Monty Don
Known for his affable manner and accessible advice, Monty Don has barely been off our screens since he first graced them over twenty years ago as This Morning’s resident gardener. Lead presenter on Channel 4’s Real Gardens, Fork to Fork, Lost Garden and Around the World in 80 Gardens, a five-year stint on Gardeners’ World and a long-running advice column with the Telegraph, are just a few of the highlights on his ever-growing CV.
Alan Titchmarsh
Like the Wogan of the gardening world, Titchmarsh has become something of a national institution. But he’s more than just a lovable TV personality. Now 67, Titchmarsh began work as an apprentice gardener at just 15, and has studied horticulture at both the Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture and the renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Ground Force, Gardeners’ World and coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show have cemented his place in the TV channals.
Carol Klein
Gardening broadcaster and journalist Carol Klein made her television debut on Gardeners’ World way back in 1989 and has since presented programmes, including Real Gardens and Open Gardens. Best loved for her down-to-earth approach and no-nonsense advice, Klein also writes a regular column for the Guardian, and has penned a number of books, including Making a Garden: Successful Gardening by Nature’s Rules.
Charlie Dimmock
Charlie Dimmock shot to fame in 1997 when she joined the Ground Force team. Since then she has presented The Joy of Gardening and Charlie’s Garden Army and published several gardening books, including the BBC Ground Force books Water Garden Workbook and Container Gardening and Enjoy Your Garden. In July this year, Dimmock returned to our screens as a co-presenter of Garden Rescue, a series on garden transformations, for the BBC.
Rachel de Thame
Gardeners’ World host, and co-host at all major RHS gardening shows for the BBC (including BBC Gardeners World Live and the Chelsea Flower Show), Rachel de Thame has become one of the most highly respected gardeners on our screen. But she doesn’t just talk the talk. De Thame also won a silver medal for her 2008 LK Bennett garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. Check out her green-fingered guides, Small Town Gardener and Rachel de Thame’s Top 100 Star Plants and regular advice column for The Sunday Times.
Toby Buckland
Gardener, TV presenter and author Toby Buckland did the obligatory stint on Gardeners’ World from 2008-10. During that time, he also won RHS Gold and Best in Show for his Ethical Garden at Gardener’s World Live in 2008, and won the Environmental Award from the Garden Media Guild for a Gardeners’ World special on peat. He is also the eponymous founder of Toby Buckland Nurseries.
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