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 ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv Gardeners' World magazine. It inspired other gardening shows such as Ground Force and ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv
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In The Garden: the first TV gardening programme
21 November 1936 -
Gardener's Question Time
9 April 1947 -
Gardeners' World
5 January 1968
January anniversaries
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
1 January 1970 -
The Brains Trust
1 January 1941 -
The Archers
1 January 1951 -
Z Cars
2 January 1962 -
Trumpton
3 January 1967 -
Open University
3 January 1971 -
Camberwick Green
3 January 1966 -
Final edition of The Listener published
3 January 1991 -
Gardeners' World
5 January 1968 -
A Question of Sport
5 January 1970 -
Forces Programme
7 January 1940 -
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
10 January 1990 -
First in-vision television weather forecaster
11 January 1954 -
The League of Gentlemen
11 January 1999 -
Goodness Gracious Me
12 January 1998 -
Listen with Mother
16 January 1950 -
Life On Earth
16 January 1979 -
First episode of ±«Óãtv Breakfast Time
17 January 1983 -
Blankety Blank
18 January 1979 -
The Week's Good Cause
24 January 1926 -
Under Milk Wood
25 January 1954 -
Television Dancing Club
27 January 1948 -
Desert Island Discs
29 January 1942 -
Newsnight
30 January 1980 -
The State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
30 January 1965 -
Alas Smith and Jones
31 January 1984