Alan Titchmarsh is a hit… in NORTH KOREA! The BBC star hopes Garden Secrets’ “calming nature” will have a positive impact on Kim Jong-un’s regime

Alan Titchmarsh is stunned to discover he is a big hit in North Korea after his BBC Garden Secrets show airs in the secretive authoritarian state.

A 15-minute clip of the Ground Force presenter’s show, which tours Britain’s most spectacular gardens, was broadcast on state television in Pyongyang.

Now the 73-year-old wants the therapeutic nature of gardening to have a positive impact on viewers of KCTV, the regime’s television service.

He said: “I never thought my programs would reach North Korea, but hopefully the soothing nature of British gardening will be well received.”

In the clip, Mr Titchmarsh can be seen at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire learning about 17th century gardening techniques.

The moderator then plants a parterre-style flower bed arranged in a leaf shape with three types of thyme.

He also interviews the estate’s head gardener, David Beaumont, makes a topiary cube and plants a small fruit tree.

North Korea analyst Martyn Williams, who oversees the regime’s television spending, was as surprised by the segment as Titchmarsh.

He said: “In general, there are few foreign programs on KCTV.

“It is mostly limited to sports, which are broadcast daily, and short reports of science and technology.

The Ground Force presenter learned that a 15-minute clip of his show, which toured Britain’s most spectacular gardens, had been broadcast on state television in Pyongyang.

The segment shows Mr Titchmarsh at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire learning about 17th century gardening techniques

Hatfield House (pictured) is perhaps best known for its connections with the children of King Henry VIII

It falls into the latter category. They have these short films on uncontroversial subjects.’

How the North Koreans obtained the broadcast rights remains a mystery.

The BBC’s press service did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr Williams said: “It’s difficult to know the exact source of the programming, but generally I think North Korea takes care of programming rights.

“Maybe it was licensed to KCTV or a South Korean broadcaster got the rights for all of Korea and shared it.”

According to the BBC website, the program last aired here in August 2014.

KCTV also recently aired the World Cup final.

Hatfield House is perhaps best known for its connections with the children of King Henry VIII.

Both King Edward VI. as well as the future Queen Elizabeth I spent their childhood there, and their sister Queen Mary I also lived there for a time.

Hatfield House has been approached for comment.