Stephen with his much loved dogs
As many of you will now know, Stephen Ryan, horticulturalist, author and broadcaster is no longer the host of Gardening Australia. It is their loss, but unfortunately ours too. Stephen is a friend, so this is not totally unbiased, but I believe that the ABC has been foolish in the way they have squandered his talents. Stephen has a knowledge of horticulture that is second to none. For more than forty years he has worked in the world of plants, winning awards and scholarships, writing books and speaking on the subject all over Australia and overseas. But instead of tapping into this ‘fountain of all knowledge’, they used him to do awkward connects between segments and to spruik a viewer’s suggestion. Such a wasted opportunity. Gardening Australia has, for so many years, worked to showcase gardening for people of all abilities. I have been gardening, and writing about gardening now a long time, and have often learnt something new from watching Gardening Australia. But not so much recently. I sense that in sacking someone as charismatic and knowledgeable as Stephen Ryan, Gardening Australia is heading down the track of the commercial stations, going for popular at the expense of informed. I guess we will know more about the trend when we see who is appointed to the new position. I hope the appointment won’t be all about style, rather than substance.
25 Comments
We were shocked to read that ABC had sacked Stephen.
He is one of the most knowledgable and talented plantsman in Australia. The ABC have lost a lot of credibility in recent times, perhaps they should sack their managers rather than presenters.
The latest in a series of dreadful decisions at the ABC. I expect they’ll appoint a “designer” when what we need is a real gardener – someone like Stephen Ryan, for example. They might as well just can the show.
Hi Penny,
You’re spot on with your comments. I met Stephen a few years ago when he and Michael McCoy spoke at an event in Toowoomba, and I have to say, the GA producers did a fine job of stifling a passionate and entertaining presenter.
I thought the segments on perennials, filmed in Stephen’s garden prior to being made host, were excellent. But after being appointed host his delivery seemed to become more and more scripted, and progressively less like the witty bloke I met.
Strange move by the ABC, considering a fair chunk of GA’s audience is made up of experienced gardeners looking to extend their knowledge.
Let’s hope that Stephen’s replacement is just as passionate and is given some licence to do his, or her (!) own thing.
It’s been all downhill for Gardening Australia lately. First the ABC cancels the Sunday repeat, then the format seems to include less “hands on” info then it used to and now Stephen going. I thought he was a great choice to replace Peter. Oh well. Thank goodness for Channel 31 and 3CR.
Sad for stephen, he is undoubtedly knowledgeable but lets be honest was filling some big shoes without the training his predecessor had. Surely this is where the producer gets the chop as well. Whilst its not product free we will go back to 9 with their garden guru. Its a nice show and producing more entertaining advice than aunty can throw up
I just emailed Gardening Australia to express our disappointment at Stephen Ryan being replaced by Costa Georgiadis. I informed them that although we have faithfully watched GA from its inception, we will be watching it no more – no offence to Costa. I’m sure Costa’s SBS show filled a niche but Stephen has done a sterling job hosting GA from day 1 and is much loved by his fans. Not happy……
I’ve emailed Gardening Australia also, they had no idea of what a talented, charismatic (and very easy on the eye!) presenter they had. Will miss those wollen knits and great button through shirts!! What a waste.
What a joke the ABC is! They’ve sacked one of their best presenters (AND HOST) Maybe Costa comes from Sydney, and the aim of the change is to become more Sydney-centric, like a lot of their programs already are!
I have also emailed the ABC to let them know that they have lost me as a viewer – no offence to Costa, but he is not in the same calibre as Stephen. I agree with the assessment that the ABC wasted the opportunity to really show Stephen’s brilliant knowledge.
I had not realised Stepehen was asked to leave. I had thought he must have resigned from the role. I do think the ABC has been foolish in this decision. Costa is fabulous and has a powerful message to spread but this could easily have been achieved by including him as a presenter on the show….not sure why he has been made the ‘front man’. I do agree with the other comment here that suggests the ABC is looking for ‘wham bam’ snippets at the expense of good solid information. Stephen is an amazingly knowledgeable plantsman as well as being a genuinely nice guy. I will be scouting around for opportunities to listen to Stephen. I do hope he will be speaking at MIFGIS this year. I will be watching Costa and I wish him well in this new venture.
Oh dear ABC.
Shame on you!
When Peter Cundal left GA the opinion was who could possibly fill his shoes.No one really he is a national treasure. Having said that Stephen has done an excellent job.And like a cosy armchair was getting use to him and his happy nature.
GA was the only gardening TV Show watched in our house. I am sure Costa will put his slant on things but it’s a mindset Stephen ABC, Costa SBS.
If they had to change why not put stephen as a presenter and put Sophie Thompson or Jane Edmonson as host.
I will still watch it for all the other presenters sake, why should they be disadvantaged if the ABC can’t see past their noses.
i live in ireland and i have been watching Gardening Australia on itunes for a long time. I love the programme and was sad to hear the shabby treatment of the main presenter Stephen Ryan. Good luck in the future Stephen. You were an excellent host.
The highlight of my year in 2011 was getting to meet my gardening hero, Stephen. Our photo hangs on my wall as an inspiration to all that I undertake in the plant world. I like everyone am appalled at the ABC’s treatment of Stephen and will no longer be tuning in. They lost the best host they are ever likely to find next to Peter and I personally thank him for all that I learnt from him and wish him the best of luck in his future!
I just learned that Stephen wasn’t coming back and sad to hear that he is no longer going to be on the Gardening Australia show. Its a shame we didn’t get to see the show as you might have like to present on it. Well done on 3 years of great TV – you had really big shoes to fill. Get on with and get back to gardening!
