kitchens Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Apologies if someone has already started a thread on this but I wondered what the rest of you thought about the new Gardners World programme. My feelings are it has been dummed down as far as it can go. I think it would actually be better suited to being aired on Cbeebies. Am I being too harsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I actually really like the new format & the new presenters, & am enjoying it again after not watching for a few years. It seems younger, fresher & more fun to me (but I could live without that Carol Kline woman who drives me mad!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I enjoyed it & now want to plant some carrots. Easy, down to earth, have a go gardening! Brilliant! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drcara Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hi There I agree it has been totally dummed down. It used to be a really helpful programme for seasoned gardeners and new beginners. The presenters were all clearly experienced and knowledgable gardeners. Now you are just taught how to sow seeds, which quite frankly you can get from the back of a packet. That Joe guy (although I like him), has clearly very little vegetable experience or time on an allotment. Bring back Alan and Percy!! Disgruntled gardener South Gloucestershire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I have only seen one of the new format, but quite like it I used to find Carol Klein very annoying, but after watching her 'Grow your own veg' series, I really like her now. She is very passionate about veg and it shows. Dumb veg grower in Hampshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 not having a TV I can't comment on the programme but I must say that the new format magazine is brilliant Joe is a garden designer rather than a gardener so his experiences of allotment gardening are similar to what any of us would expect - who hasn't made the mistake of rotavating land which would have been better dug over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I don't like it at all either . We've given up watching now. I miss Geoff Hamilton and Alan Titchmarsh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I haven't seen the new series at all. I missed most of the last one as well. It just failed to grab my attention any more. I liked Monty Don but preferred good old Alan and Geoff before him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I'm torn - I like the way they're showing things being set up from scratch, although they make it look so easy - there's clearly been a team of construction workers there setting up all those paths, walls etc - not much help to the average back-gardener! I think Joe Swift has been very honest about his lack of experience, and that it was his first time with an allotment. I also quite like the 'thrifty gardening' bit with Alys. That end bit in the 'potting shed' is really irritating though! Overall, I preferred the old format and I miss Alan Titchmarsh I find GQT on Radio 4 is more help to be honest, even though it doesn't have pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Overall, I preferred the old format and I miss Alan Titchmarsh Mr Titsmulch is to be found at the very back of the magazine - it's one of my very few 'must haves', try it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I preferred it when it was presented by Monty Don, much more relaxed approach to gardening and I'm not particularly a huge fan of Alys or Toby. I do like Carol and Joe, but it was better when they were around more and things were being done in real time, if you know what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Finding it very disappointing and very 'dumbed down' but worrying omissions - eg on this week's prog he sowed annual seeds in ground recently reclaimed from grass, but didn't mention anything about how much work must have been involved in making it suitable for annuals - wouldn't be surprised if he finds tons of weed seeds germinate...... Don't watch every week anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I like this series apart from that 'whats hot and whats not' bit, they are obviously uncomfy doing that, Top Gear yes but it just doesnt fit in with Gardeners World! Its worlds better than last series which had the blooming camera man asking Joe stupid questions to keep the programme going! "whats that Joe?"...... "its a potato".....silence.........."what you going to do with it Joe?"......."I might cook it".... Both series are a far cry from the old days though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Needless to say, I miss Monty Don I stopped watching GW but have just watched last weeks and like the new style. I will only watch it recorded though, so that I can skip bits about flowers and people I don't like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I find the whole new garden very false - the way there's a quirky old fashioned new shed stuck against a wall in the middle of it. I don't like the way it's been styled with shabby chic and retro furnishings that most of us admire in the Laura Ashley catalogue knowing they've got no place in a real garden. I like the presenters - they're real people (although I can't understand why Alice got promoted from running the old garden behind the scenes to being in front of camera now). I used to despise Sarah Raven so I'm glad she's gone. BUT I'm watching it again, I've found it too excruciating to watch in recent years - Monty used to depress me - but I like the way it's telling new gardeners what to do and when. I'm the chair of our village gardening club so it's useful for me to keep up with what's going on in case one of our members asks me about it! