In a shocking clash of the titans between two unlikely competitors, gardener and middle-England favourite Alan Titchmarsh defeated award-winning US rapper Eminem in a battle of Friday morning ticket sales.

Titchmarsh outstripped demand for Eminem tickets by 4:1, after separate events featuring the two men went on sale simultaneously on Friday, according to a ticket selling website.

Hype had been building up around Slim Shady's Monster tour since Wednesday, when he announced that he would play a summer show at Wembley Stadium on 11 July. The news was welcomed by his British fans, who have waited over a decade for him to return to the UK.

But Titchmarsh, the arguable underdog in the contest, was also making a long-awaited comeback, as he is set to exhibit his first garden at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show for 30 years.

Despite his defeat, Eminem is unlikely to be licking his wounds for too long. Having sold 90,000 tickets for the Monster show in just 45 minutes, according to the Metro, the rapper quickly announced a second date Wembley for 12 July.

Viagogo recorded a 136 per cent rise in ticket searches for the rapper’s UK comeback, while the Chelsea Flower Show featuring the chat show host from Yorkshire, recorded a 427 per cent surge in demand.

A spokesperson for viagogo commented: “The so-called ‘Titchmarsh effect’ has certainly been evident in demand for Chelsea Flower show tickets this year and it’s currently one of the most popular events on viagogo. Eminem’s famous for his lyrical battles, but in the battle against Britain’s best-loved gardener it seems that Alan Titchmarsh has come out on top.”