Janet wrote after Victoria typed these words:


For those who wish to view,

http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2005/index.asp

has panoramas of each garden, and a full plant list.

The plant lists are not illustrated, but otherwise this idea seems sound,
and has the merit that they are also printable.

Thanks. but it doesn't change the point. The BBC provided two Chelsea
slots daily for a week, and all too obviously couldn't think how the
hell to fill in the time; while gardeners up and down the country just
wanted a camera to point at the gardens, plants, displays, etc, in
focus, for a decent length of time, *without* a musical background, and
*with*a voice-over or caption of plant names.

If you're reading this, BBC researchers, , we don't need or want to
see a presenter. Just pick one who hasn't got a speech impediment, is
interested in plants, and let them do a voiceover while the camera
points at gardens, plants, displays etc. How hard is that?


Yes and it would be a lot cheaper with no "celebrities" cluttering up the
screen wasting valuable time.

When we used to visit Chelsea every year we always made straight for the
marquee to see the plants, then wiz through the trade stands, and only
afterwards did we try to see the gardens if we felt like it and had the
time. Often we didn't bother, no relevance to us at all, academic interest
only.
So these Chelsea TV shows really get me down because they have their
priorities totally the other way around. Presumably to keep the interest of
the great unwashed who seem only interested in celebrities(?) and pretty
pictures judging by some magazines I've seen in the wife's hairdressers.

Perhaps we could have just one Chelsea program each year for
gardeners/plants people, and like you say, few faces except those of the
growers, just a voiceover where needed, lots of plants and Latin names on
everything. In depth plants.
If they insist on a celebrity then Roy Lancaster as the voice perhaps?

Dream on Bob!

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London