Wellesbourne pupil was star of BBC gardening show

In front of a very big microphone and showing a confidence belying his years, Theo stole the show and the hearts of the experts and the 350-strong audience during a recording of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time.

A member of Wellesbourne CE Primary School gardening club, with his own allotment plot, he challenged the experts to suggest vegetables he could be guaranteed to grow successfully, asking and answering more questions from them as they narrowed down on the best crops for him.

The gardening club is run by teaching assistant Rebecca Coates and teacher Kirsty Prosser.

Wellesbourne gardener Andy Palin, who helped bring the show to the area, said: “During the afternoon panel expert Christine Walkden interviewed a dozen Wellesbourne allotmenteers on their plots, learning about the 170-year history of the site and also answering their gardening problems and queries.”

The BBC team were invited by the school gardening club, Wellesbourne Allotment Society, Compton Verney, Charlecote Park, Wellesbourne in Bloom, University of Warwick - Warwick Crop Centre and the Wellesbourne & Walton Horticultural Society. The show was recorded at the Arts House, Stratford, and the edition is broadcast today (March 6) and repeated on Sunday.