Standing her ground: Charlie Dimmock in the garden

The rumpus comes just as a rival Australian channel, The Seven Network, plans to broadcast a legitimate version of Ground Force.

The Nine Network already screens a fully licenced version of another BBC makeover programme, Changing Rooms, which is also owned by Bazal.

Astonishing

GMG Endemol creative director Peter Bazalgette said: "The fact that they already have a format deal with us for that show makes it even more astonishing."

The international format rights for Ground Force, which is shown in four continents, are jointly owned by GMG Endemol and the BBC.

The show is regularly watched by up to 12 million viewers, earning a 47% audience share on BBC One and has recently been sold to Public Broadcasting Service station WNET in the United States.

Wicker man: Groundforce presenter Alan Titchmarsh

A spokesman for GMG Endemol said the format for Backyard Blitz was very similar to Ground Force.

In each episode, a husband or wife gets in the team to sort out the garden while their partner is away.

The series, like Ground Force, also has a male-female presenting team, with the woman adding the touch of glamour Dimmock has bought to gardening in the UK.