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The current series on BBC1 (Spring 2005) will be the last main series and there will be at least one more special.
I would love to see either Alan rejoin the team for this final special or see the team surprise Alan with a garden dedicated to him or the series.
Impact of the Programme
-----------------------------------
It ... Read review
Advantages: Great humour, fantastic gardens Disadvantages: Others do the hard work, I'd kill the plants if they came to me!
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The current series on BBC1 (Spring 2005) will be the last main series and there will be at least one more special.
I would love to see either Alan rejoin the team for this final special or see the team surprise Alan with a garden dedicated to him or the series.
Impact of the Programme
-----------------------------------
It is hard to quantify what reaction and impact Ground Force has made on the nation, ... ...how many of your neighbour's gardens were a mass of grass or concrete or weeds that no one cared too much about?
Before Ground Force, how many people thought about garden ornaments other than Gnomes?
Since Ground Force, how many lawns have been replaced with decks and simple but effective water features?
Since Ground Force, how many statues, millstones, alligators etc have replaced the Gnomes?
The all too familiar theme tune, the flash of those all too familiar bra-less items, two days never being enough, it has to be Ground Force.
I am a BIG fan of the show, so much that my Ciao name evolves on a play on words on the departed Alan. (Titch...Little, Marsh...Swamp, get the picture?)
So, how do you describe your opinions on a show that most of the population will have seen or heard of, and have to give an idea to those who have been in the inner Sahara desert for the last 8 years or so and have never heard of the programme!
In a nutshell, the 'victim' goes away for two days, the team move in with a plan, create a beautiful garden on two days, leap out and surprise the returning victim.
The Early Days --------------------- For those who have bought, or have been given, the DVD 'The Titchmarsh Years, you will know that at the outset, the pilot for Ground Force was somewhat based on Changing Rooms. In the words of the Producer, John Thornicroft, the dear old BBC wanted a companion show for Changing Rooms based in the Garden, and they wanted Mr T (Alan, not the gold laden bloke!) to front it. The basic idea was Changing Rooms in the garden, with two teams against each other trying to build a feature and 'improve' the garden in 8 hours. Alan presided over the goings on in an umpire's chair literally sitting on the garden fence! For the last five minutes, Alan leapt down off the chair and started to organise the chaos to ensure the projects were finished. It was here that the pilot leapt to life and this little bit of the pilot became the vehicle for Ground Force.
The First few ------------------ Even though this was supposed to be a companion for Changing Rooms, BBC put the first couple of series on the backwater that was BBC2 on a Friday night at 9pm. I can still remember the first programme with Bill and Tuppence the dog, with Bill's wife Norma being suprised. Of course, for the first series, it was all too easy to creep up on the victims and come straight out asking them garden related questions for 'market research' If I remember correctly, whilst still on BBC2, one of the most memorable lines emerged during a makeover in Alloa. The weather wasn't being too kind to the team for the two days, and it rained so hard that at one point, Charlie's water feature was being filled without it being in situ, and the lay of the land created no fewer the three fairly substantial puddles! Whilst huddled under a blue plastic dustsheet, the team were subjected to an impromptu weather forecast by Mr. Titchmarsh of the Ground Force Met Office! "In Ballymoney, it will be sunny, in Blairgowrie, it will be showery, and in Alloa, it will be absolutely p*****g down!" (full unbleeped version on the DVD!)
The Teamwork --------------------- To see the screen tests of Charlie and Tommy, (again a feature of the DVD), it was clear to see why there were reservations about the programme going ahead. Thankfully, they did and all the humour and hard work shone through. Once all the talking and planning was out the way, the team just gelled together. Alan chipping in with some of the hard landscaping, especially if he felt guilty enough in giving Tommy and Will too much to do in the two days! Charlie did the water features and some planting. If this team ever went into business whether they were famous or not, they would clearly and justifiably charge top notch rates and get the job done quickly. And with no cameras to trip up over either!
