Why not join ‘The Great Garden Revolution?’

Saturday: The Great Garden Revolution; (Channel 4, 8pm)
Presenters Bruce Kenneth, Poppy Okotcha and Joel BirdPresenters Bruce Kenneth, Poppy Okotcha and Joel Bird
Presenters Bruce Kenneth, Poppy Okotcha and Joel Bird

Move over Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh – there’s a new trio on the block, waiting to steal your crowns as the monarchs of TV gardening shows.

And no, we’re not talking about the Rich brothers and their co-presenters on the BBC’s Garden Rescue.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Designer Joel Bird, ecological gardener Poppy Okotcha and craftsman Bruce Kenneth are teaming up for a new four-part series in which they aim to help viewers make the most of their outdoor spaces – something many of us may be thinking about as the summer months draw closer.

“We’re so excited to unleash our energetic, creative, thoughtful new gardening team onto the gardens of Britain,” says Clemency Green, commissioning editor for Channel 4. “They will help everyone, from owners of tiny terraces to families with huge fields, to get their gardens shipshape for the summer and inspire our audience to do the same.”

Fintan Maguire, co-executive producer adds: “After a year of locking down and staying home we are all more appreciative than ever of our outdoor spaces. So, it’s a great time for a gardening revolution and a new series that is full of practical content that we can all do. With a makeover at the heart of each show, our exciting expert line-up will be inspiring us with creative and sustainable ideas for both the beginner and the more experienced gardener.”

It may seem strange to broadcast the programme at primetime on a Saturday evening, but perhaps schedulers are hoping those of us who are tired of the usual line-up of shiny-floor shows and gritty drama will find it a welcome change.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You may recognise two of the three presenters from their previous TV work. Bird was most recently seen as one of the experts on BBC Two’s Your Garden Made Perfect, in which virtual reality is used to depict possible designs for garden makeovers, and has also popped up as a judge on George Clarke’s Shed of the Year.

Bruce Kenneth will be familiar to fans of BBC One’s upcycling show Money For Nothing, in which he has turned numerous rubbish dump-bound items into treasures via his woodworking skills, which are all the more amazing when you consider he was born without a right hand. The New Jersey native, who now lives in Scissett, West Yorkshire, is also known as Bruce Faulseit, which when spoken perhaps sounds a little too much like Bruce Forsyth for someone carving a niche on the small screen. He’s also popped up on Channel 4’s Mend It For Money.

Okotcha, meanwhile, is a model-turned-horticulturalist. She’s mostly a TV newcomer, although she was featured discussing her way of life – she lives on a houseboat in London – on an episode of Gardeners’ World, which is perhaps where her star quality was spotted.

Each week, alongside their tips and advice and the makeover of a horticultural haven, the trio will encourage viewers to share the fruits of their own labours and hear from a famous face who secretly has green fingers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The opening episode sees them demonstrate how to make a social hub with a barbecue and seating area while helping a family of five make the best use of their plot.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you

Related topics: