When Gardening Australia‘s Costa Georgiadis heard Richard Wilkins announcing his name for not one, but two Logie nominations, best presenter and the ultimate Gold Logie, he describes the moment as nothing short of surreal.
“I was hoping that the show was going to get nominated and when the other two nominations came through it was like ‘Wow! Oh, you’re talking to me?’ It was one of those moments where you take a breath, and I felt like I was just watching it on TV,” he recalls.
The nomination is of particular significance given when the Greek Australian was first announced as the new presenter of Gardening Australia the show’s audience didn’t seem too happy with the ABC’s choice.
“Pretty much from the end of 2011 when the word went out that I was coming it certainly created a little bit of polarisation. But when you’re dealing with a show that has a really loyal audience, change is always going to be a bit unsettling,” he tells Neos Kosmos. “I just took the approach that I am who I am … I just wanted to take that baton and carry it responsibly and with energy into the future – that was my goal.”
And with his positive mindset, Costa has done exactly that.
Fast forward seven years, and the show’s audience has not only grown, it has extended to an hour long program, nominated for a Logie four years running.
READ MORE: Greek garden guru Costa Georgiadis is up for a Gold Logie
Costa’s love of garden stems back to his childhood, days spent in pappou‘s garden, and says that when it comes to family he counts himself lucky.
“They’ve always backed whatever I’ve put my head and heart to, and you realise when you get a little bit down the track as you go through these stages in life that unconditional support is something that you hope that you can give to people. I couldn’t ask for anything more from my family because that’s the biggest gift that they could give; that they just back you because they love you,” he says.
There’s no denying Costas’ passion for what he does, just as enamoured with the role today as when he first made the move from SBS to the ABC. He takes his responsibility to generate interest and raise awareness about all things gardening seriously; a topic that is more relevant than ever today given the growing anxiety around climate change.
“What people I think are really looking for is just ways that they can take action when they feel like they’re not necessarily being heard or they’ve got angst and fear about aspects of the future, to be able to give people solutions so they can then be part of the change. I think the show has always been that but what’s happening is there’s more agitation and more interest and urgency around some of those messages … people want to be able to contribute and not just observe and that’s where our show just gives them a chance to connect and engage and act,” he says.
Despite his rise to fame, Costa is as humble as they come.
Beyond gardening, it his genuine love for people and enthusiasm that are no doubt behind his Gold Logie nomination.
“I’m fortunate you know; I’ve travelled around and I’ve seen so much of the country and know people in so many far flung corners. And that’s been one of those elements of my life that has been fuelled so much by what I do because I love people, and so doing what I do and meeting people from Buniga in the far north to Bunbury in the south of WA, from Broome to Cardwell, all the communities out around Alice in the Northern Territory and up to Yakala, Arnhem Land right down to Tassie, I kind of look at it and I go far out! What a country, what a world, and what a journey it is. It just gets better.”
Just as well-known around the country as Costa is his beard. Would he be willing to give it a shave if he takes out the Gold? It’s a sure, and unsurprising, no.
“If someone wants to seriously discuss me shaving the beard, I’ll sit down and have a discussion. But it’ll be a million dollars per year of the beard,” which he reveals is 28 years old.
“It would be some serious money to do some serious projects.”
So why should we all vote for Costa?
“Why not? Why not disturb the status quo and put the world around us in the spotlight; something that’s apart of our everyday? It’s never been in the spotlight like that.”
The Logie Awards live voting opens today, Monday 24 June and closes on Sunday 30 June, 2019 at 7.30 pm. To cast your vote, visit https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/vote-in-the-2019-tv-week-logie-awards-54150
READ MORE: The naked truth: Costa Georgiadis takes organic fight to the masses