James and Joe are in high spirits as the "Flower Show Season" officially kicks off. With Joe calling in from a BBC-funded hotel in Tewkesbury and James gearing up for his 20th year of judging, this episode dives into the chaotic, glamorous, and occasionally freezing world of the Chelsea Flower Show.
In this episode:
The Malvern Warm-up: Joe shares his "smart day" filming schedule at Malvern and why James is relieved to be skipping the stage after 20 years of "three grannies" in the audience.
Thirty Years of Chelsea: Joe reflects on 24 years of filming and James on two decades of judging. James reveals how a rude complaint to the RHS head of shows accidentally landed him a judging gig.
The Front-Right Tree Rule: The boys share a legendary show-garden secret: why a tree in the front-right corner is the ultimate "tantalizing" design move.
Logistics & "Ronald McDonald": Meet Steve, the traffic legend who keeps 15-ton trees moving on an 11-acre site, and why the embankment turns into an articulated lorry graveyard.
The Gala & The Stars: James’ "indiscreet" wedding at the Royal Hospital, Joe’s invite from The Times, and a look at David Beckham’s upcoming appearance on a garden designed by the brilliant (and potentially exhausted) Frances Tophill.
Canteen Secrets: Why the "Exhibitors Restaurant" has gone from "rough" to "delicious," and James’ tradition of throwing Haribo (and nuts for the vegans) at landscaping teams to keep them moving.
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This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/
About our hosts
James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.
Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.
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