TV and Radio permalink
Why the competition?
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Message 1.Â
Posted by green-buddha (U11615833) on Friday, 5th December 2008
I loved tonight's GW. Looking around those folks own gardens was a beautiful and inspiring treat. But I don't need or want to see them scrabbling to compete against each other to create a mini and artifical masterpiece. I'll settle for what I have seen so far - the real gardens. I won't bother with the competition.
By the way, has it struck anyone else as odd how Toby always seems to pick an overcast day at Berryfields to film his intros and links? Could it possibly be that he made several programme's worth on the same afternoon? Surely not. And what was he trying to shake out of that bag onto that book - some of Carol's saved seeds perhaps? If so, I think that Joe must have got there before him. -
Message 2
Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Friday, 5th December 2008
I agree.
A program about their gardens would keep me happy.J. -
Message 3
Posted by Goldilocks (U2169760) on Sunday, 7th December 2008
Just like you, Green Buddha, my immediate reaction was that Toby had shot three weeks' worth of intros on teh same day, and from the very same spot too. Dear oh dear, GW producers - shoddy stuff.
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Message 4
Posted by midnightsweetpotato (U13739295) on Friday, 12th December 2008
We could not agree more. Liked the view of their own gardens but the final on 12th December was totally ungardener like in being so competitive. The competition was fine but why humiliate the contestants when they lose. All these competitors were good gardeners and we liked their willingness to have a go. But we don't need to see people reduced to tears when they don't do as well as the others.
I am sure the competitors themselves would have been happy to compete in a friendly way.
Are we alone in thinking the competition was handled tastelessly??
Let's keep the X factor out of gardening!! -
Message 5
Posted by green-buddha (U11615833) on Friday, 12th December 2008
To have a sergeant-major type bawling out across a tranquil garden "PUT YOUR TOOLS DOWN AND STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING" for me just about sums up everything that is wrong with this type of programme. When was the last time you heard Monty, Chris, or Alan shout? Those who are at home in a garden enjoy the peace of it.
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Message 6
Posted by bobbarber (U13504608) on Saturday, 13th December 2008
I Could`nt agree more with the above posters. To me gardening is all about co-operating and sharing with others...Bob
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Message 7
Posted by msMUDDY-BOOTS (U13742065) on Sunday, 14th December 2008
Like you I found the competition awful and not a true reflection of the individual skills and strengths the gardeners had to offer. The eliminations were humiliating.
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Message 8
Posted by Gianttrowel (U10674701) on Monday, 15th December 2008
It really wasn't as bad as you think. We all had a good two days together. We all knew what was coming. At the end of the day it's just a light entertainment programme.
Cheers
GT -
Message 9
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Monday, 15th December 2008
Yes it is GT but the final product we saw on our screens after being cut down from your two days of competing left much to be desired.
I'm very pleased you and Trillium - and all the other contestants - did so well and enjoyed yourselves but the format of the competition, the quality of the camera work and its editing, the lack of chance for we viewers to see clearly what you were all doing etc etc was very frustrating.
On any other quiz show on TV, the audience has the opportunity to answer the questions. When a competition involves a race or a task we generally get to see quite a lot of detail of each individual performance - think Formula 1, athletics, strongest man, but on GOTY we just get seconds of flashy camera work, poor content and a fake build up of tension.
Nor do I think the format of the competition and the various tests lead to a fair assessment of all round skills and knowledge. I wish the Ö÷²¥´óÐã would aim higher and risk satisfying the needs of a more discerning audience than it seems to think we are. -
Message 10
Posted by rambling_rose (U8156916) on Monday, 15th December 2008
I'm glad it was fun to do, but I've been a bit disappointed by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's quality of program making. For example, it was great to see everyone's garden and hear their thoughts on what they have been up to since winning the competition. But, I did find it rather repetitive after seeing a special program on the previous winners... Maybe I'm just more addicted to gardening telly than most?
