Best Known For:
Doing the heavy lifting on Ground Force.
Early-life:
Tommy Walsh was born in Hackney, east London in 1956, the third of six children. His father, who he has described as "my mentor and best friend," was also a builder and at 16, Tommy left school to work alongside him manufacturing garden products. He also became interested in restoring old houses, and was working on a TV producer's home when she asked his opinion on various pilots. She was so impressed with his knowledge that she invited him to take a screen test for Alan Titchmarsh's gardening makeover show, Ground Force.
Career:
The programme was an instant hit when it first broadcast in 1998 and made stars of Walsh and fellow expert Charlie Dimmock. Tommy took an even bigger role on the show after Titchmarsh quit in 2001. Although Ground Force is the biggest show he's been involved with, he's appeared in various TV programmes, including the series Housecall, Space Invaders, Our House, and Trading Spaces. In 2002, viewers saw him battle his weight on Celebrity Fit Club, and he's also written several books, including Tommy Walsh's Practical Garden Projects and DIY Survival.
Quote:
"I'll always be a builder first and anything else second."