TV legends John Craven and Charlie Dimmock are to open the 2017 Southport Flower Show, partnered by Everest.

The popular broadcasters will formally declare the start the four-day seaside event on Thursday 17 August.

They join a line-up of celebrities at Southport which includes some of Britain’s best-known gardening experts and stars of Children’s TV Justin Fletcher and Mr Bloom.

Both John and Charlie are household names with careers spanning decades and are still entertaining audiences on top-rated TV shows.

John has been a regular fixture on the BBC since he first presented John Craven’s Newsround in 1972. He started presenting Countryfile in 1989 and still hosts the programme today.

He said: “This will be my first time at Southport, and I’m thrilled for the opportunity to speak at the Celebrity Theatre.

“I have always heard wonderful things about the show and the quality of the gardens and displays, so I also can’t wait to see what Southport has to offer.”

Charlie shot to fame in the 1990’s as part of the presenting team for the hit BBC show Ground Force.

She went on to star in a string of gardening programmes and reality shows, and returned to TV screens last year with a new BBC1 show Garden Rescue.

Charlie will be returning to Southport for the first time in 18 years as she was a celebrity guest in 1999 when she was presenting Ground Force.

More than 50,000 visitors are expected at Southport, the UK’s largest independent flower show, which runs from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 August.

As well as the famous floral displays, the show has a packed programme of family entertainment including a Minecraft fan convention and top stars from children’s TV.