When I sent my complaint to the BBC, I was assuming that (as they'd said) sport was the reason GW was taken off. But on the first GW-less Friday, BBC1 showed a compilation of outtakes from "Would I Lie to You?" and then an edition of "Have I Got Old News for You" (an out-of-date edition of a topical news show - what's the point in that?) So rather than fresh, original comedy, we had a whole hour of outtakes and repeats, which no one would have missed if GW or Wimbledon had been allowed to replace them.
And yes, there are (a few) other gardening programmes around on other channels. But GW does its best to engage our interest in various ongoing and topical projects (Monty's pond, etc) and then just when we want to know more, they suddenly vanish for a month. That just makes no sense.
... on the first GW-less Friday, BBC1 showed a compilation of outtakes from "Would I Lie to You?" and then an edition of "Have I Got Old News for You" ....
And also last Friday, on BBC2, at 9pm, there was Simon Schama talking about Shakespeare. It is completely untrue for the BBC to say that there was no room for GW.
It is true tons of people like sport and they should be able to watch it but as Gary pointed out there is room to air GW if the BBC had put enough thought into it. Wish there was someone in the corridors of power who could assure us that they would re-think this on another occasion. It is not enough to use the Olympics as an excuse, it is not as if this has not happened before.
Having not seen it and reading the comments on Alan Titchmarshes new programme, Love Your Garden, I watched it this week and I have to say, its ok. There is nothing wrong with showing what can be done in small gardens and what imagination can be used even if viewers only take a few ideas from it. After all Alan is doing what he is does best and bringing gardening to folk who do not always have the confidence to go further. And what is wrong with helping families who need it.
I can't believe that Monty gets anything like that. I'd have thought that Gardeners' World was one of the cheaper programs for the BBC to make - there's no studio, no sets to build, they don't consume much. There's a very small cast of presenters, and they only use a couple of cameramen. Gardeners' World would seem to be a low-budget program.
At one time, there was an appreciably larger number of gardening programmes. I'd like to know why, in a time of recession when everyone is being encouraged to embrace greater self-sufficiency by making and growing things, the programmes that help us learn to do this are dwindling and the most popular one of all is regarded as so completely dispensable. The only way that anything will change will be if gardeners en masse make a protest. I'm not suggesting violent demonstrations(!) - just letters and emails, texts and messages on Facebook and Twitter. Most people, perhaps, grouse and do nothing. The Beeb regards 70 letters as a significant, I am told, so a few hundred protests could be very significant in their eyes.
Hi All, I am so glad I started this thread and glad to see its still going strong, had a bit of time off the internet in the last week because my 15 month old got a little ill, better now, so now a bit of time to myself! My husband has just come in finally from the garden and I was telling him about everyone's totally agreement on the love your garden, we did watch a little again but soon agreed if you went back in a year the majority of work was too high maintenance to look stunning a year on, isn't meant to be easier for the poor people! Please can someone let me know where to complain to the beeb I still can't find it quickly looking through the thread. I agree with Gardening Grandma lets dig the heels in ( no pun intended!)
Just read the above response from the BBC wbehich I did have first as an automatic message but this is the unsatisfactory reply I finally got from them: Dear ......
Thanks for contacting us regarding ‘Gardeners’ World’ on BBC Two.
I understand you’re unhappy the programme won’t be broadcast during the month of July.
‘Gardeners’ World’ is incredibly important to BBC Two and we’re aware that it has a very loyal audience. However we have to balance that with the channel’s many other commitments including sport.
The transmission of sporting events is dependent on their dates and every year we juggle the schedule to accommodate Wimbledon, Athletics (including the Olympics) and The Open golf which are contractual sports. This sometimes means that ‘Gardeners’ World’ takes a break but it isn’t the only programme affected and it’s necessary to move all types of programming around in the schedule.
Monty Don did advise viewers at the end of the episode on 22 June that the programme would be taking a break but would return in a month’s time.
I’d like to assure you I've registered your complaint on our audience log. This is an internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily and is available for viewing by all our staff. This includes all programme makers and channel controllers, along with our senior management. It ensures that your points, along with all other comments we receive, are considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.
Kind Regards
BBC Complaints
Has anyone else had this self same reply??? consoled myself today by buying a couple of gardeneing books to curl up with in this continual rain as there is little chance of getting out at all this week.
