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Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Monde Mwitumwa & Neil Shaw

Charlie Dimmock, in her own words: Weight gain, going braless and family tragedy

Gardener and TV presenter Charlie Dimmock, who rose to fame alongside Alan Titchmarsh on Ground Force, is now experiencing a revival thanks to BBC's Garden Rescue. Charlie born in Hampshire, rose to fame in the late 1990s as one of the main presenters on the BBC gardening series called Ground Force"

Ground Force was a highly popular gardening makeover show that aired from 1997 to 2005. Dimmock, along with fellow presenters Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh, transformed neglected gardens into beautiful outdoor spaces in each episode. The show attracted a wide audience and made Charlie a household name in the UK.

Charlie became known for her practical gardening skills, as well as her signature attire of shorts and a revealing top. Her down-to-earth approach and expertise in horticulture made her a favorite among viewers.

After Ground Force, Charlie continued to work in the gardening and television industries. She has appeared on various gardening shows, both as a presenter and a guest expert. She has also authored books on gardening and contributed articles to gardening magazines.

The star has since gone on to present The Joy of Gardening and Charlie's Garden Army, reports YorkshireLive, as well as presenting coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show and BBC show Garden Rescue alongside the Rich brothers.

Away from television, Charlie tends to keep her private life out of the public eye. She reportedly lives in the New Forest with her pet horse.

Charlie Dimmock during the Ground Force years (Image: Birmingham Mail and Post/Mirror)

Charlie previously opened up about her weight gain since she first broke onto the TV scene, saying that it was something she has accepted.

Chatting to the Independent back in 2016, she explained: "I've always been up and down in my weight. I'll never be slim or skinny, let's put it like that. One season I'll be a size 14, then 18, but it's something I've just accepted now. I'm at that age where I think, life is too short."

She also opened up to the reaction to her Ground Force days, where she famously wouldn't wear a bra. She said: "The TV presenter Esther Rantzen said to me, 'You'll be labelled the bra-less one for the rest of your life.'

"Ground Force was a long time ago, and I have to say, even now, people will bring it up. It is very silly. It was always just for comfort. If you're swinging a sledgehammer, you want to be comfortable! People say, 'Why don't you wear a sports bra?' But those are not the comfiest things in the world."

Charlie hasn’t always had it easy, in 2004 her mum and stepdad were tragically killed while holidaying in Thailand as the South Asian Tsunami hit, which is thought to have killed 225,000 people.

Charlie isn't married and according to reports she is currently single. The TV star enjoyed a 13-year relationship with boyfriend John Mushet, although an affair with a sound technician at Ground Forced ended things in 2001.

Charlie previously opened up about an affair that ended her long-term relationship. Speaking to Daily Mail she said that she had no regrets about the controversial affair but did find it difficult to come to terms with the split from her long-term partner.

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