Memorable Programmes ----------------------------------- I always enjoyed the ones they did for disabled people, especially the Isle of Wight one for a young lad with Spina Bifida. They created a practical path allowing him access to the garden in his chair, whilst the path also doubled up as a racetrack for his remote controlled cars! Features of this garden path include Dimmock's Curves and Titchmarsh's Hump! The first few specials abroad also stick in the mind, although I still think the theme tune for the West Indies one would have been better in Steel Drums rather than Reggae beat! Back home, it was poignant and rather special in Weston Super Mare, creating a 'memorial' garden to their late colleague Jill Dando, so cruelly taken in the height of her career.
Was it all 'Happy Chappies?' ---------------------------------------- Mostly, but the fur and sawdust did fly in Pitsea, Essex, where the normally placid Mr T turned the air blue as well as the decking! What do you expect with all those power tools and long lengths that need to be cut in a small garden! I don't know, these gardening presenters, sometimes missing the most simple points!!
Changes to the Gang ------------------------------ Alan decided to leave after about 66 makeovers, but with the series being so successful, the BBC kept the bulk of the team and promoted the horticultural specialist, Kirsty King, to the front line. Also, with the main planner gone, who would design the gardens? For the first series after Alan's departure, the viewers who wrote in had to give a plan of what they wanted for the victim, and any impracticalities and impossibilities were corrected by the team and a plan created to put paper to soil. This, for me, was the beginning of the end. After ratings started to fall, and a successful series in America for the BBC's then fledgling BBC America channel, a return to the original format with Charlie designing the nightmare decking shapes that Tommy and Will had to create into reality.
End of the Road? ------------------------ Sadly, Yes. The BBC are cutting back on reality and makeover shows, although they would be the first to admit that Ground Force would not be on the list for the chop. No, another of the original gang, Tommy, has decided enough is enough and has hung up his trowel. The decision was more or less made about the future of the programme. Do they go out on a high with most of the originial gang in place or create a new team and carry on? Every one will have an opinion on this, but the right one has been made to stop. The current series on BBC1 (Spring 2005) will be the last main series and there will be at least one more special. I would love to see either Alan rejoin the team for this final special or see the team surprise Alan with a garden dedicated to him or the series.
Impact of the Programme ----------------------------------- It is hard to quantify what reaction and impact Ground Force has made on the nation, but look at it this way. Before Ground Force, how many of your neighbour's gardens were a mass of grass or concrete or weeds that no one cared too much about? Before Ground Force, how many people thought about garden ornaments other than Gnomes? Since Ground Force, how many lawns have been replaced with decks and simple but effective water features? Since Ground Force, how many statues, millstones, alligators etc have replaced the Gnomes?
Blooming Great or Wilting Badly -------------------------------------------- Whatever else, Ground Force revolutionised the horticultural industry in this country. Garden Centres are bursting once again with amateur and hardened gardeners determined to brighten up their small patch of this varied land with whatever their budget will allow. The Eco balance will once again begin to turn the right way, only for others in 50 years or so to turn it the other way again. Small gardens will look wonderful. Ground Force did not comply with any God given rule to gardens. They did not waltz in and say 'You live in a cottage so you have to have a cottage garden' or ' There is so much concrete and slabs we will just put a few tubs here and there' What Ground Force did was to show that even the most established garden that was already beautiful to look at could be enhanced with a little tweak. They listened to what was required and put it into action. Cottage gardens were created, even a wild garden, as well as formal gardens. Front gradens aswell as back gardens. And even though the format changed very little, the public loved the programme so much that it lasted for so long.
A blooming great programme that will go down in BBC history with a legacy in people's gardens that will last for a generation or two. Just a shame that it will soon be no more.
Advantages: Great entertainment, watch closely for the real info. Disadvantages: It all looks too easy, and too cheap.
(Aspen’s the one who doesn’t bounce.)
And I guess there are one or two of you who are wondering why it took me so long to write this one. Me too. I nearly did it for the 100th, but I was in (rare) serious mode that night, and get real! We can’t do Ground Farce in serious mode.
