Des Higgins wrote:

snip

The BBC and C4 are still my favourite channels and I am very lucky to
get them. Gardeners World is doomed to be a lifestyle, glossy coffee
table magazine type show if it is to be shown at 8.00 or 8.30pm on
Fridays. That is commercial reality. Punters do not like latin names
or complicated procedures. They want entertaining male presenters and
glamorous wimmin doing things with diggers and champagne and low cut
overalls. Put in latin names and real world muck and it will be much
more interesting to me and will get axed.

Disgruntled in DUblin


Whilst I agreed with everything else you said, esp. the science program
efforts. I think that under Monty gardeners world took a real good turn,
away from "garden design" (I do keep using that phrase) and back more
toward the real world gardening. Dividing plants, sowing seeds, potting up,
building raised beds, composting etc etc etc all useful stuff. Admittedly
I don't really think Joe or Carol contribute greatly to that area but they
are just there to appeal more to the former AT fans.

I also think this is partly why it's going to be so difficult to replace
Monty if he leaves the show forever, heaven forbid, there are very few
good, practical and environmentally aware gardeners out there.

Duncan

Duncan