“At the time I used to enjoy still life painting and sometimes used flowers as subjects. Some of the flower arrangements I used could be seen in the shop and over time, people started to ask if they could buy some of the arrangements.

“When we first opened the shop, we begged and borrowed items to furnish it and I remember borrowing loads of vases for our flowers. The flower shop building however was full of character and had a cast iron open fire so we always had a blazing fire going in winter. I also used to do some millinery work and had hats on display, so I suppose I always was quite artistic and creative.”

Completely self-taught Carl obviously had an eye for arrangement and design and even as a relatively young man, he began to put this to good use after receiving requests to create wedding flowers for local brides.

“Eventually I moved into wedding party work and used to dress venues with table decorations etc. I also started doing floral demonstration work and later exhibited at the prestigious Harrogate bridal fayre and was able to showcase my work to the trade,” said Carl.

“I’ve always tried to do something different with my designs and my work is quite outlandish but people seem to like it. After a while fashion editors began to enquire about my work and I first ended up on TV when I received a phone call from Yorkshire Television asking me to be a guest on Calendar Fashion.

“About 12 months later I was amazed when I had another phone call from Yorkshire Television offering me a job on the Tonight programme. I was involved in doing room makeovers – probably some of the first makeovers ever seen on TV – and I had a budget of just £100 and 24 hours to do the job.

“We worked to some very tight schedules and I could literally be talking to the camera while the film crew were still rollering paint onto the walls out of shot. We once did a makeover on a house in Huddersfield when we used some sheer voile fabric which, thinking back, must have been a fire hazard and we also did a living room makeover which ended up looking like something out of the
Roman Empire.”

The early days of satellite TV however saw Carl get his first real big television break.

He was approached by Granada Television who wanted his floral skills for the launch of a new satellite show called Homes and Gardens. Carl was invited to be the floristry guest and would create various floral designs to themes such as Valentine’s Day etc.
Eventually, with much TV experience to his credit, Carl was offered his very own show Wilde About Flowers and later on, Wilde About Weddings.

“After this I got involved with the This Morning programme when it was still presented by Richard and Judy. They asked me on to do flowers for Valentine’s Day and then I went back to do Mother’s Day and then they offered me the most wonderful opportunity to do a six-week tour of the gardens of Europe, reporting back on my findings for the show.

“It was such a great opportunity and I could also do a travel log for the different places we visited. We went all over Europe and stayed in some fabulous hotels and ate in wonderful restaurants. Before all this I’d only ever been to Benidorm so you can imagine what an experience it was.”

Shortly afterwards Carl was off again, this time to the Caribbean for a similar broadcast. “This time we visited Princess Margaret’s garden and stayed at Lord Litchfield’s villa in Mustique. Can you believe that? After that I was asked by the BBC to do a programme called House Call and later Star Style which was basically looking at the world of antiques. I suppose people like my presenting style because I am chatty and extrovert.”
After appearing on TV shows like This Morning for several years on and off, Carl has more recently turned his attention to his new project Cocoon, which opened with champagne and nibbles just a few weeks ago.


When Around Town visited him he was just in the process of displaying furniture and accessories in the new showroom. Looking round, it was clear that flowers still pay a big part in his life as they were being used to full advantage with vases full of stunning flowers in and around the showroom.

“I’ve been very lucky in everything I’ve done really. The only thing that didn’t work out particularly well was when I opened another flower shop a couple of years ago but that’s been sold now.

“This new venture is very exciting and we have some stunning furniture which would look great in a conservatory. Most of it is from the Far East and there are also tables and chairs suitable for using outside.”

Carl is also very involved with organising group visits to his garden, of which he is very proud. Visitors are invited to join Carl either for a champagne lunch or for a classic afternoon tea – see www.carlwilde.com for details. Group bookings are available for up to 12 people to see this wonderful garden designed by Carl and inspired by his love of Italy.

Of his home in Birstall, Carl says: “I’m so lucky to live in a lovely home. The garden is very steep and terraced and together with my partner, I have created a beautiful Italian style garden with stone walls, large distressed cast iron ornaments and water features including fountains.

“We often entertain in the garden and it’s such a delight. I’m very lucky to live where I do.”

Carl is also known for his very outrageous and flamboyant line in clothes, many of which are from the designer Vivienne Westwood.

“People are always fascinated by my clothes and I have a great collection of Vivienne’s designs. Hopefully there is going to be an exhibition in Barnsley which will feature my Westwood collection which is going to be called Fine and Dandy. I’m not sure when it will be as it all has to be organised yet,” said Carl.
Although Carl still remembers his home town fondly and says he has friends living in the local area, he says he has lost some of his links with Castleford following the death of his mother some four years ago.