Burnley plumber breaks down in tears after garden transformation on ITV show

A plumber from Burnley was moved to tears after his garden underwent a transformation on an ITV show.

James Anderson, from Burnley and founder of charity Depher CIC — which provides heavily subsidised emergency plumbing and heating services to vulnerable, elderly and disabled people — appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh show, Love Your Garden, on ITV.

Alan and his team of garden landscapers travel across the country to deliver surprise transformations to the outdoor spaces of some of Britain’s most deserving people.

James was given the garden transformation after he was nominated by the public for the services of his charity in helping vulnerable people stay warm and dry.

Last May, the ITV team descended on his back yard and gave it the glow-up of dreams, turning it into an ‘Ibizan-style contemporary space’, including plenty of plants, a barbecue and pizza oven, plush new seating areas and a new cage for the family’s pet rabbits.  

On the show James said: “I have never seen anything like this in my entire life. I can’t believe this, look at it.

“I can’t believe how different it is. It’s beautiful. It’s brilliant. Thank you very much. It’s definitely a dream come true. I’m overwhelmed.”

Alan said: “James has done so much for some of the other folk we thought it was time we did something for you.

“James is a classic case of one of those people who is so involved in taking up all of his time doing things for other people, making sure they can survive in their houses with their plumbing and heating.

“There is absolutely no time to do anything for himself. He was just so desperate for a garden where he and Barbara could chill out in the Burnley sun and I think he’s quite pleased with it.”

Depher was founded in 2017 and has been operating nationally not only to help those who need boiler repairs, but also help families buy food and pay energy bills for those financially unable to.

Hollywood actor Hugh Grant supports the charity and has donated more than £55,000 to it since 2021.