February is the month I renew my television licence. Sometimes I begrudge the expense, but this year it will be worth every penny because of the return of Monty to GW and also his long awaited programme on Italian gardens. So good to have you back, Monty.
I'm really looking forward to Monty's return on Gardeners World. I never missed an episode when he presented the show before and when my own efforts in the garden went wrong, I was always inspired to keep on 'trying' after watching Monty Don's enthusiasm on Gardeners World. Welcome back, Monty.
Gardeners world in the past, always presented a well balanced, practical,down to earth approach to gardening especially with Geoff and Alan. Although there were teething troubles getting the format right when Toby took over, it was getting there.Now with the prog.moving to Monty's garden I feel that we are only going to get the one aspect of gardening, ORGANIC, as that is how he gardens,passsionately. I do not mind being educated on the organic side of gardening, being shown the advantages it may have, and too try them out, but we need un-bias fact giving details, therefore giving us the option to choose in which way we garden. I do not want to be preached at by a 'holier than thou' presenter. As for his comment on not going to a garden centre for 10 years, well not everyone is lucky enough to have gardens large enough to grow everything from stratch, or the time. comments like that can suggest that only lesser beings visit these places. The BBC needs to get this programme back to its roots, giving us an informative, educational, interesting, and inspiring gardening prog. with an un-bias presenting. Also basing all projects on a bugdet the ordinary person can afford, in the recent past the cost of these has been well out of the reach of peoples pockets. Remember most of us garden as a hobby, not as a way of life with unlimited funds. As for bring back Rachael de Theme, WHY, shes not a gardener in the real sense of the word,shes a presenter, showing up at Chelsea, to TALK about gardens,(never seen her get her hands dirty) and thats about it. Unlike Carol, now there is someone who has a wealth of knowledge, an abundance of enthusisum,which is catching, and not afraid to get down and dirty. So come on BBC, get your act togeather, otherwise you will be finding the viewers voting with the OFF button on their T.Vs.
Having read most of the comments on Monty Don's return, I'm not sure I envy either him or Toby Buckland their position as (former) presenter to such a critical-minded audience. It's disheartening to see people being condemned for their preferences and personal style. I will enjoy seeing Monty Don back on screen. His approach to gardening suits me very well. Does that mean I think less of Toby Buckland as a presenter or gardener? Certainly not; and furthermore, I don't feel qualified to judge in either respect. And does my preference for Monty over Toby make me intellectual, posh or rich? Ha, I wish. Well, the rich part, anyway. I'd quit my job and garden all day in my stamp-sized piece of this planet . So am I then an old woman with a thing for corduroy and veg? Nah. I'll take woollies and aquilegia's any day of the week. And I'm not even middle-aged, thank you very much. But, you know, even if I were all those terrible things - old, corduroy-loving, rich and looking down my nose at hoi polloi -, would I deserve a tongue-lashing such as some writers here have been giving Toby or Monty? I think not. So here's wishing for some more mild-minded comments!
I have looked through these passionate pleas and come to one conclusion. As with The Old Grey Whistle and Top of the Pops the BBC have decided to get rid of GW as it has run it's course. It is no longer fit for purpose and they are giving it one last gasp by retreating to an old presenter. They do this all the time with tired lold programmes. Time this was long gone. I think this is the death knell of GW. I just hope that Toby gets the new programme.
Think you got a good point there Greenboots. Putting a presenter on that is going to insult the viewers with his condesending 'my way is the only way' to garden is a good way to get the ratings down, so they can give it the axe with a clear concious. Shame on them. I really used to enjoy the prog. Good job I still got Beechgrove to watch.
Whatever happens this year, this debate has shown us that gardening is in essence a very personal thing, and, as with everything close to your hart, it is very difficult to discuss it without emotion. I think the BBC made a huge mistake letting Alys go, so Alys, if you're reading this: keep up the good work, so the BBC has to come crawling back to you with a big sack of money in a couple of years time. And Toby: thank you for being you, please don't let this get you down, I truly think you were ahead of your time.
Shame on you BBC. Toby & Alys were a breath of fresh air and the nearest thing to Alan you could find. Monty is boring and arrogant, I for one will not be watching!!!!
I agree - the BBC and Gw in particular have really made a mess of this. Green boots is probably right that this it a downward slide to terminating GW. After what the producers have done it is now well past its use by date.Putting back a previous presenter smacks of desparation and is doomed to failure. Monty dragged it down before and divided passionate gardeners then and even more so now. Toby was a distinct improvement but without him it will sink into the abyss of very dull and due to end programmes. End it now before we all regret it sinking so low. Give us a real programme and give us Toby back in charge.
We are delighted to hear of Monty's return to GW and are counting down the days to Friday, 11 March. Spring has even more of a special meaning this year!!
Posts
Welcome back, Monty.
The BBC needs to get this programme back to its roots, giving us an informative, educational, interesting, and inspiring gardening prog. with an un-bias presenting. Also basing all projects on a bugdet the ordinary person can afford, in the recent past the cost of these has been well out of the reach of peoples pockets. Remember most of us garden as a hobby, not as a way of life with unlimited funds.
As for bring back Rachael de Theme, WHY, shes not a gardener in the real sense of the word,shes a presenter, showing up at Chelsea, to TALK about gardens,(never seen her get her hands dirty) and thats about it. Unlike Carol, now there is someone who has a wealth of knowledge, an abundance of enthusisum,which is catching, and not afraid to get down and dirty.
So come on BBC, get your act togeather, otherwise you will be finding the viewers voting with the OFF button on their T.Vs.
I will enjoy seeing Monty Don back on screen. His approach to gardening suits me very well. Does that mean I think less of Toby Buckland as a presenter or gardener? Certainly not; and furthermore, I don't feel qualified to judge in either respect.
And does my preference for Monty over Toby make me intellectual, posh or rich? Ha, I wish. Well, the rich part, anyway. I'd quit my job and garden all day in my stamp-sized piece of this planet
So am I then an old woman with a thing for corduroy and veg? Nah. I'll take woollies and aquilegia's any day of the week. And I'm not even middle-aged, thank you very much.
But, you know, even if I were all those terrible things - old, corduroy-loving, rich and looking down my nose at hoi polloi -, would I deserve a tongue-lashing such as some writers here have been giving Toby or Monty? I think not.
So here's wishing for some more mild-minded comments!
I think the BBC made a huge mistake letting Alys go, so Alys, if you're reading this: keep up the good work, so the BBC has to come crawling back to you with a big sack of money in a couple of years time.
And Toby: thank you for being you, please don't let this get you down, I truly think you were ahead of your time.
Monty is boring and arrogant, I for one will not be watching!!!!
Monty dragged it down before and divided passionate gardeners then and even more so now. Toby was a distinct improvement but without him it will sink into the abyss of very dull and due to end programmes. End it now before we all regret it sinking so low.
Give us a real programme and give us Toby back in charge.