Charlie Dimmock ('River Walks')

Charlie Dimmock first struck fame in 1998 on the BBC gardening makeover show Ground Force. Her knowledge of water features and decision to never wear a bra while filming helped inspire thousands to start getting their hands dirty in their back gardens. Now she wants to help the nation rediscover the "beauty" of the countryside on new show River Walks With Charlie Dimmock. We caught up with Charlie to find out more.

What can we expect from your new show?
"In the show I literally walk along sections of rivers, or the whole thing, depending on the size. I meet people along the way that either live on the river or use it for recreation, and I just chat to them. Also, of course, a lot of the rivers have wetlands, so we have people from wildlife trusts and ornithologists to interview. It's what I'd call easy watching."

Obviously you're best known for your gardening career. Is that the main angle of the show?
"No, it's quite diverse. Yes, there is usually a bit about flora or fauna in the show, but then there is usually a bit about the history of the river and also the recreation of it. It goes right across the board. For instance in the first series we are on the River Tess and we go to a silk mill that's been there for hundreds and hundreds of years, but it's still operational today because they still make heritage silks specifically for abbeys and cathedrals."

What made you want to get involved in the show?
"I ended up going to places that I never knew existed. I think we often forget how beautiful our countryside is. There are footpaths open to us, but sometimes people don't know what is open to them. There are beautiful, beautiful walks out there."

Apparently in one episode you turn your hand to rowing. How did you find that?
Oh yes! Down in Rochester. That was OK, but I'm not the most co-ordinated person in the world. We sort of survived, but then I did have four other people there to help. I just about managed to not smash my oars into theirs! I did quite a few boat trips on the different rivers. The producers tended to think that doing lots of shows on boats would be good, but filming it takes so long. There tend to quite a few characters along the rivers as well.

How do you react when people say you're a sex symbol?
"That's just silly. It's very silly. I'm too old now! I just raise my eyes when anyone says it now."

You helped turn a generation of men into gardening fans with Ground Force. Do you hope this show will have a similar effect?
"I just think that it's a terrible shame that people don't know what walks there are out there and what they're missing out on. It's just about going out and finding out a bit more about where you live. You tend to do it when you go somewhere else that's not related to you, but you miss out what's going on at your doorstep."

Do you think you will return to gardening shows or would you prefer to branch out with your TV work now?
"I don't know. It's one of those things where you have to see what comes up. I'm doing lots of consultancy work at the moment, which is different."

Is there a gap in the market for a mainstream entertaining gardening show now Ground Force has ended?
"I think garden shows have changed. People realise now that if there's a space outside their back door it can be useful and it's not just the place where you keep the rubbish and the washing line. I think gardening shows have moved on. I still get letters now from some people, saying 'Can Ground Force come back?' But, we're all too old. Just don't tell Alan [Titchmarsh] I said that!"

So there's no chance you'd get back with Alan and Tommy for another series?
"No, no, no. Tommy and me worked on the last two series, but then we said 'that's it'. The problem was that we had a budget we had to stick to for the cost of the garden. There's only so many new products that come onto the market each year, so after 14 series, I think we'd done enough."

River Walks with Charlie Dimmock begins April 3 at 7pm on UKTV Gardens.