Monty Don and leaving GW - disappointing interview

[LaughterintheRains]

Has anyone else heard or read his interview about how he plans to leave GW?
I feel differently about him now. He's clearly not enjoying it- referring to the 'relentless treadmill' of it. But it's only 6 months of the year anyway and for the rest of the time, he's giving talks on cruises, writing books and making TV progs in faraway places.

I guess what I'm saying is he gives the impression each week of enjoying the programme, yet now he's said he is a bit fed up with it. So I don't feel the same about him anymore.

He also said they needed a new presenter, ideally female, with a more diverse background, not Oxbridge educated, middle class male. I think that's discriminatory at best (should be the best person for the job) but also, his predecessor was Alan Titchmarsh who didn't go to any uni (but trained in horticulture. )

He was evidently pissed off when Don got the job as a 'non-expert hobbyist gardener'. And before that, Geoff Hamilton was not Oxbridge.

I've always had a lot of time for MD (and his MH struggles) but this time I think he's talking out of his and it won't be the same watching the next series knowing he doesn't really want to be doing it.

Carol Klein is knowledgeable but annoying. If she says "all manner of" once more I'll scream

Depth of knowledge and being able to communicate accessibly is key. It's good that gardening has so many enthusiastic people involved in it.

Sue Kent would bring a new perspective. Or Advolly Richmond (though she falls more into the historian camp).

Edited to amend autocorrect stupidity

I had a feeling this series they were lining up Frances to take over, she's got her new garden and seemed to have more slots that she used too. I'd be happy for her to step up after Monty. though I also like Adam (and his cat)

Advolly Richmond no. She is very knowledgeable perhaps but her presenting style is criminally irritating. Very school marm.

Sad to see Monty going but absolutely love Frances Topsoil and has my vote as she is top notch, humble, Interesting, inspiring and I actually learn more things that are useful to me eg about nature/garden connections.

He comes across as very detailed and knowledgeable in his books. I have no doubts that he is an experienced and hands-on gardener who also happens to be good at explaining and simplifying the processes involved.

I love both Monty and Adam. Adam has such a gentle relaxing voice and would definitely be my choice as lead if Monty retired. I also like Frances but Im not sure I’d want her as the main presenter week in week out.

Agree entirely about the viewers gardens. There is way way too much of it. What I would actually like is to see a couple of old clips every week taken from GW but decades ago. That would be really interesting. I also think it should be on all year round. The winter is when we would all benefit both from a bit of beauty on our screens but also encouragement to still get outside and do the numerous jobs that need doing through the winter.

Ooh yes Gardeners World Vintage Edition.

Bring back Geoffrey Smith

Geoff Hamilton was the best. I've got his cottage garden etc DVDs. Lovely stuff.

😜

The interview quoted above and the link to the Guardian interview both read to me like MD is very sensible and measured about his own time on GW and what comes next.

To a large extent is is a treadmill on GW: when you focus on the same garden over and over, much of the years are repetitive. MD does things a certain way and, by now, we've seen him do them over and over again.

To hark back to Alan T or Geoff Hamilton is daft, imo. Both of those presented in entirely different worlds to the one we're in now and, to a large extent, I think MD is saying his presenting of GW is also now starting to belong in the past. All wonderful at their times and in their ways, but everything changes.

Frances and Rehka are excellent, and I'd welcome seeing more of them.

I thought Adam was maybe lining up to take over but his move to the smaller house and the reasons for it, rather suggest he has ruled himself out.

I agree that GW is more of a lifestyle programme but I learn more gardening on Beechgrove. Perhaps it's time for that to change and for GW to become a more educational programme again.

( I will miss MD's dogs, though!)

I've got three banana plants in my (small, new-build) garden!! What does that say about me? I'm not aware that I'm compensating for anything except an absence of banana plants.

I'll miss Monty, but I would like Odd Frances to take over. And yes to getting rid of the awful twee children's videos.

Its all a bit smoke and mirrors in that his garden looks amazing, but he has a large team to get it that way.
Carol Klein may be enthusiastic but last time I saw her she was suggesting ppl but a type of ivy that grows everywhere, for free- including all over trees. So i didn't think much of her advice.

I stopped watching it a few years ago when I discovered that both he and Adam support fox hunting. Instead I started watching Beechgrove and the Carol Klein gardening programmes. They are just as good and even though GW was always a must watch in our house we don't miss it at all now.

The thing with Alan and Geoff, it was about the plants, good practical stuff. No lecturing. No naff viewers seedlings in an old milk carton wobbly footage.

I really like Frances, Rekha, Sue and the wonderful Carol. Used to be a huge Adam fan but really hate his new garden no matter how hard I try to get over myself! I can't get on with Advolly's, slightly cross head mistress presenting style

I think the whole thing needs a revamp.

I detest the 'lets plant some things that I sowed months ago but didn't say I was sowing so is no help whatsoever to anyone else wanting to do it'.

It needs to decide, is it a show about keeping an ornamental garden, teaching people how to prune roses every time without any helpful closeups of what he is actually doing, or a show about veg, or a show about humumgus gardens that very few people will ever have or a show about wobbly out of focus fuzzy home gardens?

It is all over the bloody place.

It needs a plan and to stick to the bloody plan, and show all the stages of the things it is showcasing that year.

I know I’m very much in the minority but I can’t stand him 😁
He talks about “his garden” like it’s an ordinary garden and he’s an ordinary gardener, but he actually owns a country estate looked after by staff, including a head gardener. He’s fallen out with at least one head gardener in the past. I thought he sounded difficult to work for. His occupation is more like “writer and tv presenter” rather than “gardener” as he’s described.
Through all this he’s maintained a “down to earth chap” aura which I never bought. I think he’s ambitious and has the gift of the gab but I don’t find him likeable.
Might start watching GW when they have a new presenter!

Oh and he said he hates chickens (though he keeps them), I can’t forgive that!

I’m not interested in seeing viewers gardens on shaky, pixelated mobile phone footage , people overcoming challenges to garden (impressive though it is) or the peddling of endless diversity. It’s a gardening programme FGS, just show me the plants.

My disability meant I was finding dealing with my garden stressful and overwhelming but seeing Sue Kent and how she deals with some aspects has changed my gardening life. She introduced me to things I didn't know about that I am now using, as a result I can enjoy being more able in the garden and look after those plants that were just a worry to me before. Anything that encourages or enables anyone to make more of their outside space is surely a good thing.

Oh please let us NOT hark back to the days of Alan Titmouse! Unbearable. No thank you!

Does Monty really hate chickens? I thought he said that they had disgusting bottoms, which is true! 😂

Good on him for helping with his local hospice garden. Very important.

GW is quite a hard brief isn’t it? On the one hand you have to have the “seasonal tasks explained” slot for newcomers, and on the other hand all of us old-timers have seen Monty potting up alpines, pruning apple trees, and planting runner beans a thousand times over. You are never going to make everyone happy!

Personally I think the programme needs to go in a much more eco direction overall. Charles Dowding is maybe too busy. Bunny Guinness is probably too posh. Eli and Kate (you tube) are very practical, achieve a lot on a small budget, and explain things well. There are a thousand gardeners who could do the job well.

Btw I absolutely love seeing the gardens of ordinary viewers!

When he does retire if we can have Adam Frost and his cat I would be very happy.

I think he would be a worthy replacement for the lovely Monty and his dogs.

I wish he'd leave - much prefer it when Adam Frost and others present it

I can't remember it's name but the gardening programme filmed in Scotland and broadcast before GW on a Friday night feels like a more realistic version of real life gardening for most people.