While Lucy Worsley has been looking at Jane Austen's different homes, Alan Titchmarsh has been choosing his top Jane Austen gardens. They're not gardens which she managed, but rather they're gardens that are connected with her – or with the films of her books. Included on the list are: Chenies Manor Gardens, Buckinghamshire - a filming location for the 2008 film Miss Austen Regrets. “A fantastic rambling house that is especially worth visiting at tulip time when the flowerbeds explode with colour.” Groombridge Place Gardens, Kent - Edward Austen lived on the estate here at one time and was visited by Jane, she wrote Pride & Prejudice right after a long stay here. “I'd go here just to walk across the bridge that Kiera Knightley crossed in the film of 'Pride and Prejudice'! What a setting!” Loseley Park, Surrey - The setting for the 2009 film of Jane Austen's Emma (Mr Knightley's residence) and the 2008 TV mini series Sense & Sensibility. "The grounds are suitably stately and the superb 2.5 acre walled garden is divided into different rooms.” Thanks to Alan Titchmarsh, we can safely say that we now have plenty of day trips we now want to make this summer!
Mr Darcy Becomes An Italian 
At the Jane Austen News this week we suffered a bit of a shock when we learnt that we might be losing Mr Darcy to the Italian countryside, as Colin Firth (of the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice mini series fame) has applied for Italian citizenship! It wouldn't be too unusual a step for Mr Firth to take; his wife (film producer Livia Giuggioli) is Italian, the couple have a house near the town of Città della Pieve in Umbria, he speaks good Italian, and he's made films in Italy. Luckily his publicist has clarified the news by explaining that: "Colin applied for dual citizenship (British and Italian) in order to have the same passports as his wife and children." We have to say we're relieved, even if we probably won't meet him in real life, the chances would have been reduced even more if he'd moved to Italy.