Monty Don has admitted he felt "a little bit guilty" about how he met his wife Sarah, as their romance began while she was still married to someone else. The Gardeners' World presenter, 71, has been married to Sarah for over 30 years and they live in Herefordshire, where he films the BBC show.
Intense attraction at first sight
Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast in 2023, Don revealed that he experienced an "intense attraction at first sight" when they first locked eyes. He said: "It was obviously complicated. For me, it was an intense attraction at first sight. Her husband was someone I knew very well. I just remember thinking, 'How come she met him before she met me? Why is the person that you feel strongly attracted to with someone else?'"
The broadcaster said he "wasn't trying to pinch someone else's wife or anything like that", but confessed that he and Sarah had enjoyed spending time together "in a platonic way" while her husband was away. He added: "You know when you're very attracted to someone, you don't dare get too close to them or show interest. It turned out we felt the same way, but she was married to someone else."
'No regrets at all'
Don explained that Sarah decided she did not want an affair but chose him instead. He said: "I've always felt a bit guilty about it, but at the same time, all's fair in love and war. You can't pussyfoot around. I feel sorry for him, but it happened, and I'm really glad it happened. I have no regrets at all."
The couple married in 1983, just months before the collapse of their jewellery business. They raised three children at Longmeadow and now enjoy time with their grandchildren.
A partnership in the garden
Speaking on the Gardeners' World podcast in 2022, Don spoke about their relationship now that their children have moved out, admitting they still bicker over decisions about their home. He said: "Sarah has always been an entirely supportive partner in crime. One of the things I always say privately, and I should say publicly at every opportunity, is that it's her garden as much as mine. This is not my garden, it's our garden. It's 'We' always."
He explained that every significant decision is made by the pair together, and they have a veto principle. "It's a very good way to run a system because what it means is, if you disagree, and we do a lot, you can't do it and say, 'Live with it'. You might have terrible rows, you might have a lot of persuading, it might mean negotiation. It might take two years before that plant goes in the ground, but when it does, you've agreed."
