Monty Don Leaves Gardeners' World After 23 Years

Monty Don is leaving Gardeners' World after 23 years as its host. The 71-year-old announced the decision earlier this month, stating it was the right time for a change. He confirmed he will remain involved with the BBC on other programmes and will continue gardening at his Longmeadow home. His final series from the garden will be broadcast later this year.

Don posted a heartfelt statement on Instagram about his departure. He said he will still be gardening, dog by side, at Longmeadow. He is also pursuing his own projects, such as writing books.

The legacy of Longmeadow and the Biot pot

Monty Don hosted Gardeners’ World from his garden at Longmeadow in Herefordshire for 15 years. His deep connection to the space is showed by the story of a rare Italian pot. He once stored a hugely valuable Biot pot at Longmeadow. A local potter determined it was 500 years old, made during the Renaissance. The potter said the skills to make such pots died out in 1650. Monty Don and his wife transported the pot to their garden.

The pot’s destruction and emotional aftermath

The Biot pot's story is one of repeated loss. It was first smashed during a storm but was successfully repaired. More than four years after that repair, Don heard a smashing sound while recording Gardeners' World. One of his cats had smashed the antique pot again. The local potter initially deemed it irreparable, describing it as thinner than an egg shell.

A colleague found the pieces and suggested a practical use. "I found all these old bits. We can use them as crocks, we're running out of crocks," the colleague said. Don was speechless with not so much rage as sorrow. He told his colleague, "Please leave, come back tomorrow morning and we will never speak about this." The colleague left as instructed. The potter later offered to make a copy using the fragments, handing back all the pieces, some of which were quite big.

What comes next for Monty Don and the show

The future of Longmeadow's upkeep is now uncertain. Since Don began hosting the show from his garden in 2011, his BBC contract required two full-time gardeners to keep it camera-ready. The BBC paid a contribution towards their wages, but that will stop after he leaves. Don stated he cannot afford to pay the gardeners unless the garden earns money. He plans to think of ways to generate income but cannot start until the middle of next year at the earliest. He ruled out opening the garden to the public, citing privacy and parking difficulties.

His current team consists of two gardeners who have been with him for 10 years: a propagation expert and a landscaper. Don explained the necessity of their work, especially when he is away. If I’m off filming in the Rhine or India or somewhere like that, somebody has got to be getting it ready, he said. He made these comments during an audience Q&A at the RHS Malvern autumn flower show.

The garden he and his wife Sarah created in 1991 was once a neglected field with one hazel tree. The now 2-acre space is split into four distinct sections:

BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips said she respects Don's decision but is very sad he's leaving. She described him as utterly unique, a wonderfully engaging broadcaster with a soothing, calm presence who has inspired many. Presenter Kate Thornton commented on his Instagram post, calling it a horticultural tragedy and saying he will be hugely missed. Fans echoed that sentiment, thanking him for his passion and knowledge.

Monty Don will shortly begin filming a travel programme for the BBC named Island Gardens.