From 1997 through 2005, the BBC aired the best DIY garden design show ever (as far as I’m concerned). Ground Force starred Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmoc, and Tommy Walsh, three very talented, naturally charming people who clearly (grudgingly) loved each other and loved their work. My discovery of it coincided with an especially stressful time in my life, yet I found myself so very comforted by this show. In 1997, I really needed a new love, and when I found this show, it was love at first sight.
In Tom Walsh’s words, “Hello, and I’ve just trodden in some dog poo. Nevermind. I’m sure you’ll remember the TV show, Ground Force. The idea was that some people with regional accents would come around to your house while you were out and redo your garden. Then you’d come home, cry with unbridled joy, and then everyone would have some warm pamagne.” (That’s champagne to you and me.)
I haven’t thought about the show in years, but I’ve been hitting the DIY channels hard lately, and so I went hunting for it. Unfortunately, Ground Force isn’t available on Hulu or Netflix or Amazon Prime or even iTunes. I did find a “Best of” DVD on Amazon, but it didn’t include full episodes, so I went looking on YouTube. I found this one, single gem, and it was well worth the effort. With the opening strains of their theme song, I could feel my (currently extreme) tension draining away.
Hope you are as entertained and soothed by the gang as I still am. This was their millenium show, and it was pretty great, though quite a departure from their usual formula.
Top Gear did a one-episode re-boot of the series with Tom Walsh (from which I stole the quote above). It is pretty cute, though I really miss Alan and Charlie.
If any of my readers have episodes on DVD (or even VHS), please post them on YouTube or message me so we can talk about me buying them from you. I miss my gardeners!
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August 24, 2015 at 6:52 am
My husband and I used to watch this show regularly even though neither of us were keen gardeners. It really was the cosy TV equivalent of dunking chocolate biscuits into a hot mug of tea.
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August 24, 2015 at 6:52 am
By biscuits I mean cookies.
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August 24, 2015 at 7:33 am
My mother was English. I’m not a complete heathen.
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August 24, 2015 at 7:44 am
Oh good. That means I don’t have to remember to edit myself on your blog then. 🙂
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August 24, 2015 at 7:33 am
Exactly! I wasn’t in love with their garden designs (too much gravel), but the three of them were adorable!
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August 25, 2015 at 12:19 pm
I remember this show so well too, my Mum loved it ( I think she secretly fancied Alan Titchmarsh)! They always did such a good job though and worked so hard on their projects. I hope you manage to find someone who can help you get your fix 🙂
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August 25, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Me, too! The theme song has been playing on a loop in my head for days.
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