Alan Titchmarsh has admitted he is reduced to tears "at the drop of a hat" after becoming a parent and a grandparent.

The long-serving broadcaster has been a familiar face on our TV screens for decades, presenting programmes such as Love Your Garden and Gardeners' World.

Away from his impressive career, Alan, 75, enjoys a quiet life with his wife of almost 50 years, Alison. The pair met when they were both in their early twenties at an amateur dramatics group before marrying in 1975.

The couple share two daughters, Polly and Camilla, who have both gone on to have their own children, making Alan a grandfather.

Speaking to The Sun ahead of his upcoming new show, Underdog to Superdog, Alan admitted that he became very emotional during filming, citing his family as the reason for his sensitivity.

He said: "I became so emotional on behalf of the dog owners. Being a parent and a grandparent, the older I get I'm afraid I weep at the drop of a hat. Goodness and kindness and the improvement of lives I find very emotional."

Alan is accompanied by his daughter's adorable cockapoo Mabel during the show as he sets out to disprove the defeatest belief that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

The show focusses on providing pet pooches with impressive new skills, ranging from modelling to moutain rescue.

He said: "Everybody's DNA is different and if you happen to find out what suits your DNA, it's particularly rewarding. Why shouldn't the same be true of dogs?

"We seem to have found, by virtue of a bit of analysis by our dog-expert trainers, what each dog would be good at. I can't say whether every dog will succeed on our show, but there are some remarkable stories."

In the opening epsiode, Alan meets spocker spaniel Lychee and her owner Corinthia before her beloved pet's sense of smell is utilised by fire investigation dog trainer Clive Gregory to sniff out fire accelerants.

"I had to hold Corinthia's hand because it was shaking," says Alan. "Her reaction when she saw what Lychee was able to do was overwhelmingly emotional."

Each episode features two different dogs and will be shown at 7pm on Tuesday, February 4, on Channel 5.