Back to basics again for Gardeners' World

Critics of the BBC2 show have accused it of abandoning long-term growers in favour of trying to win over viewers who were new to the garden.

Former presenter Gay Search is among those who have been unhappy with the new-look show whose audience dipped below two million for the first time last year under new main host Toby Buckland.

Now programme bosses have admitted they have made mistakes and will return to satisfying their "core" audience.

The Friday night show expanded to hour-long episodes last year but will now be pruned back to half an hour.

Executive producer Gill Tierney said: "Change is always difficult and sometimes you don't get it completely right. We have listened to the audience and have taken the criticism on the chin."