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BBC Gardening: a (potted) history
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Programmes that featured flowers and plants were produced
almost from day one; the very first week of programmes back in 1936 included
one featuring prize chrysanthemums. Alexandra Palace (the BBC's base from
1936 to 1960) has gardens which were an obvious choice to be used if the
limited studio facilities were otherwise unavailable, though live outdoor
programming was restricted sometimes by the unpredictable English weather. |
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In 1956 the BBC started a monthly series that catered for real
gardening enthusiasts, called Gardening Club. It was a big success, to
such an extent that it established presenter Percy Thrower as a major celebrity
(Barry Bucknell was to be similiarly associated with do-it-yourself programmes). |
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Outdoor television presents a whole set of challenges
(rain, wind, etc.), but mishaps can still happen in the 'controlled' indoor
studio environment. In order to effectively hear Percy Thrower's voice,
microphones were concealed in the soil (tiny radio microphones were yet to
be invented), but once after he had finished putting plants into the
soil, he started to water them, and since the concealed microphones were
not waterproof... |
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In 1968 BBC2 were sitll experimenting with outdoor colour
programming; the wide range of colours found in gardens were a natural
choice for assessing colour accuracy. Six experimental gardening programmes
were made using colour equipment; unfortunately all recordings of these have
been lost. |
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BBC2 (and colour television) was the natural home for gardening
programmes, so Gardeners' World became a regular series in 1969 to fulfill the demand
for such programming. The main presenter was (again) Percy Thrower, though
this time there was a co-presenter as well. Gardeners World is still going
today (minus apostrophe), albeit with different presenters (see below !) |
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All was running smoothly until 1976, when Percy Thrower
did (in many people's eyes) the unthinkable and appeared in a TV commercial
for Garden Plus fertilizer. His name was already associated with gardening
products, but this commercial meant that it was possible for viewers to
watch ITV and see him actively endorsing a product, then switch over to
BBC2 and see him again in the garden. The result could have confused some
people, as well as going against the principles of non-commercial television,
so the BBC did what they thought was necessary by sacking him. |
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Life must go on (after all there's the grass to be cut...),
so Percy Thrower was replaced by Peter Seabrook, who didn't exactly look
like a typical gardener (a quote - "he looked more like an accountant")
though the co-presenters such as Arthur Billit, Geoffrey Smith and Clay Jones
(pictured) remained the same, helping to smooth the transition.
Replacing Percy Thrower was always going to be difficult, but the loyality of the
viewers and the quality of the current and later presenters kept the show going.
After all the show was all about gardening and not personalities. |
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Garden technology may advance with the introduction of
more advanced pesticides, plant varieties and garden machinery, but Gardeners
World still carried on regardless, celebrating its 25th anniversary in
1994. The show had been contracted out to independent producers in 1993
and some had complained about the changes, but the show must go on (as
they say !) In recent years the gardens featured have been in a wider
range of locations due to smaller and lighter video equipment becoming
available. |
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One of the best-loved presenters was Geoff Hamilton (1990-1996),
who tragically died from a heart attack shortly before the series "Geoff Hamilton's
Paradise Gardens" was completed (his brother helped to complete the final episode).
His garden (known as Barnsdale) was an inspiration to tired gardeners everywhere;
infact there had been two 'Barnsdales' (the first one had become too small !); the
larger final one actually comprising of no less than thirty separate smaller gardens. |
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Gardeners World is still continuing with Alan Titchmarsh, Pippa
Greenwood and Gay Search being regular presenters in 1998 as the show moves towards
its 30th year. Other spin-off series may appear such as Ground Force, but Gardeners
World, like gardening itself, shows no sign of dying. |