I have signed countless NDAs in my life. For those not au fait with this particular TLA (Three Letter Acronym - possibly the most useless TLA ever invented) it stands for Non Disclosure Agreement. Almost all of these arose in my dark days as a technology PR girl and generally had to do with something so dull and incomprehensible that disclosing it would have been social suicide anyway.
However, last year I signed an NDA which has been torturous to keep. Nine months ago I became Gardening Consultant for a new Cbeebies show - Mr Bloom's Nursery. And, two weeks today, the first show will air.
The show has some hands on gardening with kids on a ridiculously gorgeous looking allotment with Mr Bloom. But, this is also about entertainment, so there are talking vegetables: a shy cabbage, mischievous radishes, the requisite comedy runner bean and, of course, a singing aubergine (who is also French because, hey, why wouldn't he be?).
It begins February 7th on Cbeebies 10.05am and 2.05pm.
Hoorah and bravo - how very exciting and I wish I had a small child so I could watch it. I will ask my 6 year old niece if she watches it and feed back accordingly if she does.
I had to sign the Official Secrets Act when I was 18 - i cant tell you why or I would have to kill you!!!!!!!
Posted by: Helen/patientgardener | January 24, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Ooh...get you..! Well done missus, especially on the secret keeping. Somehow I feel sure I will be watching this.
Posted by: Lia Leendertz | January 24, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Congratulations, although, you can be the one that talks my littlies through why their homegrown aubergine won't sing! Sounds great, I'm looking forward to it.
Posted by: Helen Purchas | January 24, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Brillian, brilliant, brilliant!!!!! I can't wait to watch now - I assume your name will be on the credits too? How exciting, can't wait to tell my Archie, he'll be sooooo impressed!
Well done you xxx
Posted by: ann-marie powell | January 24, 2011 at 01:56 PM
Fab, well done you. I and, more importantly Theo, 4, and Arthur, 2, will be watching avidly. Can you sneak in some tips on how much fun it is to be out in the garden on a freezing cold day?
Posted by: Alex M | January 24, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Helen - I knew it! You're a spy master aren't you?
Lia - I am actually surprisingly good at keeping other people's secrets but can't help blabbing my own so I'm more shocked than anyone about keeping it zipped.
Posted by: Dawn | January 24, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Helen - not only that, but why it hasn't got a moustache or a French accent... This could get tricky.
Posted by: Dawn | January 24, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Ann-Marie - not only is my name in the credits, it's even spelt correctly which is most exciting. Just hope Archie likes it (because, let's face it, kids make the harshest of critics)
Alex - I'm afraid, in TV land, the sun always shines (which is an utter lie as it was filmed in Manchester in the pouring rain but it's amazing what can be done in post-production)
Posted by: Dawn | January 24, 2011 at 02:24 PM
dawn that is bl00dy awesome!!! How cool to be able to write THAT on your resume!
I may even turn cbeebies on to watch...even though I SERIOUSLY despise that Justin bloke and since he seems to be on ALL THE TIME, cbeebies is banned here on South Street. But for singing aubergines, I may break the ban...
Posted by: Slugs On The Refrigerator | January 24, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Hopefully there are some flowers, too? I was surprised how much little kids loved the flowers in my cutting field. Jan PS Good luck with it!
Posted by: JW Blooms | January 24, 2011 at 05:19 PM
How cool are you?
Very I would say, well done
K
Posted by: Karen - An Artists Garden | January 24, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Great stuff, I shall be watching with the children.
Posted by: Damo | January 24, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Very cool! Congratulations, both on the the programme and the secret-keeping. Like you, I've signed a lot of NDA's in my life, but none have been that exciting! Though that pea-with-a-face looks scarily manic...
Posted by: Janet/Plantaliscious | January 25, 2011 at 03:50 PM
This is the ultimate.
You might just as well retire right now. I see BAFTAs and a small lawsuit (in which you will be exonerated and claim huge damages) when the Daily Mail publishes fake pictures of you on a lounger in St Kitts with the actor who used to dress up as Bungle in Rainbow *
*from that statement you will have deuced that I am not really up to speed with Cebeebies. Sorry.
Posted by: JamesA-S | January 26, 2011 at 06:36 PM
So please to come across this lovely, informative blog! Have added you to my blogroll :-)
Posted by: girl with a spade | January 29, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Fantastic! I shall sit nearly five year old grandson down in front of it whether he likes it or not (actually he will like it. I have big advantage of 2 acres of garden while he has a flagged yard so I have the advantage of the exotic when it comes to gardening). Congratulations. And in respect of your resolutions, do go for chickens. They are lovely. They are easy. They are like easy pets who never sick or pee inside, unless they sneak in when your back is turned, and who lay eggs as well. Go on, you know you want to.
I don't suppose you want to come holiday to North Wales do you? I would so like to meet you.
Posted by: elizabethm | January 31, 2011 at 10:58 PM
I only just spotted this but wanted to say WELL DONE!
Oh, and I only get to sign rubbish NDAs, still.
Posted by: Sally | February 02, 2011 at 01:01 AM
Just seen this - well done you! We'll definitely be tuning in ...
Posted by: Jane Perrone | February 02, 2011 at 03:45 PM
SOTR/Kat - You will be gutted to hear that Justin has jsut signed another 2 year contract, so he will be on our screens, probably wearing women's clothing, for at least another 24 months. Sorry.
Jan - I'm afraid flowers are very much limited to non-speaking roles. They obviously need a better agent.
Karen - It's not exactly Lady Gaga levels of cool, but, to the under 5s, it's close... Thanks. Dx
Damo - That's what I like to see - an audience!
Posted by: Dawn | February 02, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Janet - Ahem... I think you'll find that's Colin the runner bean. But, to be fair, he is extremely manic.
James - Actually several different actors used to play Bungle (which, come to think of it, might mean I will be liable for even bigger damages, although I shall also require a larger lounger)
Posted by: Dawn | February 02, 2011 at 06:29 PM