Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own

Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own is an Irish reality television special which originally aired on RTÉ One on Tuesday 8 December 2009. It follows the trials of Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane MacGowan as they endeavour to grow their own food in their own garden. The show documents Clarke's struggles to grow vegetables and MacGowan's attempts to assist.[1] Filming of the special took place in Dublin.[2] It has been compared to the 1970s sitcom The Good Life.[3] MacGowan is from an agricultural background.[4] First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama was said to have influenced the couple.[5]

Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own
GenreReality television
StarringVictoria Mary Clarke
Shane MacGowan
Narrated byStephen Rea
Country of originIreland
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationIreland
Running time1 hour
Release
Original networkRTÉ One

Victoria Mary Clarke admitted during the show that she had neither read nor bought the book she was supposed to use for assistance.[6] She also spoke of her belief in angels and how she spoke to them.[7] Clarke's friend, a Marina Guinness, provides her with an allotment to carry out her task.[7] A celebration is also expected to take place when the crops have grown sufficiently.[7] The potatoes which Clarke is attempting to grow turn black.[7] Caterpillars which attack her food are thrown to the hens as food themselves.[7] Various celebrities and well-known people also featured, including musician Glen Hansard, and cousins of British pop star Lily Allen made an appearance as well.[6] A container of urine belonging to Shane MacGowan was auctioned by Clarke as the show drew to a close.[6][7] The show was narrated by Stephen Rea, using an ironic tone.[7] Clarke also wrote about her experiences in the Sunday Independent.[8]

Pat Stacey, reviewer for the Evening Herald newspaper, gave the show one star out of five, calling it "a disjointed and rushed production" and questioning where the plot had been.[6] Hilary Fannin, reviewer for The Irish Times newspaper, called the entire premise an "anarchic idea", satirically suggesting it was time for Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne to move on as a replacement had been found.[7] Olaf Tyaransen called it "an enjoyable hour of television".[9] Dave O'Connell, reviewer for The Connacht Sentinel, "watched gobsmacked and cringed quite a bit", though later admitted the show had been "compulsive viewing".[10]

References
  1. "Shane MacGowan to grow his own vegetables on reality TV programme". NME. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  2. Robin Murray (2 December 2009). "Shane MacGowan For Reality TV Show: Pogues singer to become gardener". Clash. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  3. "Homegrown for Shane". The Irish Times. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009. Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own is said to echo 1970s sitcom The Good Life, and follows the pair as they attempt to live on homegrown produce — apparently not very successfully.
  4. "Pogues singer now a TV gardener". canoe.ca. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  5. "Is Shane MacGowan the new Monty Don?". The Guardian. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  6. Pat Stacey (9 December 2009). "Loads of manure and very little else". Evening Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  7. Hilary Fannin (12 December 2009). "Shooting the sheriff". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  8. Victoria Mary Clarke (22 November 2009). "'I am used to Shane being unpredictable, he has disappeared before, in worse places. I console myself with Ozzy's autobiography'". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  9. Olaf Tyaransen (15 December 2009). "THE O-ZONE: Savage talking". Evening Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  10. Dave O'Connell (15 December 2009). "Mary's cringe factor compelling viewing". The Connacht Sentinel. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
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