Amanda Holden was left taken aback on Heart Radio's Breakfast Show when co-host Jamie Theakston revealed that Monty Don, who presents his final Gardeners' World episode on Friday, 6 November, once made jewellery for Princess Diana and Elton John.
The 71-year-old has been a fixture on the BBC programme since 2003, when he succeeded Alan Titchmarsh. While he is predominantly recognised for his horticultural expertise, Theakston disclosed details about Don's past career before Gardeners' World.
Jewellery business before gardening
Prior to Gardeners' World, Monty and his wife Sarah operated a costume jewellery business based in London, which collapsed following the 1987 stock market crash. Discussing his final appearance, Amanda remarked: "I wonder who's going to take over, I keep saying Caroline Quentin should do it, she knows all about gardening."
Jamie interjected: "It'll be the end of an era, you know he wasn't a gardener by trade. Do you know what he used to do? He was a jewellery maker and made jewellery for Princess Diana and Elton John." Astonished by the disclosure, Amanda responded: "You're joking?"
Financial collapse and a new start
Her colleague continued: "Him and his wife had a business, and it was only when that went bust he did a gardening slot on [the] Richard and Judy [show] and that's how it all started." Still surprised by the revelation, she remarked: "Oh my Gosh, well that is extraordinary," to which Jamie concluded: "And the rest is history."
Monty has previously discussed how the financial crash left him and his wife financially ruined. Having built a thriving enterprise, they assembled a workforce of 20 in-house staff and hundreds of outworkers, with their products ultimately stocked in prestigious department stores such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols. However, by the close of the 1980s, the couple found themselves with little option but to "sell everything".
Longmeadow and stepping away
"At the end of the 80s, the business collapsed because of huge interest hikes," he explained. "We lost dollars in America and so we wound it down and in order to wind it down, we basically had to sell everything we had, and I mean everything we had. So, we were penniless and eventually, for a combination of circumstances, we got enough money to buy a ruin and an empty field which is Longmeadow," he went on to reveal during an appearance on the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast.
"So, we began this garden and we explored the idea. That's what taught us about colour and colour schemes and how when you're gardening you need to have defined parameters with colour, you can't just chuck everything [in] it looks terrible!," he added.
Monty revealed in September that he would be stepping away from Gardeners' World, informing supporters that "now is the right time for a change". He will remain involved with the BBC on additional projects, continue authoring books and tend to his garden at Longmeadow alongside his dogs. Gardeners' World airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Two.
