The BBC was accused by viewers of ‘going woke’ after dropping veteran gardening presenter Joe Swift from this year’s Chelsea Flower Show coverage – replacing him with two women.
Swift has been a presenter at the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship event for the past 24 years, rising from roving reporter to co-anchor alongside Monty Don.
But this week, bosses replaced the familiar frontman with female presenters Rachel de Thame and Arit Anderson, who joined Don on the main evening BBC Two show.
Dozens of viewers took to social media to complain that they were missing ‘Chelsea legend’ Swift with some claiming that an equality drive was ‘ruining’ the Corporation’s Chelsea coverage.
Some viewers suggested the change was a result of the BBC’s ‘50:50’ equality project.
The scheme, which began in 2017, which sets out to increase the number of female, disabled and ethnic minority presenters.
When viewers were invited to submit questions online to the new trio to ‘solve all your gardening grievances’, the most common enquiry was ‘Where’s Joe?’.
Facebook user Kerry Thatcher fumed: ‘Not the same without Joe. The banter between him & Monty made the show. Shame on you BBC for going woke & ruining a much-loved programme.’
Joe Swift, pictured at the Chelsea Flower Show last year, is not presenting this year’s BBC coverage
She claimed: ‘Joe has been replaced simply because he is a man. He is a well respected gardener & designer with a Chelsea gold medal.
‘This is all down to the BBC 50:50 equality project. I like Rachel & Arit very much but they usually fronted other shows in the RHS calendar & Chelsea had the benefit of Joe & Monty together, which was very entertaining. As I said another programme spoilt.’
Another female viewer asked: ‘Where’s Joe Swift and why does it need 2 women to replace him?’
David Grace complained that the coverage was ‘getting more like a women’s chat show’, while Susan Harbin said: ‘Joe Swift is a big miss.. No fun now, everyone is very worthy and nice.’
Arit Anderson, left, and Rachel de Thame, centre, have replaced Swift in this year’s coverage alongside Monty Don, right
Lyn Watson said: ‘I miss Joe Swift … he was a great presenter but obviously no longer flavour of the month’, and Rob Bennett asked: ‘Where’s Joe? Not the same without Joe Swift. Boo BBC.’
Several referred to Swift’s sparring down the years with 69-year-old lead presenter Don, who has designed his own dog-friendly garden as this year’s event.
Lisa Ashton said: ‘It’s not the same without Joe Swift. He keeps Monty from being too earnest and pompous.’
Similarly, Linda Manning said: ‘Really miss Joe Swift – his sparring with ‘his lordship’ is always a delight.’
But a minority applauded the new format, with Terry Barber saying: ‘Brilliant line-up of presenters this year. The production needed a shake up. Monty [is] far more relaxed with Rachel and Arit. A joy to watch. I do not miss Joe one bit.’
Anderson and de Thame are, like Swift, garden designers and experienced Gardeners’ World presenters.
Swift attended Chelsea on Monday morning to promote a show garden built by his design company Modular for homeless charity Pathway.
Swift, who turns 60 on Sunday, said: ‘I’m going on holiday this afternoon. I’m having a big birthday soon.’
He began presenting part of the the BBC’s coverage for the show in 2001 and became a lead host in 2010, with another lead presenter being Alan Titchmarsh – who hosted it every year from 1983 to 2013.
Swift, in his role as a roving reporter, once dressed up as Indiana Jones – complete with a leather jacket, hat and whip as he went hunting for plants.
Don speaks to visitors at his dog garden exhibition at the flower show
Alan Titchmarsh, pictured at the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show, hosted the BBC’s coverage every year from 1983 to 2013
In a recent Scribehound Gardening podcast, Swift revealed that he finds filming in front of Chelsea visitors ‘nerve-wracking’.
He said: ‘Everyone watches you film and loves it when you get it wrong; absolutely just waiting for you to make a mistake.’
Recalling how he got into ‘a bit of trouble over the years’, he told how he once revealed an exhibitor’s 300-year-old bonsai tree was worth £35,000 – only for thieves to steal it from his nursery the following week.
On another occasion, when he was struggling from an early start to his day, he asked a runner to fetch him a banana – only to be handed a can of lager on set in front of a crowd.
He said: ‘Everyone’s nudging each other – ‘oh look, Joe’s got a bit of a problem’. It’s only ten o’clock in the morning. I had to say really loudly “Oh, no I didn’t want a can of lager. I wanted a banana”.’
Swift’s agent has been approached for comment.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Joe is not part of the presenting line-up this year.’
