No, it really is gardening leave for once

Evening Standard display advertising client sales director Charlie Bennett has decided to swap the hard-nosed world of ad sales for the more pastoral delights of a horticulture course on nursery gardening.

Having had enough of the bustling metropolis – and doubtless exhausted after years of entertaining clients at trendy bars with unpronounceable names – Charlie has decided to become the new Alan Titchmarsh, and has taken up residence at a renovated cottage in Cornwall where he intends to develop his interest in organic vegetables.

Standard ad director Mike Orlov will sadly bid farewell to his right-hand man – but probably won’t miss the trays of seedlings and fertiliser cluttering up the office.