Monty Don has blasted the BBC for kicking Gardeners' World out of its regular Friday night slot to make way for a Rugby League World Cup match.
Popular host Monty called the decision "inscrutable" and "frankly bewildering".
The match between Scotland and Australia will air live on BBC2 tomorrow night, with Monty and his new golden retriever Ned moved to Thursday for a week.
Monty, 65, said this morning: "Gardeners World is on tonight at 9pm - moved by the inscrutable and often frankly bewildering BBC schedulers to accommodate a rugby league match between Scotland and Australia.
"Make of that what you will, but don’t miss the main event at 9pm on BBC2 this evening."
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His comments sparked a debate on Twitter, with some users agreeing with Monty. Regular viewer Chloe Philip said: "What is the BBC's obsession with prioritising sport over programmes that are loved and popular?"
But others said the move was justified.
During the summer, Monty moaned when the show, with 2.5 million viewers, was "shunted" back half an hour.
In 2013, when it was moved for the World Snooker Championship semis, Monty railed: "Total lack of interest in programme or audience by schedulers."
Gardeners' World will air tonight on BBC Two and iPlayer from 9pm. You can catch up on previous episodes of the show through iPlayer now.
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