walsh later described the initial footage as “terrible” and offered comments on camera angles and production issues. Haslam asked him to join the team, but he refused three times.
He eventually changed his mind after one of his young daughters told him she had a £10 bet with a schoolmate that her father would soon be on television. Walsh and Dimmock were screen-tested on the same day. Once on air, the pair became known for their playful bickering, though Walsh had more sharp exchanges with Titchmarsh. The lead presenter often criticized Walsh for leaving flowerbeds covered in sawdust, insisting on a pristine finish. Walsh recalled that their arguments sometimes got “hairy,” but they would calm down and make up.
The show featured numerous challenges, including installing flat decking on a steep slope and working abroad. Projects included a garden for a children’s home in New Delhi and a surprise makeover for former South African president Nelson Mandela at his home in the Eastern Cape province, organized by his wife Graça Machel. The DIY superstore B&Q reported soaring sales of decking in the years following the show’s launch.
Later Career and Health Battles
When Titchmarsh left Ground Force in 2002, Walsh and Dimmock were joined by Kirsty King. Walsh signaled his intention to leave the programme three years later, stating he did not want the public to tire of the show. He continued to present television series that utilized his building skills, including Discovery Channel’s Tommy’s Ultimate Workshop and Tommy Walsh’s Eco House, where he built an environmentally friendly home in 60 days for £60,000.
From 2021 to 2024, Walsh was part of the team presenting the BBC’s Homes Under the Hammer, which focused on property auctions and renovations. His earlier work included Trading Places, where he learned new skills from other tradespeople, and Challenge Tommy Walsh, which offered home improvement tips. He also presented Cowboys and Angels, meeting homeowners affected by shoddy work, and served as the building expert on Clean It, Fix It.
Walsh was born in Hackney, east London, to Irish immigrants Margaret and James Walsh. His father was a builder who manufactured garden products. Tommy accompanied his father on weekend jobs from the age of four. He was an accident-prone child, fracturing his neck after falling from a roof at age 12 and suffering other injuries. After leaving Parmiter’s grammar school, he worked with his father before setting up his own business.
He authored several books, including the Ground Force Garden Handbook and various DIY guides. Walsh licensed a range of tools to Poundland. He suffered a string of health problems over the years, including the removal of a benign chest tumour in 2002. He underwent surgery for throat cancer in 2022 and lung cancer in 2023.
Walsh is survived by his wife Marie, whom he married in 1986, and their three children, Charlotte, Natalie, and Jonjo.
Source: The Guardian
