Tommy Walsh, Ground Force builder and DIY favourite, dies aged 69

Tommy Walsh, the builder who became a household name on the BBC's Ground Force and later Homes Under the Hammer, has died aged 69 after a long illness.

10 Nov 2026, 00:172 min read

Tommy Walsh, the down-to-earth builder who helped make Saturday-night gardening must-see TV, has died aged 69.

His agent, Debbie Schiesser, told the Press Association he "died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family".

What happened?

Walsh's agent confirmed the news on Monday. She asked people to respect the family's privacy, as it had only just happened.

He was married to Marie and leaves three children: Charlotte, Natalie and Jonjo.

Born and raised in Hackney, east London, Walsh went to Parmiter's grammar school in Bethnal Green. He played in goal for the Old Parmiterians football club for many years. The club paid tribute on X, calling him "a Parmiters boy" who "will be sorely missed".

How did a builder end up on telly?

Walsh ran his own property business before TV came calling. His break came after he restored the home of a BBC producer, who asked him to watch a couple of pilot shows.

One was a forerunner of Ground Force called Over the Garden Wall. He later told the BBC it was "like watching paint dry".

He turned down the chance to star three times. Then his eight-year-old daughter told him she had bet a schoolmate £10 that her dad would be on TV. He said yes.

Why will people remember him?

Ground Force ran on the BBC from 1997 to 2005, with Walsh alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock. At its peak it pulled in 12 million viewers.

In one famous episode, the team flew to South Africa to secretly transform Nelson Mandela's garden, adding a pergola and a water feature.

Walsh went on to front shows including Clean It, Fix It and Cowboys and Angels. In 2021 he joined Homes Under the Hammer, the BBC daytime show that follows property auctions and renovations.