I guess I need to get out more, but I find the 'links' that Toby does to be a bit spurious. If Toby explained what he was doing then shaking a bag might not seem so random and distracting?!
...I hope I'm not being grumpy due to having a cold...
On a different note, I thought that when Sue said she doesn't see gardening as a competition it was quite profound! -
Message 11
Posted by GrumpyofIfield (U13742932) on Monday, 15th December 2008
Could not agree more. See my comment under "No Gladiators in the garden, Please!!
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Message 12
Posted by TallyHo (U2364821) on Monday, 15th December 2008
The problem is 'the Formula'...
"I know", say the GW producers, "we're losing viewers, so why don't we import this (already stale) formula of so-called successful programmes like the X-Factor or Strictly and bolt it onto Gardeners World?"
So they do. Next thing you know they'll be doing the same with reality tv nurses (which patient gets the lifesaving drug) or reality tv police (which can get the most detection to convictions).
Yawn! -
Message 13
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Monday, 15th December 2008
The problem is 'the Formula'... Â
The problem has always been the formula - I don't think that anyone can doubt the calibre of the participants. I stopped watching it years ago when it simply no longer had any significance for me. I would assume that we're still spared a squealing audience, a dolly bird, and an occasional custard pie - but give them time.
Gardening is a wonderfully rewarding pastime, and to those that are smitten by it, it simply doesn't need gimmicks of any description to give it additional appeal. The knowledgable viewer knows who is 'passionate', without the need for any presenter to continually tell us. It's devalued by shoddy camerawork, and limp dialogue. Monty once told us that even Geoff Hamilton's programmes were heavily orchestrated, and yet the finished article was a delight for the viewer. My personal feeling remains that nothing will change until we clear out the current production team, and replace them with adults. As I've said on several occasions now, with every disappointment I find myself caring less and less about TV gardening. -
Message 14
Posted by Goldilocks (U2169760) on Monday, 15th December 2008
Hi Ken,
couldn't have said it better (or as well). I reckon they give the production job to 'wet behind the ears' graduate trainees just out of Media Studies - no big deal if they screw it up - it's a minority viewer programme. I'll bet the likes of Geoff Hamilton or Alan Titchmarsh would have told them where to get off. -
Message 15
Posted by dirtygran (U4794888) on Monday, 15th December 2008
Goldilocks, you are absolutely right. When the credit squeeze turns into the collapse of the Western world as we know it, then lots of people are going to turn back to the land, and us lot are going to be the new gurus. O happy day.
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Message 16
Posted by Gaynor Witchard (U11583299) on Monday, 15th December 2008
Ken, what have you 'stopped watching years ago'? Whatever it is, why are you compelled to comment on something you don't watch anymore, and how can you possibly comment if you don't watch it?
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Message 17
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Ken, what have you 'stopped watching years ago'?Â
I had assumed that this thread was primarily discussing the GOTY programmes - with a few references to gardening in general. Is this not the case?
Whatever it is, why are you compelled to comment on something you don't watch anymore, and how can you possibly comment if you don't watch it?Â
You obviously don't recognise the foolishness of this question, so I'll explain it to you. I did watch the annual 'challenge' for many years, until it started to become something that had less to do with gardening expertise, and more to do with 'showbiz'. When I catch a glimpse of the private gardens of many of the contestants, I realise that they are indeed 'top notch' gardeners who have been devalued by an insulting format. While I no longer look at the programme, I DO read the comments of fellow boarders whose opinions I have come to respect, and their descriptions of the programme remind me of the very reasons I've long since ditched the programme. In addition, I keep stumbling across previews of the programme, which always seem to perplex me with swirling camerawork etc. (a sure sign that the programme is aimed at the lower end of the market). Now, if I had continued to watch the programme, and then came to the board to bleat about it, what then would you say? You would say 'If you don't like it, why do you watch it?', so it would appear that I can't win. Like many others, I would like to see and admire these fine gardeners, and feel extremely annoyed that the format devalues the whole occasion. I trust this explains the situation.
