I find Adam Pascoe's blogs so sycophantic. I guess we are going to be stuck with The Monty Don Show. Can't they come and do my garden instead? I'm with Jane.
Have just learnt that Toby and Alys are leaving the show - what a shame! I really enjoyed listening to their advice and have picked up a lot of hints too. I like Monty Don but to go back to him is not the way forward. How about giving Jo Swift a go or even Carol Klein. There are plenty of gardening experts out there to choose from.
Very, very disappointed about this decision. As a context we are in our 50s, have slowly developed some skills (although propagating doesn't seem to be one of them yet) and have a small surburban garden. So we do buy plants sometimes, although I try my best with plugs!
We really did not like GW at Berryfields - it was boring, lacked structure and was at times self-indulgent. And we are not interested in long panning shots of the gardens of the wealthy!
We really don't want a so-called 'hi-brow' approach, which actually may just mean 'middle-class'?
Monty seemed a nice guy but really not dynamic - maybe good in his own series but not the sort of person to tie a team or a programme together.
Yes, GW was a mess when it first started, but lessons were learned and it had really come together in the last few months.It really does provide a mix of the basic and the more challenging now. What more can you do in half an hour?
Toby is a very strong presenter - he can do plants and he can do practical projects. You do need that mix. I agree that he is a Geoff Hamilton in the making. The team was working well together and had an easy-going dynamic.
I have a book full of notes made during programmes.
Frankly although Carol is obviously an excellent plantswoman, her presenting style can only be described as 'gushing' (my husband can't stand it) - she's not the person to front a broad programme.
I don't think that Greenacres was such a disaster - there was an attempt to show what could be done on difficult soils and different aspects - it at least gave that flexibility, which can be problematic to reproduce in one person's garden. It was looking good by the end of this season.
I do agree that the BBC could do with broadening its range of regular gardening programmes - atm it's either GW or some hour-long one off or short specialist series.
I really hope that the BBC finds a place for Toby - but if not I hope a rival channel snaps him up.
Yes, viewers have been lost, but don't I remember that they plummeted at Berryfields? The BBC IS going to have to draw in the younger viewers and I'm not sure Monty and Rachel are right for that.
And lastly - what a way to treat Toby and Alys! They absolutely didn't deserve that. Obviously a complete lack of feeling at the BBC - instead of some short-sighted panic why didn't they work with the programme's presenters and give it some time to work? Just who made that decision?
All in all very sad and annoyed when we found out.
Definitely a case for lots more gardening progs on the telly. Different presenters for different styles and we will all be happy. It's the programme itself that matters not the celebrity fronting it, we have the technology to whizz past them! I shall miss Toby (A new Geoff Hamilton in the making) and Alys's modern practical style. I'm still dreading the faff of having to whizz through Monty's boring presentation to get to the reliably informative bits. Joe Swift needs a garden design prog of his own, Carol Klien a scientific, propagation programme. All the best to Toby and Alys and I hope 2011 brings you both the well deserved success you should have. I'll be looking out with interest for your next projects
just to say well done to the bbc for asking monty don to return to gardeners world. his presentation to this show was out standing he made interesting and his own.i am so looking forward to 2011 and the new show.i wish monty good luck in this his new projects
As some of you have already asked where is the response from the bbc to the many questions asked.I think we would all like to hear something. What should happen now is that Toby,Alys,Joe and carol should be given a completly new show which could be called "GREENACRE".This new show could be aired on a saturday morning in place of that saturday kitchen rubbish, or even on a sunday morning.Either of these days would attract a wider audience as many poeple would be relaxing unlike a Friday night when lots of people are heading out for the night.This would then leave GW with it's regular slot for the "monty" faithfull.After all, we, the licence payer have already paid for greenacre so lets use it not waste it. One thing is for sure,Many GW regulars will not be switching on this spring.As for myself I will probably watch if there is nothing else on or I'm not out but I wont be dissapointed if I miss a show Toby if you are reading this blog I think you should be very proud of yourself that many of us are comparing you to geof Hamilton,well done and thanks for all your hard work.
