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Toby a victim of middle-class traditionalists?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by TotonTops (U14155819) on Sunday, 12th December 2010

  As soon as I saw Toby pouring his ‘potion’ on the compost heap I guessed his days were numbered – the silver haired middle-class traditionalists would never stand for it! As a 40year male who has only recently got a garden (but nevertheless watched gardening programmes as long as I can remember) I welcomed the more ‘youthful’ approach that Toby, Alys and Joe brought to GW. Alan Titchmarsh was way too twee and orientated towards the mature ladies section of the gardening fraternity (a point reinforced by his most recent appearance on TV). I’m afraid I’m too young to remember any presenters before that.
  
  While I readily accept that GW has been dumbed down too much, this merely reflects the general trend with Ö÷²¥´óÐã factual programmes. It was also inevitable given the reduction to a 30 minute slot that the features in the programme could never develop any substance and I’m sure Toby had to grit his teeth when showing viewers for the umpteenth time how to water a newly dug in plant (a practice that even I as a relative newbie to gardening took on board the first time).
  
  While I have huge admiration for Monty and have thoroughly enjoyed the passion and personal depth he brings to his programmes, I can only wonder whether his return along with Rachel de Thame will herald a return to the traditional. Surely with the proliferation of Ö÷²¥´óÐã channels there is room for both types of format and longer programmes.
  
  I wish Toby well and only hope that this sad episode in the Ö÷²¥´óÐã’s treatment of GW and it’s presenters at least heralds the return of a more substantive and improved programme.
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Monday, 13th December 2010

  GW has always had a 30 minute slot except, in recent years, when they introduced the hour long specials during the season. Previous incarnations of GW have managed very well to produce coherent, topical, informative, inspiring programmes with just 30 minutes air time using a combination of good production and planning with good presenters.
  
  The 'potion' has been seen before on GW so, though it may be a good compost activator I don't think it was the catalyst for Toby's departure. This is more a case of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã laying blame where it is easiest rather than examining its own prodcution team more closely.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Tuesday, 14th December 2010

  Toby's image certainly influenced how I saw him.
  
  Toby gave me the impression that he was trying to appear 'just like an ordinary bloke next door'.
  
  I think Joe gives out that impression even stronger.
  
  "I'm just a bloke, who knows nothing about running an allotment. But I'll have a go. We're all in this together. We'll find out what works, and what doesn't"
  
  If I actually want some advice from the bloke next door, I can ask him.
  
  Unfortunately, the bloke next door knows *-all about gardening.
  
  I think Toby and Joe aggravated that impression with their daft 30-minute fixes and other jokes. What were we watching - GW, or Laurel and Hardy?
  
  Experience matters, and you need someone more like a headmaster. He might be wrong, but he gives you the feeling that he knows what he's talking about.
  
  Toby and Joe, might be truly expert gardeners. But if they act like clowns, they will be treated as clowns.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Tuesday, 14th December 2010

  As soon as I saw Toby pouring his ‘potion’ on the compost heap I guessed his days were numbered – the silver haired middle-class traditionalists would never stand for it! 
  When I first read this I fell about laughing, it has been done for so many years back through the generations it is more a habit than something to be wondered at.
  Even as a school boy in chemistry (do schools still do that?) I knew it was the uric acid that was the accelerator in such matters, when offering advice on compost queries you will see I do recommend it.
  Then I got a bit heated as I do not know exactly what a silver haired middle class traditionalist is? Could we please have the definition of class, silver hair (mine is white and has been since I was in my twenty's) "oh and traditionalist"?
  I am then assumed to be an avid mature ladies gardeners world viewer because I think Alan is a first class Presenter, one should never make assumptions as they can back fire with nasty results.
  I’m sure Toby had to grit his teeth when showing viewers for the umpteenth time how to water a newly dug in plant (a practice that even I as a relative newbie to gardening took on board the first time). 
  I do ask did you? watering in is not just sprinkling a few drops around a newly "err" buried plant in some cases on GW.
  How much water and for how long for a freshly planted tree of any kind?
  Which plants have to be watered copiously?
  Which plants is it best to water away from the roots to make them go searching for it?
  As in all things each and every thing put into a garden has different needs and a good gardener knows that. It was noted that they quite often forgot to water anything in, now that is a good lesson for any one gardening for the very first time.
  How many times have some of us answered the same questions time and again and why do we do it.
  Well new gardeners come aboard every day who have not seen the boards before they ask the things they need to know and out of courtesy we answer them because they want to know, ask and most of us will tell them and if we do not know we will research the answer, you will never get all of the answers on one programme nor even some of the answers.
  That's life.
  Frank.

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