Toby Buckland has been a familiar face on our TV screens for many years – but what do we know about his life away from the cameras including his row with the BBC
Gardeners’ World presenter Toby Buckland during filming at the BBC garden in Birmingham, April 2009,(Image: BPM)
Toby Buckland, the familiar face from Gardeners’ World, has been gracing our television screens for many years. Born in Exeter, this horticulturalist honed his skills at Blyth’s Devon Nursery and Whetman’s in Devon before pursuing further studies in horticulture at Bicton College in Budleigh Salterton and later at Hadlow College of Horticulture and Agriculture.
Toby then worked as a woodland supervisor at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden before seizing numerous opportunities in TV and writing. As a regular contributor to the BBC gardening show, Toby shares his expert advice and showcases some stunning gardens.
In 2008, he was promoted to lead presenter, replacing Monty Don who had suffered a stroke. However, he was dropped from the show in 2010, leading him to express his disappointment with the BBC.
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Beyond the screen, the celebrity gardener has cultivated success at his own plant nursery, Toby Buckland’s Plant Centre, and is the author of numerous acclaimed gardening books.
But what else is there to know about his off-screen life, including his dispute with the BBC?
Toby Buckland’s row with BBC
The ruckus between Toby Buckland and the BBC surfaced when he expressed his displeasure after being pruned from his role as the main presenter of Gardener’s World in 2010, making way for Monty Don’s return post-stroke recovery. Articulating his sense of betrayal, Toby reflected on feeling ‘so let-down and humiliated’ upon learning his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
Voicing his heartache over his departure, Buckland revealed: “There is still a raw wind blowing though me. I go out in the garden and everything looks dead.”
He continued by acknowledging the support of the show’s viewers: “I have always stuck up for ordinary gardeners and I have been so touched that so many have stuck up for me. At the end of the day, as a good friend said, it’s only telly.
“I will always have gardening and that’s what will get me through feeling so let-down and humiliated. At times like this, you just have to remember that what holds true in gardening also holds true in life. When things don’t go your way, try again. Winter doesn’t last forever.”
Ratings plunged from a high of five million to two million during Toby’s stint as the lead presenter. Viewers also voiced their displeasure with changes to the programme’s format, criticising it for becoming too simplistic and akin to a green-fingered version of ‘Top Gear’.
Toby Buckland’s wife and children
Toby is happily married to Lucy Buckland, his kindred spirit in all things botanical. The pair met during their studies at a horticultural college.
Lisa, who has carved out her niche in the digital space, is currently running Muddy Stilettos in Devon which spotlights hip eateries, cafes, boutiques, and local businesses across the county and the broader Southwest region.
Previously, Lisa lent her expertise as a contributing gardens editor for House Beautiful magazine and as a writer focusing on campaigns for Gardening Which? Magazine.
Home life for Toby and Lucy includes their three children, and although Toby has kept their names private, he’s open about the profound influence they’ve had on his approach to gardening.
Discussing the impact of his off-screen role as a dad, Toby affirms, He said: “Yes, I garden in an ethical way, in a green way, but what I really am is someone who cares for the environment. Having the children was the catalyst for me.
“But I’m a gardener first, and to say that I wouldn’t ever spray anything again wouldn’t be true.”
When they’re not penning and presenting, the duo are busy arranging Toby’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle in Devon. This annual gardening event features expert-led talks and demonstrations, with top-notch plants and advice available for attendees.