Charlie and John cut tape on show
TV STARS John Craven and Charlie Dimmock are to open the 2017 Southport Flower Show.
The popular broadcasters will formally declare the start of the four-day event, partnered by Everest, on Thursday August 17.
They join a line-up of celebrities at Southport which includes some of Britain’s best-known gardening experts and stars of children’s TV Justin Fletcher and Mr Bloom.
John and Charlie are household names with careers spanning decades, and are still entertaining audiences on top-rated TV shows.
John has been a regular fixture on the BBC since he first presented John Craven’s Newsround in 1972.
He started presenting Countryfile in 1989 and still hosts the programme today.
He said: “This will be my first time at Southport, and I’m thrilled for the opportunity to speak at the Celebrity Theatre. I have always heard wonderful things about the show and the quality of the gardens and displays, so I also can’t wait to see what Southport has to offer.”
Charlie shot to fame in the 1990s as part of the presenting team for the hit BBC show Ground Force.
She went on to star in a string of gardening programmes and reality shows, and returned to TV last year with a BBC1 show, Garden Rescue.
Charlie will be returning to Southport for the first time in 18 years as she was a celebrity guest in 1999 when she was presenting Ground Force.
More than 50,000 visitors are expected at Southport, the UK’s largest independent flower show, which runs from Thursday, August 17 to Sunday, August 20 at Victoria Park in Southport.
As well as the floral displays, the show has a packed programme of family entertainment, including a Minecraft fan convention as well as the top stars from children’s TV.
For tickets and more details visit th Southport Flower Show website at: www.southportflowershow.co.uk