Well I knew I would miss Toby but thought I would watch the first programme and see how it went. OMG what a lacklustre event that was. I had grown fed up with all the magazine, media rejoicing about Montys return and I am already fed up with the programme. He was as dull as ever. Plodding tour of his small estate - it is not the domestic garden most of us deal with. It was just so boring. Thank God I had a pile of ironing to do while I watched - I loathe ironing but it was more interesting than his dreary droning on. I will give GW up until I hear that they have reinvented the programme and bring back Toby. What has happened to Greenacres? Can we claim it back and squat - after all our licence fees paid for it. Seems to me the people who should have gone were not Toby and Alys but the production team who messed this all up.They seem to respond to nothing do they think we will just forget? We are gardeners - we know every weed in our gardens (well almost) and will wait patiently for things to grow right in the end. Bring back a real gardener and give Toby a programme.I really can not start a weekend with the dull Monty.
I've not seen the new series but my wife who is top class gardener says the show with Monty is a hell of a lot better (no disrespect to the previous presenters)
Well done
P.s Message to the BBC Learn the lesson don't try to improve something thats already good (or if it ain't broke)
It's really quite interesting to read the comments being written about GW. It appears that most people are giving opinions based purely upon their preference for a given presenter. I will admit that I did not watch much of the show after Toby and Alys began presenting as the format was apalling. I believe that this was largely down to the direction and the production team rather the skills or lack there of of the presenters. I have just watched Fridays episode of GW and found the return to a 'real' garden was exactly what the show needs. There were some very bad examples of horticultural practice such as the apple pruning but this was no worse than some of the techniques utilised by Alys in the past. I have never seen anyone sow seeds as badly and this is a gardening fundamental. I think Monty should have explained current pruning practice with ridge and collar and the science behind it. All of the sniping about the grandiose nature of Montys garden is incredibly myopic. The garden is divided into very small areas which are comparable to most domestic spaces. Let us not forget that this was what Geoff Hamiltons garden was also like and yet fans of his are beating Monty with this very same stick. If people are unable to relate ideas to different spaces then would anyone visit large gardens or RHS shows? If the BBC up their game with regard to best horticultural practice I think the show is going in the right direction.
I agree, most people seem to be basing their opinions on their preference for one presenter or another. But, with apologies for stating the obvious, surely it is the presenter who makes or breaks the programme?
When Toby Buckland was presenting most weeks I was inspired to try out some of the techniques or ideas he gave. He explained things in an accessible way. I was not inspired by Monty Don. I have nothing against him - I used to enjoy the weekly article he wrote for the Observer a few years ago - but he is not an engaging presenter. As for Joe Swift and Rachel De Thame, their short appearance was a waste of time and did not make use of their abilities.
I agree that the show benefits from having a 'real' garden, but it was also benefit from a more engaging lead presenter.
The lead presenter can make or break the program but I was just trying to point out that most of the comments on this thread ignored any other points that relate to the quality of the show. The content was often dismissed if the presenter didn't conform to what the viewer seemed to consider appropriate as a lead presenter. This is a great shame. I enjoyed the program when Alan Titchmarsh presented and he was very enthuisiastic but I know that many of my colleagues were turned off by his presence. It is content, correct horticultural practice and education that we should be demanding from the BBC whomever the presenter may be. From my limited viewing of the previous incarnation of GW this was sadly lacking.
I preferred the previous format. i thought thaat monty don had walked out on GW in the past, so why is he back?. He is a boring presenter and this blue workmans jacket image .. yuk!!
Bring back Toby! I hope he gets a programme on C4 or something. Then a truly new inspired format can be created, anyone over 80 can stick to BBC the rest of us can go somewhere else.
Welcome back Monty,I knew you recover from your health problems and be back on our screens in Gardeners World, which has not been the same without you I might add and you have got the old gang together as well,so welcome back Joe,Carol,Rachel.Well done.
Thank God Monty Don is back only watched last night had it taped it was a breath of fresh air had stopped watching gardeners world a few years ago looking forward to the next one can only get better
Posts
He was as dull as ever. Plodding tour of his small estate - it is not the domestic garden most of us deal with. It was just so boring. Thank God I had a pile of ironing to do while I watched - I loathe ironing but it was more interesting than his dreary droning on.
I will give GW up until I hear that they have reinvented the programme and bring back Toby.
What has happened to Greenacres? Can we claim it back and squat - after all our licence fees paid for it. Seems to me the people who should have gone were not Toby and Alys but the production team who messed this all up.They seem to respond to nothing do they think we will just forget? We are gardeners - we know every weed in our gardens (well almost) and will wait patiently for things to grow right in the end.
Bring back a real gardener and give Toby a programme.I really can not start a weekend with the dull Monty.
Well done
P.s Message to the BBC Learn the lesson don't try to improve something thats already good (or if it ain't broke)
Best wishes
John Cox
When Toby Buckland was presenting most weeks I was inspired to try out some of the techniques or ideas he gave. He explained things in an accessible way. I was not inspired by Monty Don. I have nothing against him - I used to enjoy the weekly article he wrote for the Observer a few years ago - but he is not an engaging presenter. As for Joe Swift and Rachel De Thame, their short appearance was a waste of time and did not make use of their abilities.
I agree that the show benefits from having a 'real' garden, but it was also benefit from a more engaging lead presenter.
I might add and you have got the old gang together as well,so welcome back Joe,Carol,Rachel.Well done.
can only get better