Father and son from Eastbourne compete on Netflix television show

Ralph Kernott and his 21-year-old son Jim, from Hampden Park, will feature on Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight, which airs on Monday May 18, putting their gardening and design skills to the test against nine other passionate pairs.

Ralph, who is a groundsman at Bede’s Prep School in Dukes Drive, and Jim, who is studying 3D design and craft at the University of Brighton, said they applied for the show after Jim received an email at university.

Ralph, 56, said, “We just thought ‘we fit the bill’ and we might as well have a go.

“It was absolutely incredible. The challenges were real, the time limits were real.

“It was really hard work, but it was great fun and we made some fantastic friends.

“It’s been an epic adventure. It was a huge privilege to compete against some amazing people.

“The highlight was working with my son. We used to do things as a family but as they grow up you don’t get that as much.

“So the highlight was sharing an experience with Jim.”

Jim said in an interview with Netflix, “Through Dad I grew up with a love of the outdoors but I didn’t love gardening so much. I was always the one who had to clear up after Dad had cut a hedge. That was a labour of love.

“This show is right up our street: it combines what we both do.”

The show has eight challenges in total where contestants attempt to create spectacular, large-scale flower installations for a chance to design their own sculpture at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The pairs face elimination with every task and will be judged by famous florist Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, with comedians Vic Reeves and Natasia Demetriou hosting the show.

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