Gardeners' World star Toby Buckland has been a friendly face on our TV screens for many years.
Born in Exeter, the horticulturalist trained as a nurseryman at Blyth's Devon Nursery and later Whetman's in Devon before studying horticulture at Bicton College in Budleigh Salterton and later Hadlow College of Horticulture and Agriculture.
Toby went onto work at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden as a woodland supervisor before landing a string TV and writing opportunities.
The horticulturalist has been a regular contributor on the BBC gardening show offering his gardening experts and showing off some spectacular gardens.
Toby was promoted to lead presenter for the show when he replaced Monty Don when he suffered a stroke in 2008. Yet two years later he was dropped from the show in 2010. Toby slammed the BBC at the time saying he felt 'let down'.
Beyond TV, Toby Buckland loves gardening and spending time with his family. But what else do we know about his life off-screen including his row with the BBC?
Toby Buckland's TV breakthrough
Image:
Western Morning News)Buckland's first job in TV was in 1996 as a horticultural researcher for Brian Lapping Associates working on Channel 4's Garden Party. The 55-year-old started off life as a nurseryman in Devon cultivating trees.
In 1998, he then joined the Granada Breeze channel as a gardening presenter which led to TV roles designing and building gardens on shows including Home Front in the Garden, Real Wrecks, Carol Vorderman's Better Homes on ITV and BBC's Garden Magic.
Toby has won several awards for his gardening, including RHS Gold and Best in show for his Ethical Garden at Gardeners' World Live in 2008. In 2009 he won the Environmental Award from the Garden Media Guild for a Gardeners' World Special on peat in gardening.
As well as his TV work, the star also has his own plant nursery, Toby Buckland's Plant Centre, and he has written many gardening books. But what do we know about Toby's life away from the cameras?
Toby Buckland's row with BBC
Image:
BBC)Toby blasted the BBC after he was axed as the main presenter of Gardener's World in 2010, with Monty Don returning to the helm following recovering from a stroke. Toby said he felt 'so let-down and humilated' after his contract was not renewed.
Revealing his anguish at being axed, Buckland, said: "There is still a raw wind blowing though me. I go out in the garden and everything looks dead."
He added: "I have always stuck up for ordinary gardeners and I have been so touched that so many have stuck up for me. At the end of the day, as a good friend said, it's only telly.
"I will always have gardening and that's what will get me through feeling so let-down and humiliated. At times like this, you just have to remember that what holds true in gardening also holds true in life.
"When things don't go your way, try again. Winter doesn't last forever."
Ratings plunged from a high of five million to two million during Toby's time as lead presenter. Audiences also complained about format changes as they said the dumbed-down show had become a gardening version of Top Gear.
Who is Toby Buckland married to?
Image:
BBC)Toby Buckland is married to his wife, Lucy Buckland, who shares his love of the outdoors and gardening. They met each other while studying at horticultural college.
Lisa is currently the editor of lifestyle website, Muddy Stilettos in Devon which shares blog posts about trendy restaurants, cafes, shops and businesses across the county and South West.
Lisa was also a contributing gardens editor for House Beautiful and a campaigns writer for Gardening Which? Magazine.
Toby and Lucy have three children together and they currently live in Devon. The gardening expert has not shared their names, but did reveal they had had a big effect on his gardening.
He said: "Yes, I garden in an ethical way, in a green way, but what I really am is someone who cares for the environment. Having the children was the catalyst for me.
"But I'm a gardener first, and to say that I wouldn't ever spray anything again wouldn't be true."
When the pair aren't busy writing and presenting, they organise the annual gardening festival, Toby's Garden Festival, at Powderham Castle in Devon. The event sees experts give talks and demos to the public, with quality plants and advice also on offer.