Alan Titchmarsh has paid tribute to ‘force of nature’ Tommy Walsh after the death of his Ground Force co-star aged 69 following a ‘long illness’.The TV presenter, 77, hosted the garden makeover show alongside Tommy and gardening expert Charlie Dimmock between 1997 and 2002. Tommy and Charlie continued presenting when Alan left the programme until it ended in 2005.Alan said the years working with Tommy and Charlie on the popular BBC show, which one was of the biggest of its time drawing 12 million viewers an episode, were some of the ‘happiest years of his life’. Sharing his condolences after the news of Tommy’s death, Alan wrote: ‘Working with Tommy Walsh on Ground Force was a delight.’Whether we were arguing over the ratio of plants to decking, battling clouds of sawdust that threatened to engulf my plants or collapsing in fits of giggles thanks to a chance remark. ‘Sometimes we only had to glance at one another to become convulsed with laughter and totally lose the plot.’The five years I worked with Tommy and Charlie on that literally ground-breaking programme were among the happiest of my life. ‘He was a force of nature and I shall miss his company and his merciless teasing of “Mr T”. He was a complete one-off’. Alan Titchmarsh (right) has paid tribute to ‘force of nature’ Tommy Walsh (left) following the death of his Ground Force co-star aged 69 this weekTommy’s final TV appearance on Homes Under the Hammer aired just days before the Ground Force star died on Monday.The TV star presented the hit BBC auction series alongside Martin Roberts and Martel Maxwell.His last appearance was an episode of Homes Under the Hammer on November 3 where he travelled to Halesowen, West Midlands, to see a Grade 2 listed cottage in need of a complete restoration.His most recent television appearances included BBC makeover show Clean It, Fix It hosted by Mark Wright, which ended last year.Tommy’s death was confirmed by his agent Debbie Schiesser who told the Daily Mail: ‘Tommy died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family. ‘As this has only just happened, we would ask everyone to please respect the family’s privacy.’Tommy was seen in his final picture posing at St Joseph’s Hospice in his hometown of Hackney, London, holding a flower in April 2025 as he helped to launch the Flowers of Celebration campaign for the organisation’s annual fundraiser.While the cause of death has not been revealed, Tommy had previously battled lung and throat cancer. Tommy’s final TV appearance on Homes Under the Hammer aired just days before the Ground Force star died aged 69 on Monday ‘after a long illness’ The final picture of Tommy saw him posing at St Joseph’s Hospice in his hometown of Hackney, London, holding a flower in April 2025 In 2024, Tommy had said he was ‘happy’ and ‘not in any pain’ as he shared a positive health update amid a lung cancer battle.Tommy revealed at the time that he was nearly in remission, saying the cancer was ‘slowly shrinking and disappearing’ as he continued a radiotherapy treatment called SABR. He had previously battled throat cancer.Father-of-three Tommy, who was married to wife Marie for over 30 years, first discovered a lump in his body during a cancer awareness campaign in 2022.He said at the time: ‘I went to my GP about an unrelated issue and while I was there, he discovered this lump in my throat that he was a bit concerned about.’He said it may be nothing but that he would rather I went and got it checked and, unfortunately, it turned out to be cancerous.’I had to go in straight away and have surgery to remove it. I am now fully recovered and even back playing football.’Two decades earlier, he had a breast cancer scare after finding two lumps on his chest.Due to his family history, a doctor told him to see a consultant at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, the same hospital where his sister had a lumpectomy to remove cancerous and normal breast tissue.He said: ‘I just buried myself in my work and then went along for the day surgery where the lumps were removed under a general anaesthetic. The TV presenter, 77, hosted the garden makeover show alongside Tommy and gardening expert Charlie Dimmock between 1997 and 2002. Tommy and Charlie continued presenting when Alan left until the show ended in 2005 Tommy pictured with his wife Marie in 2017. The couple had been married for more than 30 years Tommy played for Old Parmiterians FC before he found fame. On Monday, the club paid tribute on X When Changing Rooms met Ground Force 2: Anna Ryder Richardson, Andy Kane, Carol Smillie, Tommy Walsh and Charlie Dimmock pictured in 2000 Fans also shared their tributes on X as they wrote: ‘We felt like we knew you’ Ground Force was one of the biggest shows of its time, pulling in 12 million viewers at its peak (pictured in 2004) ‘It was only then that it sort of hit me that this could actually be serious and I could have breast cancer, like my relatives.’Those test results showed that the lumps were benign but Tommy admitted it was ‘a bit of a wake-up call’ about the disease.Tommy has been a regular face on TV screens since starring in Ground Force.He was a working builder before getting the role after he was encouraged to audition for a TV producer.The show became a hit worldwide and Tommy and his co-stars were even invited to the White House to meet the US President George W Bush after making two US series, including a special in New York in the wake of 9/11.It was cancelled in 2005. BBC Director-General Mark Thompson stated the series had reached its ‘natural life’ and claimed the public had grown tired of derivative makeover shows. Tommy played for Old Parmiterians FC before he found fame. On Monday, the club posted on X: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tommy Walsh. ‘A Parmiters boy he played for the club for many years in goal but made a great career as a TV personality in shows such as Ground Force. He will be sorely missed. RIP Tommy.’Fans also shared their tributes on X as they wrote: ‘We felt like we knew you.’ ‘Such sad news rip Tommy’,’The thing I remember most about Tommy Walsh is that for a while Wilko stores stocked Tommy Walsh brand nails, screws and brackets. RIP (Tommy and Wilko),”Rest in Peace Tommy Walsh. We felt we knew you,”RIP Tommy Walsh a devoted @WestHam fan. Well known for his roles on Ground force and other DIY related tv shows,”Had the pleasure of meeting Tommy Walsh at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth and VERY funny.’ Tommy’s last television appearance was a pre-recorded Homes Under the Hammer episode on Tuesday last week. He joined the presenter line-up in 2021 and stepped down in 2024. Tommy was replaced on the show by Owain Wyn Evans.