The time has arrived. The NEC, Birmingham is about to be transformed, for the 18th time, into my favourite show of the year: BBC Gardeners’ World Live. I admit that I’m a little biased, as part of my job is to help bring Gardeners’ World to life at the show, and it’s always such great fun.

Unlike Chelsea where you can look but not touch, Gardeners’ World Live is all about getting close-up and personal with a host of BBC gardening experts: Alan Titchmarsh on Wednesday, Monty Don on Thursday, and all the current GW presenters (Toby, Carol, Joe and Alys) for the remaining three days.

And ‘live’ is what it’s all about, as all the gardening team can be seen in action around the show. Our Gardeners’ World Magazine Theatre hosts all of them, but they also pop up in the Grow Your Own Garden area too.

New for 2010 is the Taste of Greenacre garden where Toby will be getting his hands dirty, and passing on practical advice from a recreation of the family back garden he’s been developing on the programme. And Carol, Joe and Alys will be handing out advice at the Plant Swap stand, so take along some seedlings or young plants to swap with other visitors.

And as if that wasn’t enough, I’ll be at the show every day, too, along with fellow blogger James Alexander-Sinclair. James is hosting our magazine theatre, where I’ll be joined by horticulturist Kevin Smith from my team to present a lively demonstration on The Productive Patio (I could hardly get all the plants into my car to bring to the show). Kevin and I will be demonstrating how to grow a wide range of plants, including strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and herbs.

Our very special guests this year are BBC Radio 4′s Gardeners’ Question Time team. They’re recording their programme at the show on Wednesday for broadcast on Friday 18June 2010 at 3pm, repeated on Sunday 20June at 2.00, so do tune in.

And, of course, Gardeners’ World is being filmed at the show for broadcast on Friday evening on BBC Two.

We’re looking for this year’s Star Plant at the show, but can’t do it without your help. Don’t forget to vote for your favourite plant from the display in the RHS Floral Marquee.

We’d love to see you there, so please come up and say hello.