Garden Rescue host Charlie Dimmock's scandal with co-star and sad family tragedy

10 March 2024 , 17:00

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Garden Rescue host Charlie Dimmock's scandal with co-star and sad family tragedy

Charlie Dimmock had "no regrets" about her shock affair with a co-star during her time on Ground Force.

The gardening expert and television presenter has been a household name ever since she burst onto our screens on the beloved series Ground Force, alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh. The show, which ran between 1997 and 2005, brought in over 12 million viewers at its peak.

Since the popular programme ended almost two decades ago, the TV star has gone on to transform homes on BBC's Garden Rescue, authored books on gardening and presented coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Television host Charlie Dimmock was once involved in a shocking affair scandal (BBC/Spun Gold TV)

Although Ground Force was incredibly successful, Charlie's time on the programme was hit with a shocking scandal when she mixed business with pleasure. She split from her long-term partner, John Mushet, in 2001 after having an affair with the show's microphone operator, Andy Simmons.

Charlie previously opened up about the affair in 2002 and admitted she "doesn't see Andy anymore". "But I don't regret what happened. You wouldn't do anything if you kept worrying about what might go wrong," she said. "John and I had been together for a long time so when we split up, I relied heavily on family and close friends. I've discovered that the most difficult after-effect of the break-up is getting into another relationship."

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It was during her time on Ground Force, when she presented the show alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh (BBC)

Charlie went on to date another member of the programme's crew, sound technician Barry Smith. A few years after the split, Charlie experienced heartbreak when her mother and stepfather died in the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. They were on holiday in Phuket, Thailand, when the tsunami hit. Charlie did not speak about the tragedy at the time but her agent said in a statement: "It is very upsetting for her. It has been too soon for her to come to terms with it. She is coping day by day at the moment. We have promised her that we will protect her."

According to The Daily Mail, Charlie turned down any work for two years after the tragedy struck. Charlie's career has branched off in more directions than gardening, including an acting stint when she took on a short role in the 2010 touring production of Calendar Girls. She has since returned to our screens on the BBC makeover show Garden Rescue, alongside garden designers The Rich Brothers with whom she competes to create stunning outdoor spaces for homeowners around the country.

Zara Woodcock