Monty Don has spoken about his “painful” recovery from a knee replacement surgery in October, which briefly slowed the Gardeners’ World host. The broadcaster and horticulturist underwent the operation shortly after turning 70 last summer.
Reflecting on the procedure, Don said: “I was finding by the end of a day’s filming I could barely walk upstairs and I certainly couldn’t take the dogs for a walk. It was severely limiting what I was doing. I did it so I could keep on working because it was getting to the point where filming was cutting round me limping.” He added: “However you do it, a knee replacement is horribly painful. But three months on I’m gardening again and haven’t walked with a stick for a month.” Don noted that he will need a second knee replacement, likely in late 2027.
Despite the surgery, Don is in discussions to continue hosting Gardeners’ World until at least 2028. He admitted to Saga Magazine that he may be closer to the end of his run than the beginning, having been on the show since 2003, with a break between 2008 and 2011. “I hope I’m continuing, but as I come up to the end of every contract, I seriously consider how it fits the rest of my life,” he said. “And each time, it’s come down fairly and squarely that I’d like to continue. But there will come a time when either they’ll say, ‘No, thanks’ or I’ll say, ‘It’s time for a change’. But neither of us, as far as I know, has reached that point yet.”
Don films almost all of his TV work at his Herefordshire home Longmeadow, which he shares with his wife Sarah and their two dogs, golden retriever Ned and Yorkshire terrier Patti. He described the garden as having a “dual personality”, balancing private domestic use with television production. “I’m often working on the programme seven days a week and when we’re filming, it’s a place of work at every level,” he said.
On retirement, Don said: “I genuinely don’t know what retirement would look like. I don’t play golf or tennis, and I can’t see myself doing the crossword all day. Whenever I say to Sarah, ‘Well, thank God, I have no addictions’, she rolls her eyes and says, ‘You are completely addicted to work!’.”
Don also spoke about the recent death of his dog Peggy on 24 January, saying: “She was 16, very old, so while it was sad, somehow it was the right thing. She was completely deaf, 90% blind, and walking round and round in circles.” He added: “We’re down to just two dogs, Ned and Patti, the lowest number for a long time. Although I’m sure it will go up again, as there’s talk of more. I think I’m good for one more dog, at least.”
