The Gardeners' World Blog

There are always nervous moments when we're covering big events.

I was in our production office as we counted down to the start of the Beijing opening ceremony on Friday, and with about two minutes to go Huw Edwards in one part of the stadium couldn't hear Sue Barker in another part of the Bird's Nest - and he couldn't hear the programme editor either.

It's at times like that you realise how much we depend on the technology and the human ingenuity in making it work. We came on air smoothly as scheduled.

The second point for nerves is waiting for the first audience figures.

They're not the be-all and end-all, but having made the investment and cleared the airtime - it does help if people tune in.

We needn't have worried.