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Not watching GW because of Toby?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by auntiemand (U14596837) on Wednesday, 1st September 2010
I'm not a fan of Toby but have continued to watch the show because I need my gardening fix and love Carole.
However, loads of people I know have stopped watching as they don't like him. My Mother is one, two of my neighbours, plus more than half a dozen of my colleagues.
I wonder if the viewing figures reflect this or it's just an isolated blip.
BTW, I see TBG is well received on here. I only found it on iPlayer earlier this year and love it to bits. Content superior to GW and such lovely presenters. -
Message 2
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Wednesday, 1st September 2010
Too much veg on Beechgrove for me
Toby is ok as a presenter but I couldn't miss GW just because of who was presenting it.........I even watched it when it was presented by the ( imo ) dreadful Mr Don.It is the only gardening programme we have and I couldn't miss my ( somewhat irregular ) weekly fix of gardening
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Message 3
Posted by drwalter (U1365507) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
I'm not too sure what "(imo)" (see previous message) means but MONTY DON was/is a terrfic television presenter and an excellent horticulurist.
But I do wonder if the "heart issue" was the 100% reason why he left GW, or was it more an attempt by the production team executive to "dumb-down" the magazine programme? -
Message 4
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
The original poster seems more intrested in presenters then gardening.
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Message 5
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
I beg to differ on all counts re M.Don, but that's the beauty of opinion
i.m.o. means - in my opinion
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Message 6
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
dr-who-21
I'm not too sure what "(imo)" (see previous message) means but MONTY DON was/is a terrfic television presenter and an excellent horticulurist. Â
imo - in my opinion
Monty Dull was a terrible TV presenter and excellent at self promotion with little to back it up
IMHO - with an honest in there somewhere
But I do wonder if the "heart issue" was the 100% reason why he left GW, or was it more an attempt by the production team executive to "dumb-down" the magazine programme?Â
Game was up................ -
Message 7
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Thursday, 2nd September 2010
Well said RowanCottage - my sentiments entirely
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Message 8
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Terrible? Terrible? Terrible is a powerful word RowanCottage and completely inappropriate to descibe MD this way. He's so 'terrible' that the Beeb asked him to present further programmes. I've always liked him a lot and am certain that the majority of us miss him a lot. GW has never been the same since he left and is only now reaching an 'acceptable' level.
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Message 9
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
It was he who initiated its downfall. He is, and always has been, a bandwaggoner. His lack of horticultural training did neither him nor the programme any favours. He started the slide down the slippery slope and Toby has just managed to locate the brake
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Message 10
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
I tend to side with Paul on this one. Monty Don was/is a good gardener - though perhaps a little too earnest for some tastes. However, under his stewardship, GW seemed to lunge into the blurry/wizzy/spinning camerawork which the majority of us detested. I was sorry to see Monty Don depart, but am greatly puzzled at his remarkable recovery to broadcasting, and I can't be the only one who wonders whether his undoubted health problems were a convenient method of leaving the sinking ship. Gardeners' World has improved out of all recognition this year, but the site and the personnel could easily be improved. I think Alan Titchmarsh has a bit of a hard neck suggesting that the programme has 'dumbed down', as I've thought exactly the same about some of his subsequent projects. I think in the meantime, we're just going to have to be grateful that we've a programme that's mostly watchable again.
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Message 11
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
I do agree that Monty was the start of a slippery slope. He was too earnest and preachy with a tendency to the hair shirt side of organic gardening and also rather naive. However there were some gems during his reign.
I too feel that the heath situation was convenient but then I too would have been panicked by a stroke, however minor, at that age and supposed level of fitness. I think, on the whole, that Monty is simply a man of passing enthusiasms and his appetite for GW had waned so he took the opportunity to back off and seek new pastures, literally.
As for AT, I don't recall ever seeing a bad GW emission in his reign. Some were less ineresting to me - I don't do alpines or jungle - but none were boring or badly presented and filmed.
He too has gone on to new ventures and I don't think it's fair to call those dumbed down. They are what they are and are not a shadow of some former self. They are not particularly to my taste but they do reflect hios wide variety of interests so why shouln't he do them if someone is willing to pay and others are willing to watch? I'm looking forward to his next venture into gardening programmes and hope it comes soon.