Oh Aunty,
What have you done? I was just looking to see how much longer we had to wait till Gardening Australia cme back on and was very disappointed to see that you have decided in your wisdom (?) to give Stephen Ryan the flick! For that is how is appears. I, like many others, think Stephen did a wonderful job. He had big shoes to fill and he managed it wonderfully. Shame that Stephen could not continue to be the host with Costa as one of the presenters. Perhaps Stephen should start a Gardening program on SBS and give Aunty a run for her money!
I agree Stephen was treated very shabbily. The producer probably thought the change was oh so clever. No just dumb and nasty. You might be the producer, but we own the show not you. Go and produce Better Homes and Gardens if you want to dumb gardeners down. I want a hands on gardening show, not fluff or ideology like Costa’s Gardening Odyssey. Dumb move.
Meg
Big Mistake! Huge error on ABC’s Gardening Australia’s part – Jennifer Collins, head of factual at the ABC, said: “Costa will bring an informed and entertaining spirit to the series.” ABC could not have had a more informed, entertaining and knowledgeable person in Steven Ryan. But they had to try and mould him and hence stifling his natural style into their ‘kind of person,’ which was not Stephan at all. No other gardener could be more charismatic than Stephan in person or on Radio; if only he was allowed to bring that spirit and charisma to the TV show, as Costa is apparently going to be permitted to do.
I am one of Stephan’s unknown fans, who has met him on a couple of occasions in person and listened to him on 3CR in the past. I will have to go back to listening to him on 3CR.
To crown it all, on top of that you are also axing Stephan from the ABC Gardening Magazine. Stephan is one of the best horticultural writers in Australia. So to cut him off the magazine is a shame. I for one will not be purchasing the magazine for it will surely be sliding backwards if you think that Stephan is not up to your mark. Who is?? Or is it one way to make sure you could silence Stephan Ryan.
I will give your new show a look in but having occasionally watched Costa on SBS and finding his style and him a bit too much to watch on a continuous basis, think the ABC has made a huge error of judgment and maybe the person or persons who made the decision should be sacked, for you will be losing your TV Gardening audience in droves.
If any of the commercial channels are quick enough they would grab Stephan and let him be his knowledgeable and charismatic self. In the process taking the ABC Gardening followers over. (From one who is almost exclusively an ABC and SBS listener.) For Jennifer Collins or the Gardening producers have just ‘discarded’ a gem from the horticultural world.
I couldn’t agree more with Penny Woodward’s comments. I was really pleased when I heard that Stephen Ryan would be presenting GA as I thought his knowledge would lift it into a proper gardener’s programme with some interesting pieces on how to grow some of the rarer types of plants. But, sadly, the ABC wishes us to grow nothing more exotic than petunias. Another lifestyle programme will seriously drive me nuts!!!
This is extremely sad, as Stephen presented Gardening Australia in a very informative, at the same time entertaining and definitely not shallow way. The new incumbent in my view neither has style, nor substance, and will most probably turn this once fabulous gardening show into a big ballyhoe. “Composting” Stephen is the most stupid thing ABC could have done, but very much in line with the load of stupidity its owner displayed in recent weeks. The way they did it is apalling – apparently the apple doesn’t fall far from it’s tree, and there are no coincidences in life.
I am disgusted and therefore my protest will be to stop watching GA after more than 20 years. I do not watch GA to be entertained Jennifer Collins. I get my entertainment from politics. I will find inspiration elsewhere. Vale GA.
To replace Stephen Ryan with the irritating pop-eyed fizz of Costa whatsisname is a grave mistake. If the ABC had in mind some replacements (not by any means a bad idea in itself) Stephen Ryan ought to have been the last to go. There are a couple of old gonzos who should be pasturised – no names, no pack drill), but to dismiss Stephen Ryan will haunt GA’s producer for ever – it is to be hoped. Come on commercial TV, snap him up!
It is extremely disappointing to learn that Stephen Ryan was actually sacked from his position as lead presenter of Gardening Australia! His knowledge, experience and obvious passion for plants are going to be missed. I have seen Costa on SBS and have to say I probably won’t be watching Gardening Australia from now on. Stephen went a long way to fill the incredible gap that Peter Cundall left and the ABC’s treatment of him is appalling.
Like so many other GA followers I’m horrified by the decision of ABC to replace Stephen Ryan as presenter, and apparently without reason. From his first appearance on TV Stephen looked and sounded like a seasoned presenter, and the segments featuring his own garden were fantastic. What is the matter with “Auntie”? First Deb Cameron on ABC 702, contract not renewed and now Stephen. I will continue to watch and wait – for the opportunity to tune in to both Deb and Stephen on a more discerning broadcaster. May their careers flourish elsewhere.
What a shame a plantsman like Stephen Ryan no longer fronts GA. As a nurseryman I have great admiration for him as he showed the gardening fraternity that there are still some interesting plants out there after all. He was a great advertisement for the small nurseryman that is out there with a passion in what they sell.
I don’t even own a garden but have watched GA for many years because the ‘front man’ and presenters were interesting, knowledgeable, made the program enjoyable to watch and I learned a heck of a lot. I will give the new show a go, but couldn’t come to grips with Costa’s style on SBS, so don’t think I’ll enjoy the new format. I haven’t seen a justification for sacking Stephen Ryan. From the blogs here it doesn’t seem audience numbers were falling and I don’t imagine die-hard GA viewers and gardeners will be enticed by showmanship rather than substance. We’ll see. All the best Stephen, I’m sure we’ll all see you again.