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 haven't waatched it regularly for years, learnt a lot from Geoff , and Alan but couldnt get used to Don somehow. This thread makes me think prehaps I should take a look next time its on....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Tobin Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 uk is very lucky that the BBC are still producing gardening programme. There has been no gardening on Irish television for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 there is a gardening programe on i player called the beechgrove garden made in scotland. Watched some of it last year. They were plagued with rabbits......put fencing everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 I haven't seen the new series at all. I missed most of the last one as well. It just failed to grab my attention any more. I liked Monty Don but preferred good old Alan and Geoff before him I agree. This used to be compulsive viewing but I haven't watched it in ages. I most enjoyed the projects that Geoff did. I've been to Barnsdale and they have all been maintained just how he created them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 uk is very lucky that the BBC are still producing gardening programme. There has been no gardening on Irish television for many years. - none at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I'm another one who misses Monty terribly. Toby is OK, but Monty made me feel warm and fuzzy and "nurtured". He was my favourite GW presenter ever (even better than Geoff Hamilton who was another favourite). The new format is obviously aimed at attracting non-gardeners into gardening, which is no bad thing, but I'm not enjoying it as much, if I'm honest. That said, as the new garden is in central Birmingham, I am intrigued to know exactly where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Geoff Hamilton was definitely my favorite. Alan Titchmarsh was OK Monty Don took a lot of getting used to at first but I liked him in the end. Dr Sarah raven was very knowledgable. Carol klein giddy but passionate. Joe swift is OK and family oriented. Alys was brought to the forefront by Monty who said that she did all the work when the cameras weren't there so deserved some credit when they were. Toby, shouldn't he be on Blue Peter? I wil reserve judgement on him just yet. new format? needs to develop but Barnsdale started off as a blank canvas and look how that ended up. I will continue to watch with interest. I always tape it and watch it on Saturday morning before I go out and poop a scoop and clean out the chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Have only watched a couple since Geoff. I doubt that they will ever find another one like him. Haven't seen the new version, although mum gives me her GW magazine to look at and that is OK. With regard to Monty, loved his programme Fork to Fork years ago - he told his children off during one programme, and I thought oh, he's normal! But wasn't too keen on GW when he was in charge. I never really liked the foreign garden visits because I felt that would be better suited to a programme dedicated to gardens around the world. I loved it when Geoff said I put this in the wrong place and now I have to move it somewhere else. It made us feel that sometimes even the experts get it wrong and he wasn't afraid to admit it. If it has been dumbed down it seems to be the thing now - they did awful things to It's Not Easy Being Green - and we stopped watching that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Oh don't get me started, this has been a hot topic to moan about at work! (we're professional gardeners) and mostly the reaction from people have been but more often than not we all agree it's been dumbed down, for people just getting in to gardening, yes it's fantastic and I like the new opening graphics, but unfortunately I think for long time viewers, we've seen it all before, and although I find Alys highly irritating, I wonder to myself why she is involved with the series at all, she trained at Kew and the Botanic gardens in New York, and I would have thought she would want to be doing some 'meatier' stuff. Anyway...no doubt I'll still be watching it again on Friday, got to have something to moan about at work on Tuesday!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Maybe we should start an 'I love Alan Titchmarsh' thread! For anyone who likes him and hasn't read it, his autobiography "Ooops, word censored!"but a Lad is brilliant. I haven't tried any of his novels, though. I know when they did a programme about former GW presenters, the person doing it said that they genuinely couldn't find anyone who had a bad word to say about AT. Interesting about Alys, Chickpea, I didn't know that was her background. I guess being on primetime BBC once a week isn't bad for anyone's career, and she probably does other stuff in between. I couldn't agree more about 'INEBG' - I was soo disappointed in the last series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
