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Posted by mr naughty corner (U2456974) on Friday, 20th July 2007
Who's your favourite TV gardener?
Mine is Monty Don.
I have no idea why.
What does everyone else think of this then?
Derek Pig
I think they just need to cut out the presenting bit altogether and just concentrate on the sound tracks.
That's obviously where the genius and the know how lies in the beeb gardening production team.
Just shots of flowers n'stuff, general horticultural eye candy, and with a clever choice of music accompaniment.
We can look up the rest in a book or on the web or whatever.
, in reply to message 2.
Posted by Super Glentoran - altID, now banned (U8984964) on Friday, 20th July 2007
I'm going to stick my neck out here, but the best of the current bunch has to be Christine Walkden. Enthusiasm, knowledge and a good TV manner. Gets my vote!
Either her or Reg.
Oh...do me a favour not that woman again!
Yeah she has enthusiasm, but knowledge and TV manner , no don't think so.
My favourite is Brain Harvey (famous for running over his own head and fronting boy band East 17, and Kew diploma graduate)next presenter of Gardeners World.
So their,
Mycowaz.
MycotalWarrior, there's a bit of dispute as to whether Brian Harvey has the Kew diploma or not. There is someone fitting his description loitering in the mug shots outside the Kew’s ladies loos, but I reckon that may indeed be an impostor, otherwise known as the allusive Uncle Noodles.
I reckon if you could combine Christine's vowel sounds with the lushness of our own very own board member beej, and the horticultural flair and fashion sense of Barberlla, I think the next GW presenter's job might be just in the bag.
Having said that, Brian Harvey has been dabbling in horticultural tv, so obviously is in with a running.
Did anyone else catch him in 'I'm a TV Gardener Get me Out of Here'
I like Christine too, but for overall experience, and general screen presence, it would have to be Alan Titchmarsh.
All time favourite has to be Gentleman Geoff Hamilton though. (Sorry Alan!)
No one favorite but my top 3 are:
Alan Titchmarsh
Christine Walkden
Monty Don
If you really pressed me to pick one I would have to say Alan, as it was watching him on GW that really got me into gardening.
I like the other two a lot, but for differing reasons.
Nice pic...looks like hes been strimming and hit something dodgy,
Frankly I'm surprised their are still doubters out their.
Mycowaz.
, in reply to message 9.
Posted by Super Glentoran - altID, now banned (U8984964) on Friday, 20th July 2007
Apologies, I thought this was 'favourite current gardener' thread. Completely misread it.
In that case it would Geoff Hamilton, closely followed by AT.
Brian Harvey??? My god man, you cannot be serious! He ran over himself in a car he was driving for God's sake. That's a special kind of stupid. I'd go so far as saying he's not so much the King of Stoopid, but the Heir to throne of Kingdom of Stoopid.
You cannot be serious!
Personally, I believe there is too much controversy surrounding the man, so there are bound to be doubters.
His claim that ‘gardening can make you a better person’ is just too damn outrageous to be acceptable in the horticultural mainstream and absolutely destroyed his boyish cultivating currency.
I’m sorry to have to break this to you Mycowaz but I don’t think the Beeb have the guts to take the risk.
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by Super Glentoran - altID, now banned (U8984964) on Friday, 20th July 2007
C'mon now, half the Cabinet are stoners and they're in charge of the ´óÏó´«Ã½. I think we're all in for a surprise come the new season.
Jenny
I understand you are not well at the moment - but how could you look at Monty tonight and just not think he's the best ever!!!!!!
The walk, the strong but gentle hands, the soothing re-assurance of his wonderful voice .................oh dear, coming over funny.
oh - and the expert gardening knowledge of course.
If that didn't stir your vitals, my girl, you are poorlier than I thought!
Newjaneta, I am pleased to report that I do indeed fall into the 'yeah, I would' category when it comes to our beloved Monty.
Somehow, quite how is unbeknown to me, I had been sucked into the dangerous debate as to whom might be his successor.
Weak in body ma, not in spirit
Christine does the same for me, her gentle hands could smash a spade. Is that why my wife tells me I have flipped.
Frank.
It's that chewing of the furniture Frank.
Mine is Alan Titchmarsh for sure. He just makes it all seem such fun and uncomplicated.
Geoff Hamilton was THE TV gardener in my book - he was my inspiration when I first got interested in gardening many moons ago.
Also like Chris Beardshaw for his enthusiasm. Liked the format of the Flying Gardener, it was just a bit different.
I also used to enjoy Anne Swithinbank when she appeared on Gardener's World. Her practical tips on how to deal with bugs and beasties was very helpful. Could do with much more information like that on GW today.
As with the supermarkets and shops I am a card- carrying loyalty fan of whoever, or whatever, is on offer.
