Jeremy Clarkson has said he fears BBC Gardeners' World would not survive without Monty Don, as he revealed plans for a new, more ambitious television venture after Clarkson's Farm.
The 66-year-old former Top Gear presenter made the comments at the Royal Television Society's convention in London this week. Monty, 71, announced he would be leaving the show after 23 years.
Clarkson on gardening shows
Speaking at the convention, Clarkson said: "Look at gardening shows. How are they going to survive, especially without Monty Don?"
He added: "You know, because anyone can do a gardening thing on social media, or cookery. It's very difficult to make a television show work unless you're cooking on the moon or doing something incredible, and that's where I think television has to get."
The award-winning presenter also stressed the need for television to stand out and get bigger rather than smaller.
Plans after Clarkson's Farm
Clarkson, who has developed programmes including Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and Clarkson's Farm, said he has started thinking about a new show.
He said: "We are currently thinking about what we do after Clarkson's Farm. It's going to have to be something bigger to stand out and protect us from this onslaught from underneath. It has to be unbelievably ambitious. Where people go, 'What the f… are you doing? That's incredible'."
He added: "Ever since I started working in television the mantra has always been to make 'fewer, bigger, better' shows. But now it's imperative."
Who should replace Monty Don
Clarkson also gave his opinion on who should replace Monty Don. While current cast members Frances Tophill, Joe Swift, Carol Klein, and Adam Frost have been suggested as candidates, Clarkson pitched social media influencer Chloe Winter in a column for the Sunday Times.
He said: "She's like Monty Don, if he was 50 years younger, and Irish, and a girl. I could watch her for hours. She makes me feel as safe as the cheese counter in a Waitrose, and that's the main reason for making a show about gardening."