Posts
When I sent my complaint to the BBC, I was assuming that (as they'd said) sport was the reason GW was taken off. But on the first GW-less Friday, BBC1 showed a compilation of outtakes from "Would I Lie to You?" and then an edition of "Have I Got Old News for You" (an out-of-date edition of a topical news show - what's the point in that?) So rather than fresh, original comedy, we had a whole hour of outtakes and repeats, which no one would have missed if GW or Wimbledon had been allowed to replace them.
And yes, there are (a few) other gardening programmes around on other channels. But GW does its best to engage our interest in various ongoing and topical projects (Monty's pond, etc) and then just when we want to know more, they suddenly vanish for a month. That just makes no sense.
And also last Friday, on BBC2, at 9pm, there was Simon Schama talking about Shakespeare. It is completely untrue for the BBC to say that there was no room for GW.
It is true tons of people like sport and they should be able to watch it but as Gary pointed out there is room to air GW if the BBC had put enough thought into it. Wish there was someone in the corridors of power who could assure us that they would re-think this on another occasion. It is not enough to use the Olympics as an excuse, it is not as if this has not happened before.
Having not seen it and reading the comments on Alan Titchmarshes new programme, Love Your Garden, I watched it this week and I have to say, its ok. There is nothing wrong with showing what can be done in small gardens and what imagination can be used even if viewers only take a few ideas from it. After all Alan is doing what he is does best and bringing gardening to folk who do not always have the confidence to go further. And what is wrong with helping families who need it.
Mind you he must have had a hell of a budget!!
No budget needeed all items are donated for a healthy endorsement.
Thank you joslow. Good to know, thats commercial TV for you.
Each garden makeover would cost around £10,000, if anyone had to pay.
But the most interesting point is how much Alan Tichmarsh is getting paid. He's being paid £5,000,000 for the 2-series, plus his daytime show.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-1723673/How-rich-Alan-Titchmarsh.html
I can't believe that Monty gets anything like that. I'd have thought that Gardeners' World was one of the cheaper programs for the BBC to make - there's no studio, no sets to build, they don't consume much. There's a very small cast of presenters, and they only use a couple of cameramen. Gardeners' World would seem to be a low-budget program.
At one time, there was an appreciably larger number of gardening programmes. I'd like to know why, in a time of recession when everyone is being encouraged to embrace greater self-sufficiency by making and growing things, the programmes that help us learn to do this are dwindling and the most popular one of all is regarded as so completely dispensable. The only way that anything will change will be if gardeners en masse make a protest. I'm not suggesting violent demonstrations(!) - just letters and emails, texts and messages on Facebook and Twitter. Most people, perhaps, grouse and do nothing. The Beeb regards 70 letters as a significant, I am told, so a few hundred protests could be very significant in their eyes.
Hi All, I am so glad I started this thread and glad to see its still going strong, had a bit of time off the internet in the last week because my 15 month old got a little ill, better now, so now a bit of time to myself! My husband has just come in finally from the garden and I was telling him about everyone's totally agreement on the love your garden, we did watch a little again but soon agreed if you went back in a year the majority of work was too high maintenance to look stunning a year on, isn't meant to be easier for the poor people! Please can someone let me know where to complain to the beeb I still can't find it quickly looking through the thread. I agree with Gardening Grandma lets dig the heels in ( no pun intended!)
To complain to the bbc
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/
Just read the above response from the BBC wbehich I did have first as an automatic message but this is the unsatisfactory reply I finally got from them:
Dear ......
Thanks for contacting us regarding ‘Gardeners’ World’ on BBC Two.
I understand you’re unhappy the programme won’t be broadcast during the month of July.
‘Gardeners’ World’ is incredibly important to BBC Two and we’re aware that it has a very loyal audience. However we have to balance that with the channel’s many other commitments including sport.
The transmission of sporting events is dependent on their dates and every year we juggle the schedule to accommodate Wimbledon, Athletics (including the Olympics) and The Open golf which are contractual sports. This sometimes means that ‘Gardeners’ World’ takes a break but it isn’t the only programme affected and it’s necessary to move all types of programming around in the schedule.
Monty Don did advise viewers at the end of the episode on 22 June that the programme would be taking a break but would return in a month’s time.
I’d like to assure you I've registered your complaint on our audience log. This is an internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily and is available for viewing by all our staff. This includes all programme makers and channel controllers, along with our senior management. It ensures that your points, along with all other comments we receive, are considered across the BBC.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us.
Kind Regards
BBC Complaints
Has anyone else had this self same reply??? consoled myself today by buying a couple of gardeneing books to curl up with in this continual rain as there is little chance of getting out at all this week.