BBC Red Button coverage of Chelsea Flower Show

This year the bbc’s red button coverage of Chelsea is all being done from Manchester. That fact, coupled with sheer jammyness on my part (I just happen to have an ex-student who works for the bbc) means that I'm the bbc's red button horticultural advisor for Chelsea.My job is to research the gardens and the pavilion. Then interview the designers of the large show gardens prior to their filmed interviews. At these I help prompt the designers and check on plant names as they explain about their gardens. After that we edit the 2 films together, add music and subtitles and you see the finished product on your red button.So if you seen any misspelt names - you know who to blame!Interviewing designers over the phone has been fun, though it's meant a few early starts e.g. when ringing the designers overseas, 8am here is 5pm in Melbourne, Australia. Getting hold of them has been fun - especially Mark Gregory who missed his original filming slot because he was stuck in Mauritius with the volcano. He got back just in time to run the London Marathon. Where does he get his energy from – he’s not only designing and building a large show garden at Chelsea but he’s also building James Wongs garden too. Luckily the 2 gardens are across the way from one another so they can share a kettle for tea breaks.Must go and pack – I’ve got to drive down to Painshill Park (always wanted to go there) for filming tomorrow.We’ve got Darren Saines Norway’s answer to Alan Tichmarsh coming in on the first flight from Oslo, followed by Mr Ishihara with his interpreter from Japan, then Scott Wynd from Flemings from Melbourne. You remember they missed Chelsea last year because of the bush fires which burnt down thousands of dollars of stock and the nursery managers house with all his possessions. Finally we have the charming Mark Gregory. So should be a good day - if long - but that's show business.It is another world but my contract is only for 7 weeks so I have no illusions of grandure, my feet will be staying firmly on the ground and I’ll soon be back to normal life designing gardens for clients and doing talks for local groups.Enjoy Chelsea – I shall.

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