Big Allotment Challenge, Episode 1, Part 2
Sweet pea challenge
Next up was growing sweet peas. Once grown the task was to select seven sweet peas for showing and to make a bouquet with the remaining flowers.
After a particularly dry spell of weather during the growing phase one of the contestants described their sweet peas as ‘knackered’ and this wasn’t far off the mark.
The sweet pea challenge was won by Alex and Ed who looked delighted with their first ‘win’.
Some useful insight into the florists’ craft was gained when Fern asked Gary and Pete what the inspiration for their bouquet was. ‘Flowers’, they replied.
The proceeding ‘make a bouquet’ competition had a slightly ‘Generation Game’ feel to it but some of the results were impressive.
The winners of this task were Rupert and Dimi. So far their entire back story consists of a few seconds of film showing them listening to music at home with the voice over describing them as, ‘drum and bass enthusiasts who live in Surrey’.
‘Eat Challenge’
This was the final task of the show. Contestants were asked to make a fruit jam and a fruit curd.
A more realistic challenge might have been to give them a carrier bag of courgettes and half a bucket of green tomatoes and ask them to come up with something original. But that wouldn’t have made such good TV. Or would it?!
The spectacle of watching people make jam wasn’t the most entertaining but there were some interesting end products. In particular Rupert and Dimi’s blueberry curd and Edd and Harshani’s rhubarb and custard curd.
The winners of this task were Gary and Pete – they of the beards and fancy neck-ties.
The end
All that was left to do was to send the first couple home. At this point the tension became almost unbearable. Almost.
The unlucky couple to leave the show were Shaun and Liz.
A new beginning
Next week promises more gentle suspense when contestants will be growing runner beans and roses and making relishes.
We look forward to a bit more ‘doing’ and a bit less ‘making’ in the next episode.
