To my considerable surprise, one of the most enjoyable Spotify playlists I have listened to in the past few months is a selection of music from the soundtrack of Swedish gardening programme, Trädgårds tider (Gardening Times). Unexpected pearls of jazz , Americana, classical and ambient, compiled in a way that Gillett or Peel would have been envious of!

I’ll confess that my impression of gardening TV shows is violently out of date. It is either Percy Thrower puffing away on his pipe and giving charmingly low-key advice on how to win the top gardening prizes in the village fete. Or Bob Fleming spluttering energetically in his garden shed on the Fast Show.

Instead of that, this Swedish TV show provides a wonderful dollop of comfort TV. Exquisitely photographed, it has four very charming, rather good-looking presenters, (two man and two women), who get up to all kinds of inspiring horticultural and culinary activities in the heart of the magnificent Skåne countryside.

It is a great art to be the presenter on such a show. You should be knowledgeable but not an irritating know-it-all. They get it just right. ( If I say, not like Ernst, the Swedish contingent will » Continue Reading.