Monty is leaving Gardeners World

[ProfessorofDarkArts]

Couldn’t see a thread on this, just been announced. Who do people think will replace him? My money is on Frances Tophill who I quite like but not sure she has her own garden. Adam Frost has recently moved to a bigger space but I’d be very surprised if it was a straight middle aged white male this being the BBC.

Yes agreed @JinglingSpringbells , I don't blame him at all.

I like Nick Bailey, has a soothing voice like Monty and I've liked seeing his garden. Haven't seen him on there recently but I don't watch every episode now.

Adam is good but I can't avoid watching his hands, they never stop moving and it's really distracting. So it's a no from me.

I still look at Geoff’s Paradise Gardens book for inspiration. It’s relevant and beautiful.

I liked Christine Walkden and she’s knowledgeable.

Her professional horticultural training is zero.

I'm going to throw Charlie Dimmock's name into the pot

Oh please no! Charlie’s voice is like nails down a blackboard 😱

This is going to be like Strictly with guess the presenter. DH reckons he won't watch it if it's Adam, I don't mind him but prefer Frances

I like Christine Walkden on GQT. But she's Monty's age, it's unlikely she wants the GW workload.

@Sminty2 I still have Geoff's Paradise Gardens and Cottage Gardens books.❤

I think the whole programme needs a rethink.
We're in an age now when youtube is available - and AI- where it's very easy to find out how to plant your daffs or prune your roses.

It's become dated - same kind of content as 30 years ago.

I don't know what it needs but it needs a revamp.

i Like Adam Frost he is knowledgeable but down to earth and more relatable. The last garden he was doing was much smaller and as he was changing it it was useful for newer gardeners.

I don't want anyone with a giant garden. Montys sheds are the same size as my garden and it really winds me up.
A normal large garden will do. And no one with a potting shed.
Do want more GW dogs or cats. Or even guinea pigs.

It will always be a bit repetitive as gardens will always follow a cycle and the seasons. I can cope with the endless bulb planting, pruning, veg sowing routine.

If rogue names are being presented, what about the BBC rooting (pun intended) for Jo Whiley? Not a gardener but enthusiastic amateur? It is the type of change that the BBC loves. A presenter with a bit of showbiz, the fact she has no expertise would be nothing to them. The BBC likes to destroy its successful programmes for some odd reason.

Thanks for this, I'd never heard of him. Very likeable.
I'd be very happy if it was Huw Richards too, although I tend to get distracted by the sound of his voice instead of what he is saying!
GW does need a proper shakeup.
Too many arty close-ups of unnamed flowers.
Not enough how-to-garden sustainably in the current climate.
And I'm not remotely interested in anyone's national collection of anything!

I would be extremely pissed off if Jo Whiley had anything to do with it! I But I could see it happening although I know as much about gardening as she does - a reasonable amount but nothing more. I hate how everyone thinks they can be an expert now instead of just sticking to what they're good at. May as well give it to David bloody Beckham!

She's certainly very spritely. I've always imagined she'd be a bit of a laugh.

I'm sad Monty is leaving. His sections of GW are so calming and I love his dog and garden.

I hope Frosty presents more and Frances and Joe Swift. I like Arit too and Carol K, obviously. I also really like Advoli (not sure about spelling). She does a lot of historical garden stuff and has a really lovely voice.

I like Sue Kent and Rekha and Rachel because they're all very knowledgeable.

I found Arthur Parkinson a bit pompous so I'm glad he's not on anymore.

There's another younger guy as well, but I can't remember his name, he's good.

Nooooo 😱😱😱😱

If the producers are reading… it sounds like Frances is the forerunner with guest spots for everyone?

I think the whole format needs changing.
I was incredibly bored with it lately- the predictable 'jobs for the season' and visiting gardens that were a bit quirky.

Maybe what they need to do is consider climate change and how the future of gardens will look.

She's too young doesn't have enough gravitas IMO.

AND she's also said in an interview that she doesn't want the job- says it's too much TV and she prefers gardening to filming all week.

I like Advolly too, but she's a historian rather than hands-on gardener.

I think GW is more a magazine type programme nowadays, where you look at people's lovely massive gardens and wonder how much it cost them to scrape out that lake and plant 50 mature trees. If you want genuine gardening tips and advice, GQT is far better.

Thoroughly agree on the national collection thing! Especially when it's succulents/cacti.... yawn. Niche interests is what youtube is for! Gardeners' world is for beautiful camera work, snippets of NEW knowledge (espcially related to sustainability as you say) but for me also just a relaxing end to the week looking at beautiful and characterful gardens. I'm good with the arty close ups but yes always put the name up!

I'm fond of an arty closeup, but NAME THAT PLANT pleeeeeeease!
I like Beechgrove for your actual gardening info, but by the time it's happening in Scotland it's too late for me (unless I haven't quite got around to it yet........)

Agree that it could do with a revamp, although I would disagree about the national or specialist collections though. Two of my friends have been on GW with theirs.

Maybe they could do something they've not done before and team up with either the National Trust or English Heritage and totally revamp an abandoned garden that needs to be restored. That could then be the GW garden instead of it belonging to a presenter, and it could be developed over a number of years.

I like the idea of revamping a garden that needs restored @Cotopaxi . There was someone in the west of Scotland, IIRC, who was on either GW or Beechgrove who was going to come back every so often to let us see the progress but I've not seen him since.

It would be a good idea to do sections with the same for small gardens, if one has got too much for an owner, how to make it more manageable, or if they've bought a house and don't know where to start. But it would be need to be done more in real time than the "we've only got two days to fill the garden with decking!" shite.