Charlie Dimmock's 'secret marriage proposal' after Ground Force affair ended relationship

BBC gardening icon Charlie Dimmock has always found the obsession over her appearance rather 'silly', yet it didn't stop her from featuring in her very own calendar.

The horticultural whizz Charlie Dimmock has been a household name for years, encouraging green-fingered fans to spruce up their gardens. She first made waves on the hit series Ground Force, where she worked alongside the iconic Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh from 1997 until 2005.

But it was also her love life that got people talking, as in 2001, she had an affair with the show's microphone operator, Andy Simmons, ending her relationship with long-time beau John Mushet.

Charlie never regretted her dalliance, as she said the following year: "I don't regret what happened. You wouldn't do anything if you kept worrying about what might go wrong," although she admitted she "didn't speak to Andy anymore".

She added: "John and I had been together for a long time so when we split up, I relied heavily on family and close friends. I've discovered that the most difficult after-effect of the break-up is getting into another relationship."

The relationship did nothing to dampen her on-screen persona, as Charlie's looks also drew considerable attention, earning her a reputation for her natural charm and effortless sex appeal as she tackled the toughest of outdoor tasks. Audiences were quick to pick up on her relaxed approach to attire, often noting her preference to go braless beneath her tops.

This allure even translated into her launching a personal calendar.

In a 2016 interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Charlie discussed the oddity of being suddenly viewed as a sex symbol after her rise to fame at 33. She mused: "I was never a sex symbol before, so how could I suddenly become one? It's just a bit silly. I received a few silly letters back then, like a marriage proposal from a farmer in Australia. It was sweet, but I don't think it was serious."

Charlie shared how another TV personality warned her about the lasting impact of her wardrobe choices. In a 2021 interview with The Independent, Charlie recalled: "The TV presenter Esther Rantzen said to me, 'You'll be labelled the braless 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."

She further explained her decision to forego underwire bras during her younger years, stating: "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."

However, viewers may be surprised to learn that Charlie also chose to ditch another piece of underwear - her knickers. In a 1996 interview with the Mirror, she admitted her preference for going without them.

She confessed: "I only wear underwear if I have to get undressed in front of someone. So no bra. And no knickers either. But if I do wear knickers, they're sort of Marks and Sparks 12-14s, because I cannot abide tight knickers. I find thongs quite uncomfortable as well. So I'm better without knickers altogether."