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John Cushnie article

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

  I've just come across this rather well written article about GW, and the points me makes still hold good today.
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

  Interesting reading, especially this paragraph -
  
  "Now there is to be a change in the nation's favourite television programme on gardening. There will be new people at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã deciding which items will be featured, how they will be covered and what kind of gardener they are aimed at."
  
  I've lost count of the number or people here who think this new production team is a disaster. They have dumbed down GW to the point where millions are voting with their remote control and no longer viewing. I hope, but rather doubt, that Toby has the gravitas and confidence to stand up for gardeners and pull GW back to where it should be.
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

  I've lost count of the number or people here who think this new production team is a disaster. 
  I had previously started to respond to Paul's post along similar lines, but aborted when I reflected on how often I'd said much the same thing so often in the past (I bore myself, never mind board friends). However, since you've once again risen above the parapet, I thought I'd better offer some 'backup' to this worthwhile cause.
  
  You're right to remind us that it's the production team who are to blame. Most of the names mentioned in the newspaper article referred to, weren't personalities as we think of them today, but they never ever had to act to display passion for their subject - it was present naturally, and the viewer knew this. There was no need for ludicrous camerawork, as the average viewer could handle seeing a static scene without the need for a whizzy/blurry/behind a hedge style of delivery. There's no doubt that basic gardening is a simple pleasure, and in reality it's far removed from the gatling gun approach of the current production team. I'd assume that I'm not alone in finding the garden a wonderfully tranquil place to reflect on many matters not related to gardening (while working hard, of course), and anything that suggests that it's something approaching a white-knuckle ride is both just silly and dishonest. I worry that my wife and I regularly watch DVD's of many of the wonderful programmes of yesteryear, while gladly missing many of the current crop of offerings as they appear. This just shouldn't be. Like Obelixx, I also wonder whether Toby can pull it off (I certainly hope so), but wonder if he'll just be the mug who'll stick to the pre-arranged script. I'm certain GW will never get to where I'd like it to be, while the present production team are at the helm. I would just love to see them get the chop (cue overly-sensitive board member who thinks I'm advocating execution, and must tell the Mods immediately), and be replaced by people who have some idea what gardening is all about. I still have an old 'Practical Gardening' book which my father gave me (male gardeners always had a wastecoat and a pipe in these days, and female gardeners were strangely absent), and most of what was illustrated in these old black and white captions are as valid today as they were back in the dark ages. Therefore the plethora of current TV gardeners have to try and win a following by indulging in gimmicks. Flapping hands and false excitement, bike and dog, gregarious mockney down at the allotment - all designed to distinguish them from their contemporaries. If only we could get back to a GW which just let us watch an expert get on with day to day tasks in an environment we can recognise as 'normal'.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Little Cornflower (U12037777) on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

  How did you manage to find an article which is 5 yrs old?! That's slow reading by anyones counting!!
  Seriously though - I agree with the sentiments and also doubt whether Toby will emerge stronger than the "trendy production team"
  We can but hope

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

  I really believe that Toby has got what it takes to stand up for gardeners and pull GW back to where it should be. Over he past couple of days I’ve been watching repeats GH’s and AT’s GW programmes, on Sky. No matter how many times I see these repeats, I never get tired of watching them. I’m a fanatical plant person, but have no interest whatsoever in growing veg, Shortly after MD took over GW I started taping the programme - then, for obvious reasons, started fast forwarding through most of it, However, in the last couple of years I’ve even forgotten GW was on. This is from a person who – saddo that I may sound – could honestly say that Friday night TV was the highlight of my life. I know there are people who like to grow veg. It never bothered me watching it on GH’s or AT’s programmes. The difference was that in those days it was in proportion to the amount of time spent on it, in relation to the number of people interested in it. It is a fact that – for whatever reason - the vast majority of gardens do not have any veg growing in them. The totally ‘out of proportion’ amount of time spent on MD’s ‘hobby’ is what has turned all my dedicated GW fans (of many years standing) completely off GW. Will Toby get the viewers back?? - Well, I’ve asked a couple of my friends what they think of GW, now that MD is no longer in charge. They have all replied “I stopped watching it after MD took over, and so didn’t know it was ‘under new management’.
  
  I think, as a person, Joe Swift is a really likeable guy. As he has had so many critics on his allotment thing, could he not put his efforts into designing a garden for Chelsea – as this is supposed to be his ‘profession’. Rachel did it, and she is not a professional designer.
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Bluedoyenne (U2341157) on Friday, 9th January 2009

  Personally I think TB is very different to the 3 presenters who went before him. The 3 had charisma and sheer passion for what they were doing.
  
  TB is wooden and has the delivery of a bad actor. Watching him I am always aware that he's just 'doing a job' and for that reason, I hope he does not stay around GW for long.

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