If they are showing me: how to, when to, what to and what not to about my garden then ...
I AM A SHAMELESS HUSSY and I LOVE THEM ALL.
La donna e mobile!
ML x
Jennyflower
I knew you were my daughter! - in spirit!
Keep resting my girl - got to keep your strength up for the next Monty Adonis viewing.
He reads these boards and is probably cringing - but he gets a lot of flak, but I stii think his feeling for gardening is exceptional
His articles in the Observer were truly inspirational.
I really wish he had the time to start them again.
J
I have a little Monty story to tell actually newj, are you sitting comfortably?
A couple of years ago HID and I rented a little villa in a place called Casares in the Andalucian mountains. Whilst we were there the village threw its annual fete which involved much dressing up in local costume and processing through the streets, ending up in a little fair type environment, including big marquee thing, that they had constructed especially for the event.
Whilst we were watching the procession go by, HID announced, there’s Monty Don over there. I was like, yeah right, just like we saw Sean Connery half way up that mountain in the Lakes and Germaine Greer outside that pub that time. I scanned the crowd searching for some Spaniard with a vague resemblance to Monty, when I suddenly shrieked, ‘oh my god, it actually IS Monty Don!!’.
Because the crowd tacked onto the back of the procession and made their way up through the streets this gave me the perfect opportunity to stalk the man without him noticing. When we got to the marquee bit I saw him buy some chips (no doubt hand reared Adalucian organic chips) and was just plucking up courage to go enquire about his over mulching resulting in too much leggy growth (even though I’m only now just in my first ever proper garden I always used to read his article in the Observer so was familiar with some of the intimate aspects of his life) when the man and his family just disappeared, vanished into the ether.
I reckon he got wind somehow that there was a mad English woman in the crowd with some sort horticultural glint in her eye and he’d better make his escape fast before he was propositioned about staking my dahlias. I think HID was relieved that he’d vanished and he promptly took me back to the villa as I’d turned into this gibbering thing, ‘oh my god, that was really Monty Don… wonder how his growth is doing now he’s decided not to mulch this year, crikey, that was actually Monty Don wasn’t it? Bet this sunshine is doing his SAD the world of good’……
It may have have been Gaucin, not Casares.
Do you remember Monty?
lushness of our own very own board member beejÂ
JF, please don't bandy my credentials around like that!
BTW I thought Brian Harvey looked like he was growing his own in that picture, unfortunately it looked as if he was growing his own warts!
I really like Monty D too newjaneta - he pushes all t the buttons, horticulturally & otherwise. AT I felt was a little smug & GH was very sweet!
, in reply to message 22.
Posted by sparklingsnowleapord (U3848262) on Saturday, 21st July 2007
My favorite tv gardener is Geoff Hamilton he did sensable gardening had me glued to his every word.
Alan T did a good job as a presenter of GW but no one has yet to have GH flare.
Alan Titchmarsh is my favourite - but what about the lovely Dan Pearson? Loed his programs about - was it Home Farm?
Yes, Dan Pearson was Home Farm .... I got his book about the same from a charity shop the other day for just £2, was well chuffed.
I like Monty Don very much .... I agree with most of his principles, but actually feel he's somewhat wasted on GW in its current format. Am looking forward to his new series Around the World in 80 Gardens (or something like that) soon. I also like Alan T enormously, but aside from old repeats, he seems to be branching off (an apt pun, but not intended) in all directions lately, which, I suppose, is proof of his TV presenting credentials.
Chris Beardshaw is another favourite .... he's nearer my own age, very easy on the eye (though I know that shouldn't really matter), never snotty, obviously very knowledgeable, very passionate and a fantastic designer as well as being a talented gardener (the two don't always go together). I think he has a real "way" of explaining things & comes across as a very good teacher.
I do also like Christine Walkden - very much - though I know she's not everyone's cup of tea. She just seems so nice (so far as you can ever tell) albeit how shall I say, somewhat "eccentric". I appreciate that conviviality alone does not a good TV presenter make but personally, I enjoy seeing *nice* real people getting excited about something I do too, and "style" (both personal, and of presenting) doesn't really matter to me.
Variety is the spice of life!
This thread shows that presenters appeal to us for a range of reasons. Some of us are swept up by enthusiastic, bon homie types; others are in awe of knowledge and sound tips; the images,narration and music 'rings bells' too and for some (names witheld to protect the innocent) an attractive presenter (eg tight jeans bent over veg plot or border)is the 'cherry on the cake'.
I think to please us 'punters' the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should offer a different mystery guest gardener slot every week.Or a diary section of whatever these presenters are currently working on. This would boost viewing figures if it was a secret ... a surprise!
