Gardeners' Question Time - History

History

The first programme was broadcast from the 'Singing Room' at the Broadoak Hotel, Ashton-under-Lyne on 9 April 1947. Originally named How Does Your Garden Grow? it was inspired by the wartime Dig For Victory campaign. On the first panel were Bill Sowerbutts, Fred Loads, Tom Clark and Dr E.W.Sansome.

Professor Alan Gemmell joined Loads and Sowerbutts in 1950 when their contrasting styles (Professor, Traditional Head gardener and Commercial Grower) added an entertainment element. The successful format allowed it to broadcast nationally from 1957 in the light entertainment slot on Sunday afternoons. The programme marked its 1000th edition in 1972, though the occasion was overshadowed by the death of long-serving chairman Franklin Engelmann just days earlier.

The format and panel were largely unchanged for many years. In 1994 the complete panel left the BBC and they moved to the new Classic FM station on a short-term contract as Classic Gardening Forum with sponsorship by The Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society. In 2009 the production of the show was taken over by the UK's largest independent radio production company Somethin' Else. In December 2009 panellist John Cushnie died suddenly. The current production team are Senior Producer Lucy Dichmont, Producer Howard Shannon and Assistant Producer Amy Racs. The programme's audience figures continues to perform strongly as confirmed by the official audience measurement body, RAJAR.