Monty Don has spoken candidly about the challenges of the past year as he prepares to bow out of Gardeners' World after 23 years. The 71-year-old horticulturist's final episode of the BBC show is scheduled to air on November 6, with the series set to return in early 2027 without him.
Last month, Don confirmed his departure, describing his time on the programme as a "deeply rewarding experience" while stating that now is the "right time for a change." He has hosted the show since 2003, first at Berryfields and for the past 16 years from his own garden, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire.
A Challenging Year at Longmeadow
In an interview with the Radio Times, Don reflected on the difficulties of the past year, which included the summer's heatwaves, the death of his beloved dog Patti, and what he described as "horribly painful" surgery.
"But gardeners learn, adapt and shift," he said, noting that there have been "silver linings, and figs are one of them."
Who Will Replace Monty Don?
Speculation about Don's successor has centred on Frances Tophill and Adam Frost as the leading contenders. However, Frost has suggested the show's format could change, telling The Sunday Times: "My gut says that when his lordship hangs up his trowel, it won't be any one person. There will be a small group of co-presenters."
Don's final appearance will mark the end of an era for the programme, during which he has presented around seven hundred episodes. In his announcement, he expressed gratitude for sharing his passion with the audience and outlined plans to continue working with the BBC on other projects, as well as writing more books.