PS If the BBC do not see sence and give Toby and Alys and co. a new show then those presenters should approach the rival tv stations to bring a new show to our screens to compete with GW.
I can't believe Alys and Toby are leaving! Defiantly will not be watching gardeners world if they do bring monty back, I'm 20 in my opinion they should be wanting to persuade new, younger viewers like me to tune in. Having young presenters not presenters like monty who have had their time, will attract a younger audience. Personally I relate much more to presenters like Alys who are closer to my age and gardening style. My nan likes Monty, I think that says it al!
Posts
We really did not like GW at Berryfields - it was boring, lacked structure and was at times self-indulgent. And we are not interested in long panning shots of the gardens of the wealthy!
We really don't want a so-called 'hi-brow' approach, which actually may just mean 'middle-class'?
Monty seemed a nice guy but really not dynamic - maybe good in his own series but not the sort of person to tie a team or a programme together.
Yes, GW was a mess when it first started, but lessons were learned and it had really come together in the last few months.It really does provide a mix of the basic and the more challenging now. What more can you do in half an hour?
Toby is a very strong presenter - he can do plants and he can do practical projects. You do need that mix. I agree that he is a Geoff Hamilton in the making. The team was working well together and had an easy-going dynamic.
I have a book full of notes made during programmes.
Frankly although Carol is obviously an excellent plantswoman, her presenting style can only be described as 'gushing' (my husband can't stand it) - she's not the person to front a broad programme.
I don't think that Greenacres was such a disaster - there was an attempt to show what could be done on difficult soils and different aspects - it at least gave that flexibility, which can be problematic to reproduce in one person's garden. It was looking good by the end of this season.
I do agree that the BBC could do with broadening its range of regular gardening programmes - atm it's either GW or some hour-long one off or short specialist series.
I really hope that the BBC finds a place for Toby - but if not I hope a rival channel snaps him up.
Yes, viewers have been lost, but don't I remember that they plummeted at Berryfields? The BBC IS going to have to draw in the younger viewers and I'm not sure Monty and Rachel are right for that.
And lastly - what a way to treat Toby and Alys! They absolutely didn't deserve that. Obviously a complete lack of feeling at the BBC - instead of some short-sighted panic why didn't they work with the programme's presenters and give it some time to work? Just who made that decision?
All in all very sad and annoyed when we found out.
I shall miss Toby (A new Geoff Hamilton in the making) and Alys's modern practical style. I'm still dreading the faff of having to whizz through Monty's boring presentation to get to the reliably informative bits. Joe Swift needs a garden design prog of his own, Carol Klien a scientific, propagation programme. All the best to Toby and Alys and I hope 2011 brings you both the well deserved success you should have. I'll be looking out with interest for your next projects
I do hope Toby and Alys go on to present other BBC gardening programmes.
What should happen now is that Toby,Alys,Joe and carol should be given a completly new show which could be called "GREENACRE".This new show could be aired on a saturday morning in place of that saturday kitchen rubbish, or even on a sunday morning.Either of these days would attract a wider audience as many poeple would be relaxing unlike a Friday night when lots of people are heading out for the night.This would then leave GW with it's regular slot for the "monty" faithfull.After all, we, the licence payer have already paid for greenacre so lets use it not waste it.
One thing is for sure,Many GW regulars will not be switching on this spring.As for myself I will probably watch if there is nothing else on or I'm not out but I wont be dissapointed if I miss a show
Toby if you are reading this blog I think you should be very proud of yourself that many of us are comparing you to geof Hamilton,well done and thanks for all your hard work.
PS
If the BBC do not see sence and give Toby and Alys and co. a new show then those presenters should approach the rival tv stations to bring a new show to our screens to compete with GW.