Gardeners' World

Presenters

Lead

Lead presenters have included:

• Ken Burras (1968–1969)
• Percy Thrower (1969–1976)
• Arthur Billitt (1976–1979)
• Geoff Hamilton (1979–1996)
• Geoffrey Smith (1980–1982)
• Alan Titchmarsh (1996–2002)
• Monty Don (2003–2008)
• Toby Buckland (2008–2010)
• Monty Don (2011–present)

Co-presenters

Co-presenters have included: Arit Anderson, Nick Bailey, Chris Baines, JJ Chalmers, Nigel Colborn, Chris Beardshaw, Stefan Buczacki, Flo Headlam, Bob Flowerdew, Alys Fowler, Adam Frost, Diarmuid Gavin, Pippa Greenwood, Clay Jones, John Kelly, Sue Kent, Carol Klein, Roy Lancaster, Mark Lane, Rekha Mistry, Arthur Parkinson, Sarah Raven, Advolly Richmond, Liz Rigby, Rod and Rachel Saunders, Peter Seabrook, Gay Search, Geoffrey Smith, Mary Spiller, Joe Swift, Anne Swithinbank, Rachel de Thame, Frances Tophill, Christine Walkden, and Ali Ward.

Locations

Since its inception in 1968, the show was presented until 2003 from the lead presenter's own garden. In 2011, the show returned to this practice.

• First was Percy Thrower's The Magnolias near Shrewsbury
• Then Arthur Billitt's Clack's Farm at Ombersley in Worcestershire
• Followed by two gardens, both called Barnsdale, owned by Geoff Hamilton in Rutland
• Next was Alan Titchmarsh's garden at Woodroyd in Alton, Hampshire, renamed Barleywood for the programme
• Next was a rented garden, called Burmans Farm at Shottery () in Stratford-upon-Avon which was called Berryfields for the purposes of the programme although it was often described as a 'top secret location near Birmingham'
• Partly as a result of changes in the presenters, for the 2009 series the garden was relocated to Edgbaston in Birmingham. A playing-field was redeveloped and this garden was given the name Greenacre. This garden was intended to be a permanent home for the programme.
• In 2011, with the return of Monty Don, the base relocated to Don's own garden Longmeadow in Herefordshire ().

History

The 2010 show was returned to the original 30 minutes and several features of the 2009 series, such as the '30 second fix', were dropped. The show concentrated more on gardening content, reintroducing 'Jobs for the weekend' and focusing on plant species.

In March 2011, Monty Don returned as the main presenter of the programme.

In 2016 new executive producer Paolo Proto (previously producer of The Great British Bake Off) extended the programme from 30 minutes to one hour in September and October, also introducing new presenters Adam Frost, Frances Tophill, Nick Bailey, Nick Macer, Florence Headlam and Arit Anderson.

Theme tunes

The first theme tune to the series in 1968 was a piece composed by Peter Craddy and played by Michael Saxton on clarinet. A year later this was replaced by the long-running Green Fingers composed by John Clarke and Reg Reid, played by Harold Rich & His Players, a version of which, with sweeping strings, was soon used. The most famous theme, which had the longest run from the late 1980s through the 1990s and is still heard in a slightly classical vein today, is a guitar piece that was composed by Nick Webb and Greg Carmichael. It had two titles, one for commercial release and one for library, Morning Light and Natural Elements. Natural Elements was the title track of a commercial album released in 1988 on MCA Records under the composers' band name of Acoustic Alchemy. The current theme tune, introduced in 2014, is an arrangement of "Morning Light" by Will Gregory.

Links and spin offs

Former lead presenter, Alan Titchmarsh later teamed up with Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh to make the series Ground Force. This was about rapid garden makeovers.

A book based on the history of the series entitled Gardeners' World Through The Years was released in 2003 by Gay Search.

BBC Gardeners' World Live

The BBC Gardeners' World Live Show is an extension of the television programme and magazine. Running annually in June, it is hosted at the Birmingham NEC, co-located with the BBC Summer Good Food Show.

The show includes live appearances from the presenters giving topical advice and tips including many of the presenters, such as Alan Titchmarsh, Monty Don, Carol Klein and Joe Swift, Toby Buckland, Alys Fowler, Chris Baines, Diarmuid Gavin, Anne Swithinbank, Pippa Greenwood, Rachel de Thame, Bob Flowerdew and Mark Lane.

The presenters film at BBC Gardeners' World Live, with the content aired within the programme on the Friday night of the live show.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 show was cancelled, with the next scheduled for 17–20 June 2021.

A number of new rose varieties have been launched at the show including

• 2016: Roses UK presented the new 'Eve Rose' to Simon Lycett on behalf of the Eve Foundation
• 2008: Rachel de Thame presented the new rose 'Prince Caspian' to actor Ben Barnes
• 2005: The show presented the new 'Duchess of Cornwall' rose to the Duchess of Cornwall

Notes

References

References

1. "Gardeners' World Season 53".
2. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/nonflash_modern4.shtml Modern themes – Gardeners' World], BBC – Gardening
3. "Gardeners' World: Series Info".
4. The Thalidomide Trust, Sue Kent's Garden Featured on the BBC, 16 September 2020. https://www.thalidomidetrust.org/sue-kents-garden-featured-on-the-bbc/ {{Webarchive. link. (23 October 2022)
5. (October 22, 2022). "World-Renowned Botanists Allegedly Beaten to Death and Fed to Crocodiles in South Africa". People.com.
6. "Gardeners' World 2020 - Episode 7 - 01 May 2020".
7. Leapman, Michael. (30 September 2018). "Gardeners' World's Percy Thrower was the godfather of gardening shows and brought passion to the potting shed".
8. "Clacks Farm For Sale Gardeners World".
9. "Barnsdale Gardens: Geoff Hamilton and The Barnsdale Story".
10. (29 October 2010). "Alan Titchmarsh's Barleywood garden for sale".
11. "Monty Don: I'd like a "five-year arrangement" with Gardeners' World". Radio Times.
12. Toby Buckland, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gardenersworld/tobybuckland/2009/03/off_to_pastures_new.html Off to pastures new], BBC – Gardeners' World Blog
13. (3 April 2009). "Andy Sturgeon wonders what gardeners will make of the new home of Gardeners' World". The Guardian.
14. (12 October 2010). "Gardeners' World to go back to basics after revamp lost viewers". Birmingham Post.
15. (21 April 2011). "A blue sky moment with Monty Don". The Telegraph.
16. (8 December 2010). "BBC turns to Monty Don, the hardy perennial". The Telegraph.
17. (31 August 2016). "BBC brings in new Gardeners' World presenters as Bake Off boss takes charge". The Guardian.
18. (15 May 2017). "BBC extends RHS Chelsea Flower Show contract". bbc.co.uk.
19. "Mark Lane".
20. (5 January 2010). "Gardeners' World Titles - Acoustic Alchemy -Natural Elements -1996". youtube.com.
21. BBC [https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardenersworld/about_the_show/ "new arrangement of Morning Light by composer Will Gregory and recorded by BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Charles Hazlewood"]
22. Search, Gay. (1 March 2006). "Gardeners' World: Through the Years". Carlton Books, Limited.
23. "Welcome to the NEC Group".
24. "BBC Gardeners' World Live 2020".