DS1ST DAILY STAR, Tuesday, July 2, 2019 19 DIARMUID FACES BIG GARDEN CHALLENGE

FUTURE’S ■ROSY: TV presenter Nicki and, below, with our Mike and old Fragrant Nicki pal Diarmuid helps me grow I WONDER what inspired Diarmuid Gavin to become a garden designer. Was it so he THE MIKE WARD INTERVIEW could make loads of friends? I suspect not. Te 55-year-old Dubliner is a lovely, funny guy but he’s also not DIARMUID GAVIN afraid to speak his mind. And he moves in circles where that isn’t always appreciated. & NICKI CHAPMAN Take the Chelsea Flower Show, for example. Te biggest of deals in the “tricky”, the ex-talent show judge “He hadn’t done TV here for a few gardening world? Not to Diarmuid clicked with Diarmuid the very frst years, but I told them I’d love it to be it isn’t. time they crossed paths, in 2003. Diarmuid – and he said yes!” “Tere are some great people “I’d been doing ,” she At least, that’s how she recalls it. there, Mike,” he acknowledges, “but recalls, “so we did a competition at Diarmuid, being Diarmuid, begs to they’re in the minority. Chelsea called Pot Idol.” difer. “It wasn’t like that at all,” he “Tere are some great gardens, (“I’ve no memory of that…” insists. but those are even more in the Diarmuid chips in.) “What?” says Nicki. “You DIDN’T minority. And I think the rest is a bit “A little while later I interviewed want to work with me?” of a sham. him at Chelsea for BBC Breakfast, “No,” says Diarmuid. “It was “So half the people there won’t about a row he’d had with a neigh- Channel 5 who didn’t want to work speak to me.” bour. And he suddenly went of on with you!” He’s not exactly Alan Titchmarsh, one, live on air. Everyone loved that.” Again, of course, he’s pulling her then? “No, it was a great shock to me “Yes, I made your career!” leg. “Seriously, Nicki was very nice when I realised I wasn’t going to be Diarmuid chuckles. to recommend me,” he says. “I’ll as nice and easy and accepted as Tis banter of theirs, I should always be grateful.” Alan T!” explain, goes on throughout our Beneath all this, I sense genuine Someone who does appreciate interview. It’s almost firty at times, friendship, that they’re not putting Diarmuid’s roguish, maverick ways, but entirely above board (they’re on a performance for my beneft. however, is long-term pal Nicki both happily married). Chapman, a member of Chelsea’s And it makes them great fun to Lovely presenting team for years now. chat to. “We do have good chemis- I also get the impression hanging Which is handy, seeing as they’re try,” Nicki agrees. out with Diarmuid, promoting a se- co-hosting a new show on Channel Hardly surprising, then, that when ries they’re passionate about (“there 5 tonight, Te Great Gardening Channel 5 asked who she’d like as a are some beautiful gardens, and the Challenge, where pro designers co-host, Diarmuid topped her list. designers have left a wonderful leg- compete to transform unloved “I wanted to work with someone acy for these communities”), is just patches of land. genuine, who’s absolutely passion- the tonic Nicki needs right now. Despite being warned he could be ate about gardening,” says Nicki. You’d never guess it to look at her, but a couple of months ago Nicki, 52, underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour. “I still have a little bit of it, sadly. It was too dangerous to remove it all. But I’ve been very fortunate. Tings could’ve gone very diferently. “Everyone’s been so kind. I’ve had so many lovely messages, and peo- ple coming up, sharing their stories. “I don’t usually talk about per- sonal stuf, but it’s lovely if I can help others facing something similar.” Nicki hopes she and Diarmuid can work together again before long, perhaps on Gardening Challenge series two. “We’re really keen. I feel up to it. And if I did get tired I know he’d look after me.” Sounds like this supportive- ness works both ways, mind you. “Nicki is so good with peo- ple,” stresses Diarmuid. “I wouldn’t have time for peo- ple the way Nicki has. “And she does keep me in check. To be honest, I get bored very easily.” ●The Great Gardening Challenge starts tonight NEW LEAF: Nicki and Diarmuid host gardening show together on Channel 5 at 8pm.