First TV gardening programme

Image: CH Middleton discusses how to lay crazy paving in the Alexandra Palace garden.

Television gardening began on 21 November 1936 when Mr Middleton presented In The Garden from a purpose-built garden at Alexandra Palace. The programme was in the first month of the BBC's official television service, at a time when very few people had television sets. However, it inaugurated a programme genre that has remained an evergreen favourite.

'In The Garden' footage by DR Campbell, taken from the specially built TV studio at the RadiOlympia trade exhibition, 1938. With thanks to the Alexandra Palace Television Society.

Cecil Henry Middleton - invariably called Mr Middleton - was a well established voice on the radio, known for his relaxed tone at a time when many radio voices were stilted and formal. Introducing Mr Middleton to television was a move intended to provide more popular programming and encourage the uptake of televisions. By the end of 1937 some 2000 sets had been sold.

When the war started the television service ended for the duration. Mr Middleton became involved with the war effort on the radio, and the "Dig for Victory" campaign that encouraged people to grow their own food crops.

Mr Middleton died in 1945 but television resumed after the war, and eventually programmes such as Gardening Club and In The Garden made new gardening stars, like Percy Thrower. Gardeners' World began in 1968, and continues to flourish through changing fashions in horticulture.