Saturday, April 04, 2009

Hot or not?

So, Gardener's World arrives at its new home (as described by Arabella Sock). Mud, bespoke greenhouses, and what appeared to be a large well in front of the greenhouse (is that where they keep Monty, or were they trying to bag themselves a leopard?). They also vandalised a perfectly useable new shed in order to make interesting TV.

But, it seems to have morphed into horticultural Top Gear. Competitive tree planting between Toby and Joe, and, heaven help us, a 'Cool Wall'. What next - the Stig racing sit-on mowers around the lawns of Greenacres?

Actually, I seem to be coming across as a bit of a curmudgeon, as I did enjoy it. The return to a bare field site gives lots of opportunities. And Toby is much more of my type of gardener than the be-corded one was. But just because a format change made Top Gear very successful doesn't mean that it should be used on every type of programme. Who knows - we may be seeing Aled Jones and Pam Rhodes becoming ever more resourceful in introducing ways to blow up caravans on Songs of Praise.

12 comments:

James A-S said...

I have no problem with jazzing up the shed but why did they paint those pleasantly battered Stoke FC doors?
(I worry that I am sounding like one of those "why, oh why" people from the BBC Message Boards.)

Unknown said...

Overall I liked the program. I understand that fast moving tv works, but I'm not sure Gardener's world is really that kind of program.

Some great hints and tips but lacking horticultural terms and depth?!

http://ryans-garden.blogspot.com/

Ryan

VP said...

It was OK. I felt there were a lot of pieces to be fitted together - probably because it was both a new plot and production company settling down together with the (relatively) established team.

I would have liked more on what 'the field of dreams' was going to be rather than Toby B just waving a piece of paper at us. Something like they show us at the start of Grand Designs perhaps.

Helen/patientgardener said...

I quite enjoyed it though I have my reservations about the cool wall. I did like the idea of them talking briefly about gardening news but if the programme reverts to 30 mins at some point I think that section could be lost.
I also liked the bare field starting point and I think it was pitched at the right level for attracting the growing number of new gardeners. Only time will tell

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

oh, oh, oh, I didnt mean to visit yet - we dont get it here until 7.40 on Saturday night (in Wales) (its now 7.30 pm ......
I will be back
:)
K

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

OK - I have seen it now ... I am reserving judgment until it all settles down a bit, they reminded me of children back at school for the new term.

Dawn/LittleGreenFingers said...

I actually quite enjoyed it - although the whole 'pimp my shed' done to the soundtrack of 'Deliverance' was slightly odd...

VP said...

Yes - 'Deliverance' should have been used for the tree planting race!

Nutty Gnome said...

I missed it as I was out - but it sounds like it was an 'interesting' mix! I'm going to try and find it on t'internet replayer thingy (oh my technical wizardry astounds me some days!!)

Flighty said...

Overall I enjoyed it, and feel sure that they will settle in once the garden starts to develop.
I didn't like Joe using plastic cable ties though!

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Hot or not, it certainly got a few people hot under the collar. :-)

I found it quite amusing that they were talking about gardening on a budget and then had a bespoke greenhouse built plus a great big whopping brick wall. Yeah, those things are really cheap. Not!

Perhaps next time they will be blowing up garden sheds?

BTW My favourite GW presenter is still Geoff, closely followed by the Lord of Cord. :-D

chaiselongue said...

Sorry I can't comment on Gardeners' World as we don't get it in France, but I couldn't resist the Butterfly Award, which I'm forwarding to you. As I don't usually join in these blog games, I'm not sure what to do with it, but it's on my blog!