Monty Don's shock announcement delivered last Monday sent shockwaves around the gardening TV world, an array of comment in newspapers and online and of course, fevered speculation as to who should or could replace him.
Odds from Betway have Adam Frost at 2/1, Frances Tophill close behind at 3/1. Arit Anderson's odds are 7/1, Joe Swift's are 10/1, and Carol Klein's are 12/1. Further down the rankings come Alan Titchmarsh, with odds of 20/1; Charlie Dimmock, with odds of 25/1; and JJ Chalmers, with odds of 33/1.
Our poll on LinkedIn, which garnered 124 votes, showed a marked lack of consensus on a successor, and some appetite for a change in direction.
The favourite, but only just, is still Adam Frost, a co-presenter on Gardeners' World and long a popular choice. His 30% of the vote was backed by many posting on articles and in forums online.
But running him a close second, at 29% is Frances Tophill, who presents a chance to break the male presenter dominance on flagship gardening TV.
Kelly Riker said on LinkedIn: "[Tophill is] very knowledgeable. She has the same peaceful countenance that made Monty so likable. Ready to see a woman host."
Having said that, no other female candidates were named on LinkedIn, confirmation perhaps of a lack of popular leading ladies in TV gardening.
Alan Titchmarsh, who joined increasing numbers of traditional TV stars by migrating to YouTube, only managed 15% of the vote.
Other suggestions from the survey included: David Domoney, James Wong, Michael Perry, Nick Bailey, and even HortWeek's own Hortle champ, Tom Tree.
More names were mooted at Glee where Matt Appleby gathered opinion from the garden retail sector.
But the "wild-card" option of a shared or rolling presenter format gained 26% of the vote and could yet prove a viable option, at least in the short term.
A multi-presenter line up could showcase the diversity of styles and a personae within the industry, giving the show time to find its feet, and after Monty's substantial 20-year reign, injecting some new life into the format.
Susan Delaney commented: "My suggestion of Frances Tophill as a truly brilliant move to replace MD is based on several exceptional traits of hers, her horticultural and botanical knowledge and sound gardening experience being the most outstanding, along with her refreshingly open and personable disposition and ability to relate to all people. It's worth noting that women in general are still frequently self deprecating about their own remarkable skillset, as she was when interviewed for an article in Hortweek two years ago. However all of us know that many male Presenters are brimming with confidence and could probably attempt to sell camels to Saudi Arabia and still maintain their self-styled guru persona on screen so long as they were presented with a script. Frances could write the script, Adam and Toby too."
TV's Jeremy Clarkson said: "So, for the new host, might I recommend that the producers trawl the staff in the nation’s garden centres for candidates. Or check out a girl called Chloe from Blooms & Greens on Instagram.”
