Love Your Garden viewers in tears as 'incredible' teen dies from terminal cancer

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Love Your Garden viewers in tears as
Love Your Garden viewers in tears as 'incredible' teen dies from terminal cancer

Love Your Garden viewers were left in tears last night when ITV announced a teenager on the show had died.

Harri Tor, 15, asked Alan Titchmarsh for a 'bucket list' garden as he battled osteosarcoma after losing a leg to cancer and being told he had between "three and 12 months to live".

The episode was first shown on February 25, 2020, with Harri discussing his concerns for his family after he was given the terminal diagnosis. The teen's death was sadly reported just a month later.

At the end of the repeated episode on Tuesday, viewers were told in an announcement by ITV: "And we're very sad to say that since this programme was made, teenager Harri has passed away."

Love Your Garden viewers in tears as 'incredible' teen dies from terminal cancer eiqruidkieeinvITV announced teenager Harri Tor had sadly died from terminal cancer at the end of Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh (ITV)

Sharing their heartbreak on X, formerly Twitter, one viewer said: "Watching #loveyourgarden didn’t realise it was going to be a repeat. I remember this one, he’s such a brave lad…" followed by a crying emoji. Another wrote: "What a remarkable lad Harri was. I am in awe of people like him." While a third posted: "didn’t see this first time round but already it’s very moving."

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Explaining what Harri wanted for his garden on the show, Alan said: "Harri has created a bucket list and on it is something very special. He wants a garden to spend 'whatever time he's got left' with his mum".

The teenager said at the time: “I was more worried about my family than myself and what they would have to come to terms with. It’s about making the most of life, even if you have a condition or cancer, you have to live everyday like you’re dying.That’s how you have to live your life.”

Alan built a pond for the "incredible young man", who told the gardener he wanted a place for wildlife and nature. Frances Tophill then hired a graffiti artist to respray the teen's shed to give it a new lease of life and then installed an outdoor cinema and an area with a pizza oven.

A spot was also built for Harri and single mum Erika to sit together, with a bench, flowers and a tree for the teen to plant - because "plant a tree" was on his cancer bucket list.

Admiring his team's efforts, Alan said: "Despite the weather in Hull being most unkind, me and my soggy team have got the job done. I think Harri and Erika are gonna be well chuffed. It's a bucket list busting delight. Places to celebrate life and make memories. Restful nooks for moments of reflection. From an exciting natural landscape."

On seeing the garden, Harri said: "Wow. It looks like someone else's garden. It's magic! It's not slippery either. That's fantastic. I'm speechless really. It's gonna make a massive difference. This is gonna be kind of an escape area for me, it's like I'm somewhere else. Thank you very much, thank you."

Victoria Johns

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