Beloved BBC presenter dies aged 89 as fans pay tribute
TV legend Jim McColl, beloved for his long-standing role on The Beechgrove Garden, has sadly passed away at 89. His family confirmed in a statement that he died peacefully on Tuesday.
A heartfelt statement from the family conveyed their grief: "It's with a heavy heart we share the passing of Jim McColl, husband, dad and grandad who passed peacefully yesterday. He will be hugely missed not only by us but by his friends, colleagues and a nation who he shared his passion for gardening with over four decades at The Beechgrove Garden."
Green-thumbed icon Jim was the face of BBC Scotland's cherished gardening show since its inception in 1978. His peers from the programme have paid tribute, describing him affectionately as a "national treasure" and "local hero".
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Harry Bell, Managing Director of Tern TV, added his deep-felt respect and said: "Here's to 'our' lovely Jim who for four decades presented The Beechgrove Garden for us with a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye and a kind word for all folk. You'll be fair missed Jim. You were a local hero first and a Scottish national treasure next. Thank you for your immense contribution to gardening, broadcasting and steering so many of us on life's muddy paths."
Further tributes have flooded in for the cherished gardening expert with Geraldine McCartney, Acting Director at BBC Scotland writing: "We're saddened to hear of Jim McColl's passing. His expert gardening advice and wisdom on The Beechgrove Garden was invaluable to green-fingered viewers over the decades and he will be greatly missed by all.
"Loved by viewers across the nation, he'll be especially missed in the North East, where he was a much-cherished part of the BBC Scotland and Tern TV teams for many years. Our thoughts are with Jim's family, friends and colleagues."
Fans also took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their condolences as one wrote: "Such a tremendous loss! Jim McColl was not just a gardening expert but a Scottish national treasure. Rest in peace, Jim." A second penned: "Sorry to hear of broadcaster Jim McColl's passing. He was a gent."
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In 2019, Jim bid farewell to his screen career of 41 years due to health issues, including neuropathy affecting his hands and difficulty moving. Reflecting on his decision to retire at 83, he acknowledged his dwindling hand strength, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Jim had previously announced his retirement with a message reflecting on his decision. It read: "It is time I retired, not because I have lost any interest in gardening but because I'm getting old. If I get down on my knees, I'm not sure I can get back up again. I have to have something to lean on. I have a neuropathy thing with my hands. I have no strength in my fingers, no grip, and it has just been gradually getting worse."
With deep roots in the horticultural world, having trained at the West of Scotland College near Ayr and worked on a pioneering project for the Glen Garioch distillery, Jim's journey brought him fame on The Beechgrove Garden. His life and achievements were celebrated in the BBC Scotland documentary Jim McColl at 80, broadcast in 2015, earning him the Royal Television Society Scotland award in 2016.
Responses to his retirement include heartfelt words from Geraldine McCartney, Acting Director at BBC Scotland: "We're saddened to hear of Jim McColl's passing. His expert gardening advice and wisdom on The Beechgrove Garden was invaluable to green-fingered viewers over the decades and he will be greatly missed by all."
