...is that they are generally wrong. Well, they are if they disagree with me.
The BBC have been garnering intelligence on what people like and don't like about gardening on the BBC. In what appeared to be a hastily constructed forum called 'Over the Garden Fence' they encouraged us to tell them what we liked about the BBC's contributions to gardening.
I don't know if the two are related, but tonight I have found out (thank you, Twitter folks) that Toby Buckland will no longer be heading Gardeners' World. A shame. Also adieu to Alys Fowler.
Toby's reign had a slightly wobbly start (the Cool Wall, anyone?) but had improved and had some more interesting and occasional technical pieces in it, which made it worth watching. I had all but given up the previous incarnation, apart from to count how many times the Lord of Cord said "Here at Berryfields" each week. I found it condescending. And dull.
One positive remains - Carol Klein will still be on the show. Rachel de Thame returns - into each life a little rain must fall.
I hope the BBC didn't make these choices based on their half-baked intelligence-gathering forum. I'm sure they didn't. Because who would let the public decide such madness as this?
Roll on long Friday summer evenings, a glass of wine, a comfortable garden bench and the TV off switch.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
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10 comments:
I'm just catching up with developments, the cut and thrust of GW. Toby's fate was sealed with the cool wall, this is not Top Gear. I'm sure the beeb gave him another year so he could save face. I welcome Monty back as long as there are changes from the Berryfields days. Agree Carol is great and as for Rachel de Thame - oh dear! We'll have to see, but as you say roll on the summer when TV becomes irrelevant again!
I stopped watching GW when the wheeled out the ice cream van and gnome cam. It all became far too Noddyish for me.
I must admit I am sad to hear Alys is leaving, I rather liked her. But yes summers evenings are far better spent in the garden with a glass of wine and the telly switched off ;o)
I wondered whether Over the Garden Fence had something to do with yesterday's news too.
Looking around the various news sites, blogs and even over at mine, the reaction's rather mixed with no clear winner for the gardening public's winner.
I know that's not a scientific poll but it's all the material I have to play with!
I like your E J Thrib tribute :)
Yes roll on summer evenings with the TV firmly switched off on Fridays - (well not Fridays actually in Wales, as G/W is a moveable feast at least now I dont have to worry about hunting it down in the TV guide)
I enjoyed your poem as well
K
I'll end up watching it anyway, and hating myself for it. Like picking at a scab.
How about that for the new GW strap line - "Gardeners' World - the horticultural equivalent of picking a scab".
Here's something that puzzles me. Why do all you expert gardeners watch gardening programmes?
Esther
I certainly wouldn't class myself as an expert gardener. Very, very far removed from it, Esther!
I may never get your new strap line for Gardeners World out of my head!
K
Oops - sorry Karen! Not a nice image.
I think VP is right that there is no consensus. I quite liked Toby but the programme never lit up for me. I shall miss Alys. I like Carol and like Monty so I might watch again but it will be interesting to see if, having got out of the habit, I bother to get back into the habit again!
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