The Garden Quiz
Synopsis
A quiz to find the best all-round amateur garden expert in the UK. The publicity promised questions on a variety of gardening subjects including history, design, science; gardens in the arts; and practical questions. In the broadcast, about two-thirds of the quiz was taken up with general knowledge questions that had an often-tenuous link to gardening. The remaining third was given over to hardcore horticulture, mostly on subjects of the contestants' choice.
The first series was not well-received by the critics, who said that the questions were too obscure for the general listener but unsatisfying for the keen gardener, and that there was no atmosphere to the show.
Programmes were recorded at a variety of venues including Syon House and Hampton Court Palace. The winners of eight weekly heats progressed to the semi-finals, with two from those shows making the final. Though the majority of contestants were female, the 2008 series was won by the one male finalist.
Champion
Alan Ruff, who won the coveted Radio 4 Silver Trowel.
See also
Gardening Quiz - a similar show from the late 1990s, hosted by Alan Titchmarsh