A guest pest of the week (not human of course)
A new product analysis
Seed and weed of the week
Viewers garden gallery montage(with music)
Weather check with tips for extremes
Etc etc
Hienz 57 varieties of presenters please because everyone has something to bring to the staging!
MLx
1: Geoff Hamilton. There was something very special about him. And, yes, I've ordered the DVD.
2: Montagu Don. Another one who knows that gardens are more than the sum of their plants. I'm sure he and GH would have got on.
3: Geoffrey Smith.
4: Bob Flowerdew.
Thank for the story - I was almost there in the moment with you!
Rest girl - don't get over excited.
Having just watched the Countryfile forecast, at least the weather is not going to be good enough to tempt you into doing anything daft like gardening - maybe Tuesday you could have look round - if you are allowed.
J
X
BJ glad you know what I mean.
It's the self taught thing that I like as well - as most of us are
J
Monty for day to day gardening and Matt James for design.
Oh and geoff is my all time fav.
, in reply to message 30.
This posting has been hidden during moderation because it broke the in some way.
, in reply to message 31.
This posting has been hidden during moderation because it broke the in some way.
Alan T for his sense of humour, knowledge and for just being down to earth and believable.
Chris Beardshaw, again, really knowledgeable and passionate about his subject - (ok I do wish he was passionate about me but a girl can't have everything!!)
James Martin - although not a gardener, his Digs Deep series in his veggie garden was great!
I like Monty but think he can sometimes be a bit serious.
Afraid I cannot stand Christine nor Sarah Raven, but each to their own, we can't all be the same.
It is just as well that I have signed on today, (haven't been on for ages - hope you are all well!) as I think this thread needs my support for Chris B!
Definitely my favourite tv gardener!
, in reply to message 34.
Posted by MycotalWarrior (U7797013) on Thursday, 26th July 2007
My favorite gardener is Bob Flowerdew, because his surname has got the word flower in it.
Mycowaz.
Oh Mycowaz, I’d never considered that angle before but gee your right, Bob Flowerdew is pretty damn cool isn’t he?
Anyone who dares to wear a hairstyle like that must be rock. And all that organic malarkey and homemade equipment made out of recycled stuff? Well cool.
WARRIOR SPIRIT!
‘Inside every man lives the seed of a flower
If he looks within he finds beauty and power
ba ba ba ba bah ba ba bah bah ba ba, ba ba ba baba bah....’
Bob Flowerdew is pretty damn cool isn’t he?Â
Had your breakfast Jenny??
[IMG]/IMG]
Not only is he cool David, in that picture it looks as though he could be pretty damn chilly!!
Perhaps it was taken during last year's heatwave!!
Hope you had a good night & are ready for this sunny day.
Feeling better today thank you David. Thought I was coming down with flu yesterday
But am going to take it easy, just in case.
(by the way, aren't tv gardeners just simply fascinating??? Got a bit of a soft spot for Joe Swift myself what with him being virutally Apple's twin n'all)
Oh David! I wish i hadn't seen that.
David
I don't suppose you have a similar pick of Monty, do you?
HappilymarriedbutgotacrushonMontyNewjaneta
Mine has to be
Christine Walkden - a funny, genuine and warm lady
And for the males then Simon Harrison-Knibbs - but not sure if he is still around
Anyone know?
Christine is appearing on our screens ´óÏó´«Ã½ in August think just a couple of nights
Jenny Wrenn
Hello Jenny Wrenn
Haven't seen you around in a long while! My fave is Chris Beardshaw because he is so good at presenting and so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I also like Carol Klein and Pippa Greenwood although she's not seen very often these days.
My favourite is definately Monty Don as well. He is cool, cute and easy to understand.
My favourite is Monty Don as well, although it was Alan's books that I bought.
Dan Pearson for his gentle, knowledgeable style.
Have to admit I've got a bit of a soft spot for Dan the Man.
I emailed him about his coyote willow (salix exigua) but he never responded I'd looked up the latin name and everything.
I did get an email from one of my colleagues pretending to be working on the gardening team of the Observer saying, 'leave Dan alone, we know you're not really interested in the salix whatsists'.... I think they found this amusing.
Jenny
Are you a bit loose where gardening celebrities are concerned?
First Monty, now Dan.
Just asking , my dear!
J
Are you calling me a horticultural hussy newj??? How very dare you.
It's not the celebrity gardeners as such, just gardners per say. Something about all that dirt under the finger nails. Does it for me everytime.
Have to say though, it's Beej whose the one for me although in my more insane moments I think I may have a teeny weeny crush on Uncle Noodles.
By the way Dan, if you looking in. I went ahead with the salix thingmiwhatsits anyway and have probably gone and put it in completely the wrong place and now it will grow enourmous and look stupid and ruin my entire garden and you know whose fault that is going to be don't you?
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