I could have made my response more succinct, but as you know, there is at least one poor sensitive soul lurking on the board, and I've got to ensure that my tone remains civil. I know you'll understand. -
Message 18
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
By way of lightening the tone a little, Pete, who works with me in the garden, called it perfectly this morning. He took the proferred mug of tea, sucked on his fag, and greeted me with 'Well you b***dy cocked that up didn't you!
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Message 19
Posted by Amazing (U7102651) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Aye Trillium you can't stand up for someone kicking your feet away.
Congrats anyway I enjoyed the programme. -
Message 20
Posted by kath74 (U8999103) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Well done Trillium & GT.
Seeing as here on the boards we're impartial between the 2 of you, I thought it was clever of them to let Katherine win.
OH loved GT's border, as he's no gardener this is quite remarkable. It was my favourite too, are there planting plans available? Not that our conditions in any way resemble Cornwall in 2040, but still.
Agree with most of the comments about the programme. I don't see why they couldn't have dropped 2 contestants at once, so no one was last. -
Message 21
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Why drop anyone at all? The winner only survived an elimination round by one point.
Who's to say how well the two discarded contestants could have done if allowed to do the whole contest? If they'd done the grafting and jungle sections first, Trillium wouldn't have survived yet she got top marks for her border.
The format and rules need a rethink. I expect the producer is connected to the SCD team in some way. Talk about foreseeable and avoidable opportunities for calamity! -
Message 22
Posted by Gaynor Witchard (U11583299) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Ken
Thanks for the 'foolish' remark. I merely asked you a question because I clearly didn't understand your response to something. I only comment on this board if I think I have something to contribute and I certainly don't go out of my way to be unpleasant or confrontational. Having said that, I will not bother to make anymore comments on this message board...there are too many nasty boarders for my taste. And, no, I do not understand your 'civil' tone at all - I don't think I'd like to know what your 'uncivil' tone would be.
Bye all. -
Message 23
Posted by Goldilocks (U2169760) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
It's one thing someone disagreeing with your opinion, but quite another for someone to question your right to have one!
Like you, Ken, I watched it for one year right to the end, tried it the year after in the hope that they would have learned and improved it, and since then have avoided it but kept a weather eye on the Gardening on TV boards to see if it has been getting better - no such luck.
Next thing it will be Celebrity Gardener of the Year, I'm a Gardener, Get Me Out of Here, and Strictly Gardening.
I am hoping against hope that the last few weeks break from the recent GW format is giving the production team time to review the format of the regular programmes for next spring onwards. -
Message 24
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
Having said that, I will not bother to make anymore comments on this message board...there are too many nasty boarders for my taste.Â
If the 'too many nasty boarders' happens just to be one nasty boarder in particular, I can give you an assurance that I have no intention of continuing a prolonged feud with you or anyone else. In fact, let's just agree that I'll make no future responses to anything you post, and you can reciprocate - end of problems. -
Message 25
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 16th December 2008
At the risk of upsetting the PTB, as a participant I did hope that the resulting programme might be more in depth and enlightening. My own impression watching it was that it was too short and quick-fire to build empathy with the participants and to care much who won if you didn't know anyone in it. By the same token the competition components were appropriately testing, but some were too complex to be explained and enjoyed in a meaningful way to a keen gardener in such short clips.
My Dad said he reached for a pen to try his hand at the P&D round when RdT said 'see how you get on', but the split second footage meant he couldn't - it was over before he wrote a word down.
But, what do I know? I barely watch TV and am not representative as a viewer. A couple came up to me at a motorway service station on Monday and said how much they'd enjoyed it. Either they were just being nice or I am I out of touch with viewers' tastes. Probably the latter... -
Message 26
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Wednesday, 17th December 2008
I really enjoyed it although more detail and less games show would have been better.
However , I do wonder how much less enjoyable it would have been if I hadn't 'known' two of the contestants.
Trillium, I hope you took the mug of tea straight back!
Cheeky beggar!
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