Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball have recorded a special episode of their podcast Dig It from inside the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with access usually reserved for BBC coverage.
The pair were granted permission to record during the build and judging weekend for the 2026 show, making Dig It one of the few non-BBC podcasts allowed on site before the event opened to the public.
It is the first outside broadcast for the gardening and lifestyle podcast, which combines conversations about plants with wider discussions around wellbeing, friendship and culture.
Recorded among the cranes, landscapers and final planting preparations, the Chelsea episodes feature tours of two of the show’s most talked-about gardens and interviews with presenter Frances Tophill and designer Arit Anderson.
Arit discusses her work on Parkinson’s UK’s A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey, inspired by her sister Julie’s diagnosis.
“We want our loved ones to have the best that they can have… and something like the joy of gardening,” she said.
“My sister used to garden and her space is way too big for her. We’ve had to help her downsize and she’d given up gardening, and I want to get her back into it.”
She added: “Feeling that you can’t do something is incredibly, incredibly difficult.”
The conversation struck a chord with Jo Whiley, who reflected on helping her mother return to gardening after surgery.
Frances Tophill also guided Jo and Zoe through The King’s Trust Curious Garden, created with The King’s Foundation and supported by David Beckham and Alan Titchmarsh.
“It’s lovely that you said it was making you feel curious,” Frances said. “When you look closer… you think not only are they lovely, beautiful plants, but they could be globally significant.”
She also revealed that David Beckham took a keen interest in the planting, suggesting garlic and Nepeta Six Hills Giant as additions.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show special of Dig It with Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley is a Persephonica production and available wherever you get your podcasts.
