Sky 1 tends to 8pm slot with garden series

UK satellite channel Sky 1 HD has given the greenlight to a competition reality series for green-fingered gardeners, as it attempts to barge in on the competitive 8pm primetime space in the UK.

Sky 1 director Adam MacDonald (pictured) has made the timeslot a priority since joining from A+E UK last year, and has now commissioned Outline Productions to produce Welcome to My Garden (WT).

This comes a week after he commissioned another series for 8pm, travel format The Sun Set (WT). The slot has traditionally been the territory of the UK’s terrestrial broadcasters, but Sky is attempting to muscle in as its continues its local commissioning strategy.

Welcome to My Garden will be a “warm” competitive gardening show in which three green-fingered enthusiasts visit and judge each other’s gardens, while sharing tips to viewers and outlining why their approach to horticulture is the best.

“Welcome to My Garden will be a fun, factual Sky 1 series with lots of warmth and insights into gardeners and their creations,” said Siobhan Mulholland, commissioning editor of factual and features at Sky. “It will tap into one of the British public’s biggest passions.”

Outline’s head of development Shona Baldwin, who joined from Studio Lambert in January, developed the show. Outline’s managing director Laura Mansfield executive produces alongside Helen Veale.

Hat Trick International has global sales rights, and it is understood there has already been interest in the format from European companies.

Outline’s other recent commissions include So You Think You Can Drive for BBC One and Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes for BBC Two.