The Grass Ceiling

[callmemadam]

The BBC has announced the appointment of a new front man for Gardeners' World, one Toby Buckland. Who? Nobody's ever heard of him. This is a top job and for me, no one could replace Geoff Hamilton. I never liked Monty Don because, like me, he is an amateur gardener and so I objected to his lectures and his didactic preaching of the organic message. All previous presenters had been professionals; if Alan Titchmarsh showed you how to take a cutting or do some grafting, you knew it was the Kew way and the right way.


This is Carol Klein. She has been a horticultural professional for years, running her own nursery and winning six gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show. She's been a regular TV presenter and took over Gardeners' World at short notice when Monty Don became ill. Apparently, viewers have assumed that Carol turned down the job but no, she was never even offered it. Could the fact that she is a woman and aged 63 have anything to do with that decision? TBH she's not my favourite person but this has made me fume.

Comments

[land-girl.livejournal.com]

Not my favourite person either, but as is often the case I agree with every word you say :-)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Good!

Gardener

[(Anonymous)]

Is Alan T. doing anything on tv over there right now?

Re: Gardener

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

The man is ubiquitous. I don't mind, I've met him and he's really nice; what you see is what you get. He fronts the Chelsea Flower Show coverage every year. He's done a stint of presenting the proms. I think there was (is?) an afternoon chat show programme, not the sort of thing I would ever watch. He has a regular radio show on Radio 2. He might pop up on Radio 4 reading P G Wodehouse. He can garden, act, sing, you name it. Oh, and he writes novels, which I've never read. ISTR he won the Worst Sex Prize for one of them.

Re: Gardener

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I've read one or two of his books and they're not as bad as you'd imagine.

Re: Gardener

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

My sister likes them, so I believe you. He used to have the most beautiful writing hut in his garden. Wonder if he took it with him when he moved?

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

Yup, me too.

[dozydormouse.livejournal.com]

The BBC does not have a good track record with talented older women does it.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

You have to be Dame Judi Dench to get on television once you're over sixty. Or else, like Angela Rippon, you get to do daytime television. It makes me sick that the Dimblebys, Paxman, Peter Snow (supposedly retired) are all on regularly but you never see women of their age. Charles Wheeler, RIP, was still broadcasting at eighty! Not to mention David Attenborough. Where's Sue Lawley, frex?

[lethe1]

And wasn't Moira Stuart kicked out for the same reason?

It seems to be quite normal in TV land though. Male presenters can go on until they drop dead from old age while women are given the boot as soon as the first wrinkle appears.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Moira Stuart, yes indeed. Anna Ford? Not sure.

as soon as the first wrinkle appears.

Ha ha, Yes! More shame the producers. They always think they know what the public wants.

[karamina.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard this and I am fuming. It took me a long while to get used to Carol Klein and her 'plunts' but she seemed the obvious choice to replace Monty Don. I do hope the BBC get lots of ranting emails about their ageism. I think I'll go and send one, in fact.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I understand there's plenty of complaints on the GW message board. The BBC bosses are being rather defensive about it.

[geraniumcat.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'll go and complain too. My husband said that he was never going to watch GW again if they didn't give the main presenting role to Carol Klein. Took us a while to get used to her, but I really like her now. *** rot the BBC!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Always worth complaining even if the BBC despises the opinions of its viewers. Looks like your husband will be GW-free!