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Celebrity Interview

• Message 1. 

  Posted by lance-scaper (U2904712) on Thursday, 9th February 2006

  
  I have just been reading an interview regarding Christine Walkden.
  In it she states that she was "deeply moved" with all the messages that had poured in from gardeners who share her passion for horticulture.Up to 2.7 million viewers tuned in to her prog,similar to the number who watched Gardeners World? She was shocked when she saw she had over 1000 e-mails thanking her for just being normal on camera.Viewing figures were comparable to an established series.Christine said she was frustrated the same as viewers who wanted to see her share more of her gardening skills.Some viewers had criticised the show for its lack of gardening content."I do understand some people were upset but I had to accept the ´óÏó´«Ã½ did not want a hands on series"
  That now explains posters remarks like "what was the prog about" "it should have been called christines diary" "it does'nt show any gardening ect"
  Christine said "Producers wanted to make a series that showed the satisfaction that comes from being a pasionate and enthusiastic gardener-and lots of viewers said the'd enjoyed seeing that on tv."
  So why did'nt the ´óÏó´«Ã½ advertise it as being more of a christines diary.She was so restricted and got a lot of bad vibes, but she obviously met the spec for the programme makers.Do we now understand her more??
  regards
  lance

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by helenmj66 (U2451387) on Friday, 10th February 2006

  I have to say that I really enjoyed Christine's garden - I have seen the various messages on this site criticising the programme for its lack of gardening hands but didnt join in as I disagreed. I think the programme achieved its goal in showing our gardening/horticulture can become a passion. It was a nice gentle 30 minute programme with nice people and conveyed Christine's love of plants well.
  
  It was also a nice change to watch something about gardening which didnt turn into how to lay a patio or decking as this seems to be the trend these days.
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by 8supermum (U2768246) on Friday, 10th February 2006

  What the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should have done - take note Tom & Flora,,,,
  Was a 6 part series with Christine featured on just one programme, and then 5 different types of gardeners and how they spend their time...this I think would have been greeted with much more enthusiasum, I'm sure we wouldn't have minded if there was not much "hands on gardening", it would have been a week or so in somebodies life to do with gardening, we like being nosey but Christine over 6 wks was too much...
  What do you reckon ???

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Flora (U2706047) on Friday, 10th February 2006

  Hello Supermum
  
  'Tis an interesting theory, although I would say from reading through the posts that it does take a couple of episodes for people to settle into new programmes and new presenters. Would one weeek be enough time to a show a person as they really are?
  
  It appeared that people did like being nosey in Christine's garden though - I got the figures through today and Christine's Garden got a regular 2.6-2.7m viewers, which is sligthly less than Gardeners' World, but slightly more than The Gardener's Year.
  
  As I said, interesting stuff!
  
  have a good weekend,
  
  Flora x

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by David K (U2221642) on Friday, 10th February 2006

  Hi Flora
  Whilst I'm prepared to concede that Christine's Garden did have a sizeable following of viewers who were probably not very serious about gardening, but appreciated her "unusual" style of presentation.
  I think Reg came over rather well; viewers (including myself) took him to their hearts.
  
  Unfortunately, (as you know) I didn't like it at all.
  I thought it seemed amateurish and so lacking direction & content it could have been filmed by any keen amateur with a home cine-camera.
  
  I must admit to a slight cringe when someone likened Christine to Geoff Hamilton.
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lance-scaper (U2904712) on Tuesday, 14th February 2006

  
  Hi
  Thank you to those who replied to this thread. Thought there would have been more reaction to an explanation from christine regarding a prog that had a lot of controvesy one way or another. Or has it all been said now??
  regards
  lance

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Gardenmouse (U2443843) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  I wonder whether the reaction to this programme might have been different if it had been shown when there were more other gardening programmes on, and more gardening generally to do, in the summer.
  
  My husband and I were entranced by it, but not as a gardening programme. I loved the gentle pace, the different use of television as a medium - ie not a lecture, not theatre. It was a little like something you might get on the radio really, except that given the link to gardening it did benefit from the visual element.
  
  I was a bit taken back at the vitriol on these boards about it, but I'm new here and I don't always recognise the tone of things. I think it wasn't really nasty (mostly) - just boisterous fun, and also serious opinion. It must take a very, very thick skin to go on television though. I'd hate to have my appearance, voice etc etc etc picked over like that. I'm not even sure I'd like to have strangers ogling me either, but I am being a bit pathetic here, and quite frankly I don't see any immediate threat of that happening!

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  I was a bit taken back at the vitriol on these boards about it, but I'm new here and I don't always recognise the tone of things. I think it wasn't really nasty (mostly) - just boisterous fun, and also serious opinion. It must take a very, very thick skin to go on television though. I'd hate to have my appearance, voice etc etc etc picked over like that. I'm not even sure I'd like to have strangers ogling me either, but I am being a bit pathetic here, and quite frankly I don't see any immediate threat of that happening! 
  While I haven't looked back on the Board to check it out, I have no recollection of any real 'vitriol' about this programme. As has been suggested on several occasions, it was more the fact that it was inserted into a recognised gardening slot - and this type of programme it most certainly wasn't. Your criticism relating to personal comments about Christine is strange. I presume she wasn't dragged screaming onto our screens, and would therefore be aware that many people wouldn't take to her. This was a price that she would no doubt be prepared to pay for a bit of fame (and fortune). For my own part, I still don't know what it was all about. It wasn't a gardening programme, it was poorly filmed, and I just didn't know what to make of Christine. I still can't work out what she thinks she has that would appeal to a wide audience. Television love to create 'characters', and no doubt this would be an attempt to make an elderly woman exciting. I concede that I haven't (ever) seen a Big Brother/Celebrity this or that programme, and know that many people would watch any old rubbish, but to stick this curious offering into a historical gardening slot is just a bit much. I would really like all the people who loved the Christine programmes, to explain to me just what it was that I missed out on. Perhaps she's to be the female equivalent of Fred Dibnah - I really just can't work it out. Please note - I have nothing against the woman - I just don't know what it is she's offering.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Gardenmouse (U2443843) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  I must say I was unaware of the significance of the slot the programmes were shown in (we record things and watch hardly anything "live") so I see what you mean about expectations.
  As I say, I liked it for other reasons, which aren't so much to do with gardening.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Dame Wombat (U2332024) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  and no doubt this would be an attempt to make an elderly woman exciting.  
  
  I got the feeling while watching this series that Christine had been the victim of editing, as Ken says, to make her into a bit of a character. I don't know about 'elderly' though, Ken - I am sure Christine claimed to be 46 in one of the later episodes.
  
  That can't possibly be right, can it?

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by JennyWrenn (U3134097) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  As a new member to this board, brought about as a huge fan of Christine, I have to say i feel the title was correct - Christine's life is about her garden
  
  And am amazed to read about those persons who disliked the programme so much - they go into minute detail about the contents!! of more than one episode too - so why did they sit thru them?
  
  They could have just turned to another channel
  
  She came over as a lovely warm interesting character and I look forwards to the next series - there may not be one if you dont leave her alone tho and frighten her away!!
  
  

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  I am sure Christine claimed to be 46 in one of the later episodes. 
  
  Goodness me - how embarrassing - I honestly had no idea. This is just the sort of thing that I would criticise anyone else for referring to. I assumed that the flimsy 'idea' behind the programme was to have an active pensioner proving to be an inspiration to us all. Smacky Handies for me. I did say that I wasn't captivated by the programme, but I did reckon I had been a little more attentive than this.

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  As I say, I liked it for other reasons, which aren't so much to do with gardening. 
  
  Yes - but what were those other reasons? This is what I really would like to know.

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 11.

  Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  And am amazed to read about those persons who disliked the programme so much - they go into minute detail about the contents!! of more than one episode too - so why did they sit thru them?
  
  They could have just turned to another channel
  
  She came over as a lovely warm interesting character and I look forwards to the next series - there may not be one if you dont leave her alone tho and frighten her away!! 
  
  I can advise you Jenny, that I lasted one full programme, and 10 minutes of the second. I reckon that exempts me from any criticism about sitting through the series. However, yet again a Christine fan hasn't stated what exactly it is that they find so pleasing about the programme. Even more surprising is that you appear to assume that a second series could be commissioned. I truely would be at a loss to know how the time could be filled, as any novelty value would surely have long since passed. Perhaps she has a 'song and dance' routine up her sleeve. As for frightening Christine away, I can lay bets that she'll be producing a book to accompany the programme, doing the speaking circuit, and opening supermarkets before you can say 'shut that bleedin' dog up'. Let's save our sympathy for those of us who only wish to see a decent gardening programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½2 on Friday nights.

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• Message 15

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by royalgreen (U2373730) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  Let's save our sympathy for those of us who only wish to see a decent gardening programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½2 on Friday nights.  
  
  Concur

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• Message 16

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by JennyWrenn (U3134097) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  Hi Smart Ken - no i dont assume another series will be commissioned; I just hope so very much and was horrifed to see I missed the repeats on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 a few weeks ago
  
  What did I find interesting Ken? - well I enjoyed all the programmes as they were just so relaxing to watch - there was nothing i didnt like - even her little doggy Tara I found endearing
  
  In fact I think I ended up being very envious of her and her life style maybe that is what a lot of us felt ?
  
  
  Christine has already written a very interesting book on House Plants but I would prefer a boxed set of the programmes rather than a book of the series
  
  Best wishes Jenny
  
  

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• Message 17

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by MizzTuppence (U2378711) on Thursday, 23rd February 2006

  "Christine said she was frustrated the same as viewers who wanted to see her share more of her gardening skills.Some viewers had criticised the show for its lack of gardening content."I do understand some people were upset but I had to accept the ´óÏó´«Ã½ did not want a hands on series"
  
  Damn producers, why don't they listen! Christine would have known what we gardener's really would have wanted to see!
  I wouldn't mind seeing another series, but this time with more emphasise on gardening and not her social life!

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