MONTY'S BLOOMER

Sunday Mirror, Jul 25, 2004 by JAMES HARPER

TV gardening star Monty Don snubbed a prize-winning couple at a flower show - because they grow begonias.

Terry and Shirley Tasker won a silver medal for their dazzling display at the Tatton Park Show at Knutsford, Cheshire, and were booked by the BBC for the Gardeners' World programme.

But when presenter Monty saw the begonias on the stall he refused to film them and walked off. "He just took one look, said 'Begonias? No!' and left," said an angry Terry, from Southport, Merseyside.

Monty said: "People often guess what they think I like or I don't like, but choosing what to film is a team effort."