Oops! Already, I’ve set the wrong tone, and offended GF fans the planet oe’r!
Don’t jump to the wrong conclusion, though. I watch GF ... ...person. In fact, if it’s on at all, it is usually as moving wallpaper or white noise. Although the geriatric JR does rather like Animal Hospital. She picks up attention-seeking tips, like how to choke on your Pedigree Chum with Kangaroo Cuts and added Wallaby, thereby gaining your lord and master’s undivided attention for a few puke-ridden moments. Sorry if you’ve just eaten.
But apart from the mandatory weather forecast, GF is ...
Aspen 04.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of BBC1 - Ground Force
...the show has migrated to BBC1 and gained something of a following, Tommy and Charlie no longer seem so willing to play second fiddle to Mr T, which sometimes leads to the odd moment of friction. Charlie has since gone on to present her own show, and you can’t help but think she now sees herself as something more than a co-presenter. The friendly banter between the three occasionally ends up more like childish bickering, and the trio doesn’t ... ...Additionally, contrary to what most of the male population seem to think, I find Charlie Dimmock absolutely nauseating. Her ability to thrust her chest into everyone’s face may well be legendary, but to be honest I wish the woman would invest in a bra. I hate the way that she is known for putting the sex into television gardening – bouncing about the place, completely out of control, she has all the charm of one of the stone statues that ...
LostWitness 23.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of BBC1 - Ground Force
Advantages: Good designs Disadvantages: Unreal conditions
Ground Force, despite Charlie Dimmock flaunting her chest, has no appeal to me. Yet I must have watched about 20 or 30 episodes in my time. Explain the logic there? So I have built up quite a good knowledge of the programme and the aims behind it. Concept. -------- Hosted and presented by Alan Titchmarsh, a team of garden experts in all trades from plantsmen to hard landscapers, take it upon themselves to install a Titchmarsh inspired design into ... ...occupants knowing anything about it. Benefits. --------- Ok, here is what you are getting out of it. A few handy gardening tips that you could similarly get from Titchmarsh's other gardening programmes. Alternatively, it may give you inspiration or a few ideas as to your own garden. I know a few people including my mum that have said "that would be nice in my garden". Content. -------- Very interesting at times with some very good quality designs ...
andycharger 05.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of BBC1 - Ground Force
Advantages: great ways to see gardens transform Disadvantages: alan tit . .chmarsh
Ground Force is perhaps the only program I watch that really grates my very soul. Having said that, it does have many good points. The reason I detest this show so much is because of the sheer annoyance value of Alan "smilie" Titchmarsh. As a gardening show, it is certainly entertaining, well informed and enjoyable. It is just a shame that they have chosen to give the smuggest, self deluded member of the three person team the top spot.
Ground Force ... ...the Brits are awful at keeping their garden nice, in order, presentable and most of all green. We all like to look at gardens, are world renowned for our "english country" varieties but when it comes to our own, most of us would rather sit back with a Mars Bar and watch Kilroy than get our fingers dirty with the lawn borders and chrysanths. Therefore we are also a nation is deperate need of a team who can come and in a few days transform our tip ...
r-rackham 29.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of BBC1 - Ground Force
The new season of Ground Force opened on 18th April 2001 with the showing of a trip to India to turn what can only be described as an area of scorched earth sporting a solitary Neem tree, into a garden of delight for orphaned children, only this time they had three days to do it in instead of the usual two.
The usual crew of Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh led by Alan Titchmarsh arrived at the behest of the British Council in Delhi to work their ... ...many Indian volunteers, the garden took shape under the watchful gaze of Alan as unusual methods were adopted to position three huge concrete tubes. In England the crew would have had lifting gear to unload the concrete tubes from the back of a truck but no such tackle was available to them. The solution offered by the volunteers was to position a series of old tyres on the ground behind the back of the truck and then to drive it backwards a few ...
jimbuck 01.05.2001 (07.12.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of BBC1 - Ground Force
