I have just heard the terrible news! I was just saying that I was looking forward to Gardeners World returning as it had improved greatly over the last year after the dumbing down which had occurred over the last few years with Monty et al (and during the first year of Toby's tenure). Then I was told the bombshell that GW is going back to the personality over substance format.
I have nothing against Monty as a person (and he obviously has a number of very good friends/fans willing to keep his numbers up in this blog - evidenced by the many short but gushing praises without substance appearing with clockwork regularity when the opposite view starts to look too dominant). YES IT IS OBVIOUS. However, he is a presenter first and not a professional gardener. Although his presenting style is not to my taste either.
Toby, on the other hand was obviously properly trained and knew his stuff. He reminded me of my hero Geoff Hamilton (like a lot of other posters here I see) - the man who fired up a gardening enthusiasm in me in my early twenty's which continues to this day in my late forties.
The BBC is supposed to cater for all viewers and not just the lowest common denominator who might be interested in style over substance. GW is supposed to be for gardeners not for fans of this or that presenter. As has been mentioned elsewhere, why not create an additional prog for Monty to do his thing but leave GW to the real gardeners like Toby.
If the reduction in numbers of viewers for Toby's show is to be believed, I can only put it down to the lack of priority given to the programme which disappointingly was taken off too regularly to make way for sports, etc. And why was there no repeats shown of the prog? Much more boring shows were repeated but not GW.
Also, I am wondering if the production team is using Toby as the fall guy for their own incommpetence. There have been gimmicky scenes and overly matey behaviour which have obviously been production ideas and have not worked, yet when Toby settled down to impart some of his wisdom, his knowledge and comfortable friendly presentation shone through.
I do hope the BBC sees sense and returns Toby to GW but I fear vested interests and the attitude that they don't make mistakes will ensure this does not happen. Shame!
I reckon Violet has hit the nail on the head. Toby is a very good gardener and teacher. the production tea loused everything up and have tried to put him in the wrong. Well the viewing public are not so stupid. Neither are we so dumb that we can't see that bringing back a minor celeb, who is actually not a trained gardener, is their way to "rescue" the GW they mucked up. If Toby had been allowed to get on with it he would have carried on showing us all how much he was in line with Geoff Hamilton. It was beginning to shine through and then they do this.A huge shame and it is like missing a friend. Hope we see Toby again soon. Would it not be a good idea to sack the production team/editors and just start again.Let Toby show us real gardens and show us his obvious expertise. I'd watch that. I will not be watching GW this coming season and i hope the BBC realise what a daft thing they have allowed to happen.
I meant team not tea! Still maybe this was all a result of the production team not having enough tea and all getting drunk down the pub and coming up with crazy ideas.
This is such a shame. I have just got into gardening and my Dad and I loved to watch Toby and Alys.He is no fan of Montys and I find him just over the top dull so Dad and I will not be enjoying GW with a glass of wine on Fridays. Dad knows a lot about gardening so I can learn from him but you have wrecked a good night for us.And I guess you have treated Toby very badly in favour of giving Monty another go at driving the fans away. Well done BBC.
I am delighted that Monty Don is returning. I stopped watching GW with Toby and Alys. I'm sure they're both really nice people but not for presenting GW. It really was boring and non inspiring. I've always enjoyed MD's gardening style both in books and on TV. His knowledge and ideas are super but it's the fact that he has never lost his sense of wonder and appreciation of the growth of plants however small.Wishing you all well Sue Germany
It seems the right way for Gardener's World to go. I've long admired Monty's Garden through his books and look forward to seeing it on the screen. I will miss Alys Fowler though......
I adored Toby - he was so inspirational to me setting up my new garden when I moved last year. I have seen Monty before with my Mum and i know he is just so not for me.Even my Mum said Toby is better. So I think this is a rubbish move. Is Toby going to be on some other channel? I liked Alys too and I hear she is on ITV. I will hang on to see Toby again .
I find this hard to take. BBC GW was getting so much better - so why have they taking the wrecking ball to it? If Monty did a presentation in my unit he would be given the push. Toby knew what he was talking about with none of the waffle.
Posts
I have nothing against Monty as a person (and he obviously has a number of very good friends/fans willing to keep his numbers up in this blog - evidenced by the many short but gushing praises without substance appearing with clockwork regularity when the opposite view starts to look too dominant). YES IT IS OBVIOUS. However, he is a presenter first and not a professional gardener. Although his presenting style is not to my taste either.
Toby, on the other hand was obviously properly trained and knew his stuff. He reminded me of my hero Geoff Hamilton (like a lot of other posters here I see) - the man who fired up a gardening enthusiasm in me in my early twenty's which continues to this day in my late forties.
The BBC is supposed to cater for all viewers and not just the lowest common denominator who might be interested in style over substance. GW is supposed to be for gardeners not for fans of this or that presenter. As has been mentioned elsewhere, why not create an additional prog for Monty to do his thing but leave GW to the real gardeners like Toby.
If the reduction in numbers of viewers for Toby's show is to be believed, I can only put it down to the lack of priority given to the programme which disappointingly was taken off too regularly to make way for sports, etc. And why was there no repeats shown of the prog? Much more boring shows were repeated but not GW.
Also, I am wondering if the production team is using Toby as the fall guy for their own incommpetence. There have been gimmicky scenes and overly matey behaviour which have obviously been production ideas and have not worked, yet when Toby settled down to impart some of his wisdom, his knowledge and comfortable friendly presentation shone through.
I do hope the BBC sees sense and returns Toby to GW but I fear vested interests and the attitude that they don't make mistakes will ensure this does not happen. Shame!
Violet
Neither are we so dumb that we can't see that bringing back a minor celeb, who is actually not a trained gardener, is their way to "rescue" the GW they mucked up. If Toby had been allowed to get on with it he would have carried on showing us all how much he was in line with Geoff Hamilton. It was beginning to shine through and then they do this.A huge shame and it is like missing a friend. Hope we see Toby again soon.
Would it not be a good idea to sack the production team/editors and just start again.Let Toby show us real gardens and show us his obvious expertise. I'd watch that. I will not be watching GW this coming season and i hope the BBC realise what a daft thing they have allowed to happen.
I have seen Monty before with my Mum and i know he is just so not for me.Even my Mum said Toby is better. So I think this is a rubbish move.
Is Toby going to be on some other channel? I liked Alys too and I hear she is on ITV. I will hang on to see Toby again .
If Monty did a presentation in my unit he would be given the push.
Toby knew what he was talking about with none of the waffle.