As for Toby and GW, he has long since lost my trust and respect for any advice he gives but I do agree that this year's GW is a lot better than last year's but then that's not difficult is it? Last year was dire.
Before anyone asks why I contnue to watch, there are the gems from Carol, teh occasional interesting visit, the slots frm RHS gardeners and other experts and, just occasionally, a bit of useful info such as the tip about cutting back echinaceas to build vigour. -
Message 12
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
The last series MD did of GW you could see he had the hump over something,he just came over very * off to me then he went.
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Message 13
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Monty had a stoke - something that has happened both in my family and to two close friends
So, it seems , he decided to give up a gruelling schedule for G w and concentrate on recovering.
Many people never wotk again after a stroke -
Why the second guessing and animosity????.
He was ill and decided to change his life a little.
That's all! -
Message 14
Posted by Sparky (U6716422) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
I'm just looking forward to AW's new programs.
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Message 15
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Quite.
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Message 16
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Sorry, the 'quite' referred to Nooj's post.
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Message 17
Posted by auntiemand (U14596837) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Well Pumpkin Patch Paul I find that somewhat insulting.
I have three gardens. A flower garden with lawn at the front, a courtyard garden with flowers and veggies in pots at the side and an offset vegetable / wildlife garden at the back. In addition I 'garden' the large pond adjacent to my house.
I recently won the 'best garden(s) in the village' competition. I would post a link but that would reveal my identity which I'm not about to do.
Pop that in your pipe.
My post was merely motivated by what I think and others have said.
I quite liked Monty, but agree that it was not the best GW period. There again I'm still yearning for more Percy Thrower despite being way under 50.
I still have fuchsias that my Gran nicked from his garden!
My fave will always be Geoff. I was working for the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú when he died and the outpouring of sadness was so moving.
Wish I hadn't bloody posted now. -
Message 18
Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Friday, 3rd September 2010
Well said RowanCottage - my sentiments entirelyÂ
And mine. I watched all the gardening programmes on the (now sadly missed) Gardening Chanel. I watched the repeats and the repeats of the repeats. But, after a couple of months of MD I, unlike Lowena, actually stopped watching GW altogether. Some of my friends who did the same, have never watched it since - even though he's no longer there. -
Message 19
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 4th September 2010
Auntiemand - don't be faint hearted. Plenty of people agree with you. Others don't.
Views on this board in particular are strongly held and strongly expressed and there are often opposing camps of fans and opinions. Part of life's rich tapestry. -
Message 20
Posted by auntiemand (U14596837) on Saturday, 11th September 2010
Thanks Obelixx. I've been too intimidated to come back on here for days.
I still think that was a snide and unnecessary comment.
Hey ho. -
Message 21
Posted by Fatbob70 (U10353157) on Wednesday, 15th September 2010
It can be difficult when a familiar presenter is replaced on a programme, it takes time to get used to another presenter's approach and style, and sometimes perhaps a new face will just not 'click' with you. However without a change once in a while things would get very dull. GW has a particularly difficult job pleasing all the various niches and levels of expertise of all us gardening fans out there, but I personally think this year the programme has done a good job of finding it's feet again.
I recall that Monty's departure was rather unexpected and Toby was drafted in at short notice, into a brand new garden, and as a result last year's series felt a little bit rudderless at times.
This year Toby has had time to settle into the lead role and some of the less successful bits of last year have been quietly dropped (cool wall anybody?). Now I'm finding myself rather drawn to Toby's friendly approach and dry sense of humour, and particularly appreciate the practical hints and tips that he shares with us. I like Toby ! -
Message 22
Posted by RedCauli (U14159680) on Wednesday, 15th September 2010
Me, too, Fatbob
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Message 23
Posted by auntie-meme (U14611673) on Friday, 24th September 2010
And me!
I'm a new gardener and I find it all very inspiring, shame it's dark after it finishes, otherwise I'd be out there straight after the show!
I think this is the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú at it's best, educating and inspiring while trying new formats and switching things up.
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