Gardeners world

theGrinch

angelavdavis wrote: »

I am with you on this one.

I had the (dis)pleasure of meeting Monty Don at a book signing in Selfridges, London about 12 years ago. He was possibly the rudest man I have ever met. If I hadn't already paid for his book before he signed it - I would have swiped him with it! It was clear he didn't want to be there and have to talk to the common public. Horrible man.

Geoff Hamilton was always going to be a tough act to follow.

Without defending Monty Don, I think he suffered from depression in the 90s after his business collasped. Maybe not the best time to meet him.

tim_n

I was quite enjoying the new format - it's got a lot more about grow your own and presenters such as Carol really annoy me - I tend to watch it on iplayer and just skip over the flowery sections.
Alan Titmarsh coming back? I've always thought of him as king of decking since ground force.

squack

definitely dumbed down of late. a shame because now GW is broadcast in high definition, the plants look fantastic and should be the stars, maybe with a voice-over from unseen presenters rather than the leering faces of the current lot

Lotus-eater

angelavdavis wrote: »

I am with you on this one.

I had the (dis)pleasure of meeting Monty Don at a book signing in Selfridges, London about 12 years ago. He was possibly the rudest man I have ever met. If I hadn't already paid for his book before he signed it - I would have swiped him with it! It was clear he didn't want to be there and have to talk to the common public. Horrible man.

Geoff Hamilton was always going to be a tough act to follow.

Strange, I know someone that has met him a few years ago and they said he was lovely.

I like the idea of GW, but in practice it leaves alot to be desired. I just can't stand those panning soft focus shots that take up alot of the time, plus there just isn't enough hard details and advice.

SallyForth_2

I hadn't seen it since the new presenters took over, then my Mum came to stay and we watched. It reminded me of Blue Peter.

aardvaak

I like it but think it has gone a bit Blue Peterish recently.

A._Badger

aardvaak wrote: »

I like it but think it has gone a bit Blue Peterish recently.

I suppose, being realistic, this is pretty typical of the BBC, generally. I can't think of one of their offerings that has got more demanding in recent years.

Sadly, even the venerable GQT on Radio 4 has started to go down the same route, since the BBC hired a new production company. Now we get fewer answers from experts (no doubt that's deemed to be 'elitist') and more gurgling children being shown the wonders of a sunflower.

'Aww' seems to be the deisred response, raher than 'Well, I didn't know that!"

Boring old men telling you how best to tackle suckers on roses is absolutely out of fashion at the BBC.

Watch out for Jedward presenting Gardeners' World, sometime next year!

peter_the_piper

Thats a nightmare thought, now I could put with more of Rachel de Thame though.

Primrose

I just wish we could bring Geoff Hamilton back from the other world. He was a real expert and had such a pleasantly unassuming way of imparting his knowledge. I think the current series has really gone downhill and there's no way I can keep my eyes open until 10 p.m on a Friday night now it's been moved to a later house.

maypole

Wow! so I am not alone then some good posts there, thank you for replying.
I loved Geoffrey Smith, I could listen to him talking about gardens for hours.

Lets hope some changes are made at GW, I would hate to see it shrivel to nothing after all these years.