Tommy Walsh (born 18 December 1956) is an English television personality, presenter and celebrity builder best known for the gardening and do-it-yourself television shows Ground Force (1997–2005) and Challenge Tommy Walsh (2002–2005).
Biography Educated at Parmiter's School, then a grammar school, in Bethnal Green, Walsh became a builder and first came to public attention after appearing in the BBC television gardening programme Ground Force with Alan Titchmarsh, responsible for the hard landscaping. He stayed with the show for the rest of its run, from 1997 to 2005.
Walsh had a small acting role in the film One.Chamberlain, Zoe (2004) "Ground Force Tommy Lands Killer Film Role", Sunday Mercury, 31 October 2004 He has also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.
In 2023, he was a contestant on BBC's quiz show Pointless.
Personal life Walsh lives in South Hackney with his wife Marie and three children.Anstead, Mark (2010) "Tommy Walsh: 'I borrowed from friends to save my father from repossession'", Daily Telegraph, 14 May 2010, retrieved 2010-08-27
He is patron of the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust.
In 2002, Walsh had a benign tumour removed from his chest. In 2022, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, underwent surgery and fully recovered.
Television work Walsh has presented several television shows, including:
Challenge Tommy Walsh (2002–2005, with Alan Herd) Space Invaders Tommy Walsh's Eco House (2010) Trading Places Tommy's Ultimate Workshop Tommy's DIY Survival The Reclaimers Ground Force (1997–2005) Our House Fix Your House For Free Celebrity Fit Club Flip That House with Tommy Walsh My Life as a DIY Nutter (Channel 5) Cowboys & Angels (BBC) Me and my son Greg (2017) Homes Under the Hammer (2021–2024) Clean It, Fix It (2021 onwards)
Publications
Ground Force: Practical Garden Projects (2000), BBC Books Ground Force: Garden Handbook (2001), BBC Books – with Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock Tommy Walsh's DIY Guide (2001), Focus Multimedia Ltd – CD-ROM Basic DIY (2002), Collins DIY Survival (2002), Collins Bathroom DIY (2004), Collins Kitchen DIY (2004), Collins Living Spaces DIY (2004), Collins Outdoor DIY (2004), Collins
References
External links UKTV Gardens profile Interview on 'Love food, hate waste'