Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost has shared a moving tribute to his late mentor and former show host, Geoff Hamilton. Frost, who presents alongside Monty Don, marked the 30th anniversary of Hamilton's death with an emotional segment on the show and a subsequent video on Instagram.
Hamilton, who presented the beloved BBC series from 1979 to 1996, died at age 59 after a heart attack during a charity cycle ride. Frost, 59, had fans 'in tears' as he discussed their friendship at Barnsdale Gardens, the gardens Hamilton cultivated on the show.
Frost's Tribute to His Mentor
“I find it very hard to believe that we lost Geoff Hamilton 30 years ago,” Frost said. “He had such an influence on me as a gardener. I'm 21 years old, and I got a job at Barnsdale Gardens for the great man. If one person set a moral compass as to how I was going to garden for the rest of my life, it has to be Geoff.”
Gardeners' World then showed old footage of Hamilton, and Frost met with Hamilton's son, Nick, to share memories. Frost concluded by telling viewers Hamilton had “touched so many lives” and would continue to do so.
Fans React to the Emotional Tribute
Fans flooded the comments with appreciation. One wrote: “He’d be so proud of you Adam. I remember crying buckets when Geoff died and I only ‘knew’ him through Gardeners’ World. But some people just have the power to affect others, and his effect was all good. A lovely man, sadly missed.”
Another added: “I loved watching this episode this morning. It had me in tears. So beautiful Adam to have experienced all those beautiful memories with Geoff and ones you’ve continued to build on!” A third posted: “He would be as proud of you as he would be of his own son Nick.”
Hamilton's Legacy and Frost's Career
Hamilton first made guest appearances on Gardeners' World in the 1970s, becoming regular presenter in 1979. In 1985, he moved the show to his own garden at Barnsdale in Rutland. He died in 1996. Frost met Hamilton in 1990 when he was 21, after replying to a job advert for “a young landscaper required for a television garden in Rutland.”
Frost's tribute comes after he gave fans a bittersweet update on “saying goodbye” to his old home. He traded his Grade II-listed 18th-century farmhouse and its two and a half acre garden for a different farmhouse in October 2025. He lives there with his wife Sulina and three of their four children.
Reflecting on the move, Frost said: “If you're leaving your house and you've gotta leave the garden that you've loved for a long period of time... if you're like me, I wouldn't worry about it at all, I've done exactly that. We left in October, what have I taken with me? Probably a few little bits I dug and divided, contained them. And then obviously I took all my pots with me. Outside of that, I haven't bothered. And you know, the beautiful things is, I went back to see the couple that have bought the garden and I walked around with them and they are absolutely loving it. And I think that's a great thing to hold on to, is the fact that maybe you've just left somebody else a whole load of joy.”
It is not known where Frost lives now. Frost, who joined Gardeners' World in 2016, previously revealed the family had downsized because he was suffering “burnout” and depression.
