Post by Teddy Bear on May 14, 2009 16:32:47 GMT
Should we expect behaviour that epitomizes the highest ideals of our society from those serving our national media company than that to which we are becoming increasingly used to? - I think so!
Female BBC presenter sacked for 'drunkenly abusing strangers' during radio roadshow at family farm
By Andy Dolan
Daphne Ledward's horticultural expertise has made her a household name to gardeners thanks to her string of books and appearances on BBC radio and television.
But the author of the Idiot Gardener's Handbook behaved like an idiot herself after downing wine and going 'berserk' at a drinks reception in front of around 150 people, including many young children.
The 64-year-old has been sacked by the BBC after it received three complaints over her drunken behaviour which saw her verbally abusing complete strangers who had been trying to calm her down.
Miss Ledward admitted yesterday that she had 'behaved disgracefully' after drinking heavily at the annual 'Discover Nature' weekend staged by BBC Radio Lincolnshire at a farm near Lincoln - but said she could not remember exactly 'what went on'.
The event, as part of which families were encouraged to camp or caravan at the farm, included activities such as photography and gardening workshops, nature trails and a dawn chorus woodland walk.
Miss Ledward, who had her own Sunday morning gardening show on Radio Lincolnshire, was broadcasting from the May Day bank holiday weekend event for the station.
But a source told yesterday how Miss Ledward, who was staying on in caravan on the site with second husband John Hands and their five greyhounds -became abusive in front of families and young children after she became convinced through drink that her dogs had been shot.
It is understood the dogs had escaped from the couple's caravan at South Cliff Farm in the village of South Carlton earlier in the weekend, after which a farm worker warned Miss Ledward he would shoot the animals if they escaped again, in order to protect farm livestock.
When the pets escaped for a second time and she could not find them, the broadcaster allegedly began drunkenly accusing strangers of shooting them as they attempted to calm her down.
She later discovered that Mr Hands had already found the dogs and taken them back to their car.
The source said: 'She was very loud, drunk and abusive in front of families and small children. She just went berserk
'It was highly embarrassing for everyone who witnessed what happened. She just kept going on about the fact that her dogs had been shot or would be shot.
'It was disgraceful behaviour.'
The veteran broadcaster and author became the first female panellist on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time in 1982 and was a regular gardening expert on the Jimmy Young Show on Radio 2.
Her 'mistake' has now ended a 29-year association with the BBC, during which time she also hosted her own BBC2 show 'Garden Hopping'.
Miss Ledward, who has no children, said yesterday: 'I was working voluntarily on behalf of Radio Lincolnshire, and for two days I barely ate anything.
'I don't drink at all now. I can't take alcohol since I had an operation for cancer last year.
'On this particular occasion I made the mistake of having a few glasses of wine at a drinks welcome evening and I behaved disgracefully.
'I was very much more the worse for wear than I would have liked, and when the dogs escaped once more I behaved appallingly. I had visions of my dogs lying dead somewhere in a field.
'People were trying to assure me that the dogs had not been shot but I was not very nice to them.'
She said she had apologised to the people concerned and admitted she was at fault, but condemned the station for failing to allow her to make an on-air apology and continue with her show.
Miss Ledward, of Surfleet, South Lincolnshire, added: 'Thinking about Jonathan Ross, it did cross my mind that there's one rule for the rich and one for the poor.'
Her operation for cancer of the uterus in December 2007 prompted her to broadcast her own 'Cancer Diary' on Radio Lincolnshire.
Radio Lincolnshire managing director Charlie Partridge confirmed: 'We are no longer using Daphne Ledward on Radio Lincolnshire.
'Daphne is an independent journalist and has never been an employee of ours.
'We've had a good relationship over the years.
'All we've said is 'Daphne, we're not going to use you in the future'.'
By Andy Dolan
Daphne Ledward's horticultural expertise has made her a household name to gardeners thanks to her string of books and appearances on BBC radio and television.
But the author of the Idiot Gardener's Handbook behaved like an idiot herself after downing wine and going 'berserk' at a drinks reception in front of around 150 people, including many young children.
The 64-year-old has been sacked by the BBC after it received three complaints over her drunken behaviour which saw her verbally abusing complete strangers who had been trying to calm her down.
Miss Ledward admitted yesterday that she had 'behaved disgracefully' after drinking heavily at the annual 'Discover Nature' weekend staged by BBC Radio Lincolnshire at a farm near Lincoln - but said she could not remember exactly 'what went on'.
The event, as part of which families were encouraged to camp or caravan at the farm, included activities such as photography and gardening workshops, nature trails and a dawn chorus woodland walk.
Miss Ledward, who had her own Sunday morning gardening show on Radio Lincolnshire, was broadcasting from the May Day bank holiday weekend event for the station.
But a source told yesterday how Miss Ledward, who was staying on in caravan on the site with second husband John Hands and their five greyhounds -became abusive in front of families and young children after she became convinced through drink that her dogs had been shot.
It is understood the dogs had escaped from the couple's caravan at South Cliff Farm in the village of South Carlton earlier in the weekend, after which a farm worker warned Miss Ledward he would shoot the animals if they escaped again, in order to protect farm livestock.
When the pets escaped for a second time and she could not find them, the broadcaster allegedly began drunkenly accusing strangers of shooting them as they attempted to calm her down.
She later discovered that Mr Hands had already found the dogs and taken them back to their car.
The source said: 'She was very loud, drunk and abusive in front of families and small children. She just went berserk
'It was highly embarrassing for everyone who witnessed what happened. She just kept going on about the fact that her dogs had been shot or would be shot.
'It was disgraceful behaviour.'
The veteran broadcaster and author became the first female panellist on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time in 1982 and was a regular gardening expert on the Jimmy Young Show on Radio 2.
Her 'mistake' has now ended a 29-year association with the BBC, during which time she also hosted her own BBC2 show 'Garden Hopping'.
Miss Ledward, who has no children, said yesterday: 'I was working voluntarily on behalf of Radio Lincolnshire, and for two days I barely ate anything.
'I don't drink at all now. I can't take alcohol since I had an operation for cancer last year.
'On this particular occasion I made the mistake of having a few glasses of wine at a drinks welcome evening and I behaved disgracefully.
'I was very much more the worse for wear than I would have liked, and when the dogs escaped once more I behaved appallingly. I had visions of my dogs lying dead somewhere in a field.
'People were trying to assure me that the dogs had not been shot but I was not very nice to them.'
She said she had apologised to the people concerned and admitted she was at fault, but condemned the station for failing to allow her to make an on-air apology and continue with her show.
Miss Ledward, of Surfleet, South Lincolnshire, added: 'Thinking about Jonathan Ross, it did cross my mind that there's one rule for the rich and one for the poor.'
Her operation for cancer of the uterus in December 2007 prompted her to broadcast her own 'Cancer Diary' on Radio Lincolnshire.
Radio Lincolnshire managing director Charlie Partridge confirmed: 'We are no longer using Daphne Ledward on Radio Lincolnshire.
'Daphne is an independent journalist and has never been an employee of ours.
'We've had a good relationship over the years.
'All we've said is 'Daphne, we're not going to use you in the future'.'