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Gardeners Question Time at 75
Everyone is aware that Her Majesty, the Queen will be celebrating her Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years of service this year.
However, another British Institution will be marking a special anniversary this Sunday, but this time it is gardening royalty – as BBC Radio 4’s ‘Gardeners Question Time’ (GQT) celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
Did You Know?: GQT is the world’s longest-running gardening programme?
The roots of GQT lie in the wartime ‘Dig For Victory’ campaign. However, the seeds for GQT were sown when a programme called ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’ first broadcast on April 9th, 1947, from the ‘Singing Room’ at Ashton’s Broadoak Hotel. The simple format – a chairman with a panel of experts taking gardening questions from the public – proved popular.
The first programme took questions from the Smallshaw Allotments Association in Ashton-Under-Lyme. The presenter was Bob Stead, and one of the panellists of that very first show was Bill Sowerbutts, a local born expert.
Bill was joined on the panel by Fred Loads, Tom Clark and Dr E.W. Sansome. Sowerbutts and Loads went on to become household names.
‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ was initially broadcast only to the North of England/Northern Ireland by BBC Radio.
Professor Alan Gemmell (“of Keele university”) joined the team in 1950. The fun banter between Loads, Sowerbutts and Gemmell made the show a must-listen Sunday Lunch fixture for many families. Gemmell, Loads and Sowerbutts remained with the show for 30 years. This popular trio was occasionally joined by other gardening gurus as the show moved around the nation’s allotments and village halls.
The show went nationwide in 1957 when it appeared on the Light Programme as ‘Down the Garden Path’. In September of the same year, it moved to the Home Service when the name of the show was finally changed to ‘Gardeners Question Time’, and it gained its now familiar 2pm Sunday slot.
The show and panel remained much the same for many decades. But after Fred Loads died in 1981 it lost much of its original atmosphere, and Alan Gemmell retired in 1982 and Bill Sowerbutts left in 1983.
Towards the end of the 1970s a fresh crop of experts began joining the team: Yorkshire plantsman Geoffrey Smith, Clay Jones the vegetable king, and horticultural writer Chris Brickell.
1982 saw the arrival of the show’s first female expert Daphne Ledward. Dr Stefan Buczaki and Peter Seabrook also joined GQT as regular panel members.
Later panel members included Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Hamilton, Anne Swithinbank, Chris Beardshaw, John Cushnie, Matthew Biggs, Carol Klein, Bunny Guinness, Nigel Colborn, Roy Lancaster, Carole Baxter, Matthew Wilson and Christine Walkden.
Panel Chairs:
The role of the Chairman has been integral to the success of the show. Many of the regular chairmen including Clay Jones (1985-1993), Dr Stefan Buczaki (1993), Eric Robson (1994-2019) went onto national prominence. Kathy Clugston replaced Robson as Chair when he retired.
The Locations:
The GQT panel has criss-crossed the nation – visiting allotment associations, gardening clubs, botanic gardens, and other horticultural groups – but it has also diversified, visiting a nudist club, and open prison and even the Palace of Westminster and Number 10 Downing Street!
Controversy:
The story of GQT has not been all plain sailing. In 1994 when production moved to an outside company Taylor Made Broadcast, it resulted in then panel leaving the BBC and joining Classic FM to present ‘Classic Gardening Forum’. Leading to suggestions that GQT had lost the plot.
In 2009 the production of the show moved to ‘Somethin’Else’ productions.
Why Does It Remain Popular?
Today, GQT continues to command good audience figures. I think its continued success lies in the fact that pretty images and photogenic presenters are everywhere – whereas GQT gives you authoritative and detailed information in a friendly way. The voices of the radio presenters quickly become recognisable, without the distraction of seeing them.
Why Do You Listen to GQT?
Last week we asked our customers why they listened to GQT. Here are some of your replies:
Chris S. – ‘I like the varying answers to the questions.’
Denise C. – ‘you can garden while listening to GQT.’
Sayed H. – ‘I love it when the panel members have a difference of opinions.’
Liz W. – ‘I was in the virtual audience a couple of times during lockdown, and it was good to put names to faces.’
Poppy S. – ‘I always listen to it on BBC Sounds. It’s a great show, mixing audience questions with other gardening topics’.
Justine Z. – ‘I love the GQT factsheets that gives you the questions asked, and plant names mentioned in the show.’
Ben L. – ‘It’s a warm hug on a cold day, so relaxing!’
Dorota L. – ‘I listen to a few when I’m driving – not so easy if watching TV!’
Sara T. – ‘It is audience led. I learn lots, and then I can visit Capital Gardens to buy the plants and products mentioned!’
Anna E. – ‘I love Pippa Greenwood for pests and diseases advice, Christine Walkden is so funny, as are the two Matts!
So why not tune in this Sunday afternoon and enjoy this record-breaking gardening show? Maybe it will become part of your Sunday lunch tradition!
How to listen and interact with GQT:
How to find BBC Radio 4:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/98FthRzhxJ4z0fXYJnsvlM/about-radio-4
Visit the GQT website:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qp2f
Follow GQT on Twitter:
The Programme has moved with the times, with its own podcast edition and a popular Twitter account: @BBCGQT
For gardening advice from Capital Gardens:
