Chelsea Flower Show 2013: I am a gnomosexual, says Llewelyn-Bowen You may have noticed that this year marks the centenary of the Chelsea Flower Show. As my colleague Michael Leapman reports, for decades gnome-fanciers in fancy dress have held demonstrations outside the gates on the opening day, protesting against the long-standing gnome ban. This year, however, they have cause to celebrate: the RHS has elected to allow gnomes at Chelsea for the first time in its 100-year history, and for one year only. In for a penny, in for a pound: not only will there be an authorised celebrity gnome-painting competition, with entries from Maggie Smith, Rob Brydon and Julian Fellowes, but the Bull Ring entrance will be flanked by two nine-foot-high, white gnomes. Nobody is more delighted with this development than the heavily pro-gnome, flamboyant designer, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (he painted his entry with a "17th century landscape," making it a "stealth gnome" which "looks posh"). "I am utterly anti-taste in gardens," he says. Let nobody have an ugly gnome, but a pretty gnome is a good thing. Chelsea permitting gnomes is like throwing open the gates of Troy and letting the Greeks in to do their worst. Nobody else in their right mind would want to put a gnome in garden, but the British love them. Then comes the admission. "I am," he says, "an unapologetic gnomosexual." Over the years, Mr Llewelyn-Bowen has gained a reputation for his eye-catching costumes at Chelsea. One year he came dressed entirely in chintz; another year he wore an outfit in "prosthetic pink." This year, as a demonstration of his excitement, he says he will go as a gnome. "I am always in a crazy outfit," he says, "but I am now far too close to 50, so I have to be more sober. But this year I'll be there in a conical felt hat, carrying fishing rod. Unless Mrs Llewelyn-Bowen forbids it. The celebrity-decorated gnomes will be displayed during the Chelsea Flower Show, atfer which they will be sold to try and raise funds for the RHS's Campaign for School Gardening.