Gardening is often considered a nice, harmless pastime for the older generations. Although its popularity among younger people is on the rise, and even in a country as garden-mad as the UK (which might be the only place on Earth that has its own gardening celebrities), it's still perceived as a special interest hobby without broad, mass appeal.
That is, of course, until the RHS Chelsea Flower Show rolls around each May. The Royal Horticultural Society's biggest show of the year is a world-renowned spectacle, with 150,000 visitors and millions of TV viewers, and is known for the famous crowd it draws for the 'private view' before the event opens.
Celebrity visitors on Monday this year included The King, Sir David Beckham, Grayson Perry, Kim Cattrall, Dominic West, Brian May, Aisling Bea and Judi Dench, to name a few. Many B-list celebs (not naming names) were also in attendance and obviously jump on the opportunity to take their mums on a nice day out for free.
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Press Day at Chelsea, as it is officially known, is swimming with reality TV stars in fancy frocks, million-follower influencers wielding selfie sticks and trade stands handing out freebies. Garden writers such as ourselves have been known to quietly gripe that it should be renamed Celebrity Day rather than Press Day, as the gardens we are trying to cover are constantly thronged with celebrity appearances, influencers recording Reels and TikToks, BBC TV shoots and RHS group tours rolling through from early morning.
We know, we know - cry us a river, boo-hoo, poor media types playing our sad little violins, moaning while being able to get into the show for free too. But when you are interested in the gardens themselves, and it's your job to tell people about the horticultural prowess and craftsmanship behind these incredible spaces, it's better when you are actually able to experience them yourself.
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We always assumed it was just us being disgruntled hacks, however, and kept schtum, channeling our energies into ambushing said actors and personalities on Main Avenue ourselves for social media clips - if you can't beat them, join them. These videos do, as expected and rather sadly, receive far more views and interest than any of the garden-related content we produce.
However, it is noticeable the change in tone of many of the comments on those celebrity clips and posts this year, with a notable increase in negative attitudes to the very presence of celebrities at the event, to plants being named after them or them appearing on the BBC coverage. So we asked our readers and followers what they thought of the fanfare of Chelsea Press Day.
What people think of Chelsea's celebrity love affair
The response could be summed up, very generally, in one line: What does this have to do with gardening?
One person told us they were "less interested in what some random comedian's mother thought" about the show, saying they want to hear from the designers and regular garden presenters such as Monty Don, Adam Frost and Arit Anderson.
One reader, who often visits the show, said: "I do find it hilariously funny listening to conversations between [people] trying to outdo each other on their gardening 'knowledge', which is often incorrect! [Chelsea] needs to refocus on its roots and true gardeners." The idea that lots of the famous visitors didn't know a thing about gardening was a theme echoed by many.
Lots of people said they had no interest in seeing celebrities at Chelsea and felt it detracted from the coverage of the gardens and plants.
"I've been a Chelsea regular for years, but it's becoming something that feels less about gardening and more about being 'seen' there," said another commenter. They also said that the BBC TV's celebrity focus exacerbated the situation. Another reader stated: "celebrity endorsement is clouding the core value of the show".
It's becoming something that feels less about gardening and more about being 'seen' there
One word that came up time and again from commenters was that old chestbut, 'elitist', with one person saying: "It's a circus! We want to see the gardens, the designers and the exhibitors who put so much effort into their work, not the celebrities who only go there to be seen," they added.
"Keep the focus on the gardens - Chelsea Flower Show is a unique British horticultural talent showcase which should be for horticultural professionals, students and amateurs, not just another occasion for celeb ogling," suggested another.
Others were more sympathetic, saying celebrity presence was fine depending on how interested they were in the actual event. A garden enthusiast is a garden enthusiast after all, regardless of the day job.
Plenty were also quick to point out that although Press Day is awash with frivolity, the rest of the week is generally focused on the gardens and the plants.
Could a better balance be struck?
Dozens of people told us that they felt the cost of tickets to Chelsea was prohibitive to many people visiting, and so, why should celebrities who are plenty well-off, get to go for free?
"The whole thing is rather revolting. The gap between the haves and the have-nots just grows wider and wider," was one response.
However, as another person pointed out, the coverage probably helps the show. "If celebrity culture helps bring in funding for the show and charities and raise interest in the event and gardening, I have no problem with it. It seems to be a formula that works."
Peeking behind the curtain a moment, and revealing the inner machinations of the event, this suggestion comes closest to the reality of the thing. The RHS do invite some celebrities to come to the show on Press Day, but many of them are there to support specific charities and causes by being the focus of press calls and shoots on the day.
By turning up and gurning or doing a bit - we've seen everything on gardens from opera singers belting one out to Angela Rippon dancing this year - the idea is that it helps get those charities as much coverage as possible in the media and maybe further their cause. It is the show garden sponsors, often non-profits, who make these famous faces their ambassadors and invite them to the show with their small number of gold-dust passes for the day, because they know that celebrities get attention, clicks and comments, which they hope will lead to more engagement with their causes.
The celebrities don't pay for access to the show, but usually are giving up a day of their time for no fee to support these causes with their presence and star power. Having done their bit, they do of course get the nice bonus of being able to bring a guest and wander around the show while it isn't heaving with crowds.
On Press Day Monday, the show is not open to the public, so tickets are not being siphoned off for these celebrities - in fact, there are no tickets on sale for the day, only passes for exhibitors, media and invited guests (who also often include volunteer committee members the RHS are rewarding for doing important work for the organisation all year).
We couldn't do most of our charitable work without Chelsea
Publicity is the crux of the matter. The RHS is a charity, which like every charity must raise money to find its work. At an RHS conference earlier this year, talking about Chelsea, Dr Sue Moss, Director of Learning and Public Engagement at the RHS said: "The week is amazing, but we couldn't do most of our charitable work without Chelsea. It's our biggest fundraiser of the year."
The organisation has begun communicating this message in earnest in the past year or two, perhaps in part to combat criticism of how expensive the show tickets are, and complaints about access, inclusion and elitism from one side and wokeism from the other.
Director-general Clare Matterson told Gardens Illustrated as much directly in a recent interview: “Finances have been a particular challenge, and I won’t apologise for our commercial activities," she said. "We have to charge for things like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show because otherwise we wouldn’t have the money to do everything else, including our outreach programmes, educational offering and science research, but it is about finding the balance."
Our readers remain unimpressed, however. Suggestions for changes for future years included that celebs should have to mingle with the public - which, let's be honest, they are unlikely to go for - and that perhaps opening up another day of the show would spread the crowds out.
It was also pitched that celebrities could pay the cost of a ticket, which could then go towards a ballot, allowing those who can't afford to go the chance to see the world's most famous flower show. An interesting idea that we are leaving here for any RHS representative who reads this to consider.
With the 2026 celebrity-sprinkled coverage continuing on the BBC, and plans already in place for 2027, it seems unlikely the conversation around access to the show will let up any time soon.
With thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts with us on social media.
