I know hardly anything about Toby Buckland and am willing to give him a fair trial as new presenter.
However, I very much hope that there'll be no diminishing of Carol's screen time on the programme. She's superbly well qualified to front the programme and nobody could be more passionate about their subject. She's an absolute joy to watch and was my firm favourite to take over the helm after Monty. I can only hope that she was offered the job of main presenter and turned it down due to her other commitments.
I heartily agree that it's high time for a woman in the lead role...but was hoping for Carol because of her obvious suitability for the job in spite of gender. Now looking to Toby to surprise me and keep me tuning in.
good luck Toby, I hope that Carole and Alys still have main roles as I have really enjoyed their time at Gardeners world since Monty left. I hope Monty is recovering well and wish him luck in the future.
I contributed early in this debate. I'd like to re-iterate that my comments were based on the BBC's apparent lack of cognisence that a Friday evening audience might want to see a female main presenter of GW. That, alongside the irrefutable quality of presenting that Carol, and others, have given over past months seems to have gone unacknowledged. Did the Beeb consult their stakeholders? Does the opinion of the audience matter? Let's hope so. In which case, this decision should not be final.
Monty Don will be sadly missed. Surely it is about time we saw a female face on the programme. I was saddened to hear that Carol Klein would not be chosen. She has revitalised the show with her enthusiasm which is infectious and informative. Joe, Alys and Carol were a winning combination shame that the BBC could not see that.
In view of all the comments supporting Carol Klein as lead presenter (I greatly admire Carol's presenting style and her enthusiasm) perhaps the BBC should let viewers know why Toby was chosen and Carol wasn't?
I was really disappointed to hear that Carol Klein was not picked as the main presenter for Gardener's World. She has held the programme together so well since Monty was taken ill. Women are just as talented as men in the gardening world.
Just to say how thrilled I was to hear that Toby Buckland had been given this job. I am very surprised by some of the opinions expressed about his appointment. Toby oozes personality and has a friendly approachable style - I'm sure he will soon win over the doubters.
I was totally disgusted to hear that Carol Klein is not going to be the main presenter of Gardeners World. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Gardeners World over the last weeks with Carol presenting this programme her love and knowledge of gardening is so inspiring. Since Monty left Carol Joe and Alys have made Gardeners World a must to watch on a Friday evening. What a nice change it would have been to have a female presenter fronting Gardeners World for a change.
Like other viewers I would like to add my voice to the disappointment shared by most people that Carol is not going to present GW in the future. I found that the programme had become "stale" but suddenly along came Carol Klein whose manner made you sit up a take notice. She is enthusiastic, practical and speaks the language which every gardener understands. Why you have to bring in another man I don't know. I feel that Friday nights will revert to the same old format ( BBC style) so maybe it is time to spend an extra hour in the garden shed.
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However, I very much hope that there'll be no diminishing of Carol's screen time on the programme. She's superbly well qualified to front the programme and nobody could be more passionate about their subject. She's an absolute joy to watch and was my firm favourite to take over the helm after Monty.
I can only hope that she was offered the job of main presenter and turned it down due to her other commitments.
I heartily agree that it's high time for a woman in the lead role...but was hoping for Carol because of her obvious suitability for the job in spite of gender. Now looking to Toby to surprise me and keep me tuning in.