RHS Malvern Spring Festival has unveiled the full line up of celebrity and special guests set to feature at the show when it returns to Three Counties Showground from 11 – 14 May 2023. With a reputation as the trailblazer of the esteemed RHS floral show season, this year’s festival will be bursting with immersive new experiences, engaging talks and demonstrations from experts, a cornucopia of colourful flora and fauna, exciting entertainment for all ages, and, of course, a star-studded line-up of horticultural guests, TV presenters, authors and celebrity chefs.
This year’s Festival Theatre will be hosted by RHS Vice President, Design Ambassador and Gardeners’ World magazine columnist, James Alexander-Sinclair. Joining James on stage over the long-weekend will be a special selection of BBC Gardeners’ World presenters and expert horticulturalists, including Adam Frost, Arit Anderson, Frances Tophill and Sue Kent, as well as all-round gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh MBE.
Between them, these gardening experts will share top tips and advice on everything from affordable gardening to gardening for a changing climate. Also joining them on the Festival Theatre stage will be the community gardener and talented designer Tayshan Hayden-Smith, who will be sharing his passion for empowering young people and communities to get more involved in horticulture.
Frances Tophill, horticulturalist, BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and RHS Malvern Spring Festival special guest, said: “As a regular contributor to RHS Shows, I am excited to be revisiting the glorious RHS Malvern Spring Festival this May. I will be joining Festival Theatre host, James Alexander Sinclair, along with some of my fellow Gardeners’ World presenters and other brilliant expert horticulturalists. I’m particularly looking forward to this year’s ‘Gardening for Everyone’ theme, as sustainable, planet-friendly practices are something I am passionate about.”
The brand-new Tips & Tricks stage will be hosted by Max McMurdo, skilled designer/upcycler and TV presenter, whose creations have featured on BBC’s Dragon’s Den and currently on the new series of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. Special guests joining Max include Jay Blades MBE, expert furniture restorer and TV presenter, well-known for his role in BBC’s The Repair Shop. Jay is a proud eco-designer and champions the use of sustainable, environmentally-friendly methods. Content creator Adam Kirtland (View from the Potting Bench) will be demonstrating how to create your very own container herb garden, while Rupert Keys from TASK Academy will share clever tips on how to use rain water in your outdoor space.
Max McMurdo, skilled upcycler, TV presenter and Tip & Tricks Theatre host, commented: “We will be sharing plenty of clever ways to create amazing elements for your home or garden in the Tips & Tricks Theatre that won’t cost much, helping you to get enjoyment from your spaces while saving money.” The new Bloom & Grow Theatre will be hosted by horticultural broadcaster and wellbeing advocate, Ellen Mary.
Joining her on stage will be Jonathan Moseley, one of the UK’s leading floral designers, sharing top tips on how to make your flowers last longer at home. Ellen will also be joined over the weekend by horticulturalist Tom Leonard (a.k.a The Drag Queen Gardener), Ben Newell (content creator and founder of Worcester Terrariums), Jon Wheatley (Avon based award-winning landscape designer) and Ann-Marie Powell (gold medal winning garden designer).
The new Fire & Feast stage, supported by Kadai, Caradoc Charcoal Ltd and Love Logs, will be co-hosted by cooking expert and founder of Otter Farm, Mark Diacono, who will share his tops tips for fermenting foods, and content creator and BBQ cook, Adam Purnell (a.k.a The Shropshire Lad), who will give audiences an exciting insight into open fire cooking.
Well-known broadcaster and TV presenter, Gregg Wallace MBE, will share his methods for cooking delicious spatchcock chicken and tasty tikka paneer kebabs. Local legend Anthony ‘Murf’ Murphy, one of the founders of the region’s exceptionally popular and growing group of restaurants The Beefy Boys, will share tips on how to whip up your own ultimate burger at home.
“Skilled chefs from Harts Barn Cookery School (located in the Forest of Dean) will share their top tips for cooking up a feast at home, while Paul Strachan from Love Logs (a planet friendly firewood supplier based in the West Midlands) will teach audiences how to cook the perfect pizza. Also joining co-hosts Mark and Adam across the weekend are author and TV chef, Marcus Bean, and Adam Markham from Firebowl barbeque company Kadai, both based in Shropshire.
Gregg Wallace MBE, TV presenter and RHS Malvern Spring Festival special guest, said: “I’m looking forward to this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival and thrilled to be sharing some cooking tips at the new Fire & Feast Theatre. It looks like it’s going to be a fantastic weekend!”
The Potting Shed Theatre - new to RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2023 – will be hosted by expert horticulturalist Martin Fish. Located within the impressive Floral Marquee, a range of green fingered professionals will be on hand to share specialist gardening knowledge in a series of interesting and informative sessions.
