Rachel de Thame

Currently enjoying television success as a gardener, Rachel’s path to our screens has been varied and interesting.

Born in London, Rachel studied ballet to a professional standard at the Royal Ballet School, but after a prolonged bout of glandular fever was forced to give up her dream of a dancing career.

Rachel then turned her studies to History of Art at City Lit. and spent a short period working for a well respected international firm of art dealers in London. However, she was soon spotted by model agency Laraine Ashton, later IMG, and enjoyed a long and successful modelling career.

A major part of Rachel’s modelling included an increasing number of appearances in television commercials and casting agents soon began to suggest Rachel for acting roles. By 1988, she had appeared in the mini series "Merlin” and in the British feature film “Bodywork”.

However, as a long term career, acting was not Rachel’s ideal choice so late in 1998 she enrolled at the English Gardening School, indulging an inherited passion from her father who is an exceptional gardener. Graduating with a distinction in Practical Horticulture and Plants & Plantsmanship, auditions for BBC2’s Gardener’s World followed and the rest, as they say is history.

Rachel is currently one of the regular Gardener’s World presenting team. She filmed her own series for the BBC, Small Town Gardens, transmitted May 2001and June 2002. In 2002/2003 she presented Hampton Court and Chelsea as part of the RHS output on BBC 2. 2004 will see Rachel will co-hosting Chelsea with Alan Titchmarsh, and returning to our screens in Gardener’s World after the birth of her third child.

Rachel writes a bi-monthly horticultural article for the Saturday Telegraph, Amateur Gardening and Woman’s Own.

To book Rachel for your Event, contact a Prime Performers Booking Agent via the online booking enquiry form or alternatively call 020 3500 3331 for further information.