Strictly winner and Gladiator star to headline Southport Flower Show
Southport Flower Show returns this week for four days of horticultural highlights, celebrity guests, television chefs and even a real-life Gladiator.
The finishing touches are being made to show gardens, exhibits, and trade areas at the town's 34-acre Victoria Park. Competition judging takes place later this week.
Celebrity guests include Emmerdale actor turned farmer Kelvin Fletcher and wife Liz from TV series Fletchers' Family Farm; punk icon Toyah Willcox; wildlife cameraman and Strictly winner Hamza Yassin; Zack George – Steel from Gladiators; Christian Lewis from The Wilderness Family; and children's TV favourite Justin Fletcher.
Last year the event reached its milestone 100 th anniversary, attracting 50,000 visitors across the four-day event.
Gates open to the public at 10am on Thursday. (14 August). Show times are 10am to 6pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.
A packed programme spanning the four days features celebrity guest Q&A sessions in the Garden Theatre and live demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre; live music performances on the Piazza Stage; and an outdoor show arena hosting dog display teams, birds of prey, and horse shows.
This year sees more family attractions than ever before. Alpacas are visiting for the first time, and a new children's trail highlights include conservation, scarecrow festival, children's yoga, doodle wall, and tennis skills.
Alan Adams is General Manager of Southport Flower Show. He commented: 'Victoria Park is a real hive of activity with show gardens reaching the end stages of build, garden and cookery theatres being kitted out, marquees and exhibits dressed, and traders arriving to set up their stalls. Every single individual involved plays a vital role in the ongoing success and appeal of Southport Flower Show. It never ceases to surprise me each year just how committed and focused everyone is to get things exactly right. It's incredibly inspiring.
'Our special guest line-up spans all four days with plenty of opportunities to hear from the celebrities and watch the chefs live in action at the two dedicated theatres. Join us for a day bursting with colour, live entertainment, food, shopping – and not forgetting the beautiful blooms which await you.'
The celebrity guest programme includes:
Thursday 14 August: David Domoney, Kelvin and Liz Fletcher, Christian Lewis, Rosemary Shrager, Martin and Jill Fish.
Friday 15 August: Toyah Willcox, David Domoney, Carole Baxter and George Anderson, Gladiator Steel Zack George, Phil Vickery, and Martin and Jill Fish.
Saturday 16 August: Carole Baxter and George Anderson, Hamza Yassin, Nick Bailey, Cherish Finden, Nancy Birtwhistle, and Martin and Jill Fish.
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