BBC digging deep to deliver flower power
WHERE HAVE ALL the good programmes gone? Has the BBC lost them down the back of the sofa? I’d even take a half-decent show. Or is this the lingering result of the long writers’ strike in America?
Scouring the listings is a forlorn exercise right now, as we seem to be suffering a dearth of good drama, those shows that everyone is talking about.
Netflix’s Bridgerton scraped into that category but it seems to be fast running out of plot. The Responder (BBC1, Sunday) also gets mentioned, for the incredibly gritty performance of
Martin Freeman, but otherwise the pickings are slim.
ITV, for the time being, seems to have given up. We were meant to be booking into The Fortune Hotel for two weeks – that was optimistic – followed by a week of Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
And we’re about to hit a huge wall of sport with the Euros, Wimbledon and the Olympics. Who would launch a new show against that background?
Still let’s be optimistic: a home country may win the Euros, a British player may conquer Wimbledon again and we might top the medals table in Paris.
If all else fails, here’s a reason to be cheerful… Love Island starts soon on ITV2, one of the best comedies on the box.
Meanwhile, Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don is a seasoned presenter, as friendly and as warm as you could ever want in a host.
But he made a right “hosta” (a type of lily by the way) of himself when he reached into the wardrobe for his outfit for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show (BBC1, Monday). He put on a greengrocer’s jacket.
Okay, this outfit is not completely at odds with Chelsea – even turnips are on display – but it was a bold choice. It appeared the following night, too.
He might even have embraced it by now by auctioning off some fetching aubergines to keep spirits up in the rain.
The BBC has dug up every available gardening presenter for Chelsea, whether they have picked up a trowel or not.
More than ever, they want beginners watching the coverage so those who only have a small place for a garden plant are encouraged to branch out.
Otherwise, it was a tale of two Chelseas. The first was “afternoon Chelsea” presented by Nicki Chapman and Angellica Bell who were very enthusiastic. “I’m beyond excited,” said Bell.
She even demonstrated that by wearing a patterned green dress which allowed her to blend in with garden borders.
Both interviewed a range of celebrities, including effervescent BGT judge Bruno Tonioli, who still hasn’t figured out how to use the buttons on his shirt.
Another judge, Bake Off ’s Prue Leith,
Is it possible to make a tedious programme against the background of the mighty Amazon River? Yes, alas. I just tried to watch Into The Amazon with Robson Green (Channel 5, Tuesday) but I had to turn it off when he started talking to a sloth. What a battle of wits. Robson asked, “Why are you so slow?” Why aren’t you doing a proper tour of the Amazon River? But no, he then went to a local market to look at cures for all ailments. Not one for celebrity wittering. “The labelling is a bit basic,” he offered. My label for this effort – Opportunity Wasted.
admitted to “a lifelong passion for gardening”. Leith never stops. Do show her the relaxation garden.
Celebrities and presenters alike were a little carried away by the scent, the sun and the season. Singer Alfie Boe told Angellica he wasn’t much good at gardening. You should sing to the plants, she thought.
“I don’t think that would help,” said the opera man. “I’m a terrible singer.” Oh... Still, everyone laughed. Then there was “grown-up Chelsea” in the evening, presented by Joe Swift and greengrocer Monty.
This version was extra sensitive to beginners. “If you have enough space for it...” said Monty calmly. But it was a little too late for
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