Down to earth

Its misjudged changes to the immensely popular Gardeners' World were a case in point. Rather than catering for a grassrootas audience, producers became obsessed with celebrity makeovers – and, predictably, viewers pressed the "off" button on the television remote.

Most people do not have the disposal income that many showbusiness personalities can boast. They have to garden on a strict budget. And, with more people embracing allotments and the value of home-grown produce, this is where programmes like Gardeners' World should come into their own with helpful advice.

To its credit, the BBC has recognised this reality. Having got into this hole unnecessarily, it has – for once – stopped digging so that a much-cherished TV institution can return to its roots. As well as being more informative, the new series is also likely to be far cheaper to produce – which is even more important in this new age of austerity.