BBC’s new recipe for Gardeners’ World
The BBC is hoping to “make gardening the next baking” by bringing the success of The Great British Bake Off to Gardeners’ World. The programme will be doubled in length to one hour, with a rotating roster of younger presenters alongside Monty Don and a number of new features that – in a nod to Bake Off – will include “passionate amateurs”. It is part of an attempt to attract a wider, younger audience who do not necessarily have big gardens at home.
OVER the past six years The Great British Bake Off has been transformed from a minor BBC Two show into a television juggernaut, turning baking from a niche preserve of the Women’s Institute into a national pastime.
Now the BBC is hoping to sprinkle some Bake Off magic on to Gardeners’ World by bringing in the producer responsible for last year’s hugely successful series, won by Nadiya Hussein, which was seen by audiences of up to 15 million.
BBC bosses say they want to “make gardening the next baking”.
From this Friday, the programme fronted by Monty Don will double in length to one hour, with a rotating roster of additional younger presenters and a number of new features that – in a nod to Bake Off – will include “passionate amateurs”.
While the BBC is keen to make clear that Don, who broadcasts from his two-acre garden in Herefordshire, will still be the main attraction, Paolo Proto, the new executive producer, said the show had to learn from Bake Off and reach out to a younger audience who did not live in houses with large gardens.
Mr Proto said: “Lots of people love Monty and live vicariously through him, but there are a lot of people out there who are gardening on a different scale.” Gardeners’ World typically attracts an audience of between 2 million and 2.5 million.
Mr Proto said: “We need to get new faces that appeal to a wider audience. If Bake Off just had 50-year-old people baking on it, I don’t think it would be as popular as it is today.”
The new presenters include Frances Tophill, a 28-year-old who has previously featured alongside Alan Titchmarsh on ITV’s Love Your Garden, programme’s former presenter. Flo Headlam’s broadcasts about city gardening will be aimed at encouraging young professionals. Mr Proto, who is in his 40s, said: “I personally don’t fall into the Gardeners’ World demographic, but I go outside and potter in the garden. “But I wouldn’t have watched Gardeners’ World. If we can bring in younger faces, there will be more people in my age group talking to me.” Mr Proto said that Gardeners’ World had similarities to Bake Off because “nothing bad happens”. He said: “We will not talk down to people. Most people who watch it on a Friday crack open a bottle of wine and see what Monty’s up to. To change that would be foolish.” The BBC tried before to revamp Gardeners’ World. In 2009, it was extended to an hour and introduced a “cool wall”, similar to that in Top Gear. It was panned by viewers and soon returned to a 30-minute slot. Mel Giedroyc will present tonight’s episode of Bake Off alone after co-presenter Sue Perkins missed filming due to a family bereavement.