Above: Percy Thrower in Gardeners' World. Video: Gardener's World look back over 50 years in June 2017.
Gardeners' World started on 5 January 1968. It was described as "a weekly series for gardeners, advanced and beginners, throughout the British Isles". It picked up where its forerunner - Gardening Club - left off, and also featured that programme’s much loved presenter, the knowledgeable and down-to-earth Percy Thrower.
But Gardeners' World was in colour on BBC Two, allowing for some glorious pictures of flowers and gardens. The show thrived on a mixture of practical gardening tips and outside broadcasts on featured gardens, history and design. It attracted viewers who wanted a relaxing end to the week as much as those who wanted inspiration for their weekend gardening.
The first episode of Gardeners' World came from the Oxford University Botanic Gardens, but over the years the programme has had many presenters who have featured their own gardens. These have included Thrower, Geoff Hamilton, Alan Titchmarsh, Arthur Billitt and current presenter Monty Don. The roster of today’s presenters is completed by Carol Klein, Joe Swift, Rachel de Thame, Flo Headlam, Alan Power, Nick Bailey and Mark Lane.
The success of Gardeners' World led to the establishment of the Gardeners' World Live show and BBC Gardeners' World magazine. It inspired other gardening shows such as Ground Force and Home Front in the Garden. Gardeners' World celebrated its 50th anniversary through 2017 and with a special programme broadcast from Gardeners' World Live.
Gardening on the BBC
In The Garden: the first TV gardening programme
21 November 1936
Gardener's Question Time
9 April 1947
