Renowned gardener Monty Don has candidly discussed his profound struggle with depression, revealing how his mental health crisis nearly destroyed his marriage and career. The 70-year-old television personality spoke extensively on The Rosebud Podcast with host Gyles Brandreth, detailing the devastating impact of his jewellery business collapse and subsequent emotional breakdown.
The Business Failure That Triggered Depression
Monty Don explained that his depression originated from the catastrophic failure of the jewellery business he shared with his wife Sarah Erskine. The couple had built a successful enterprise designing and selling costume jewellery to celebrities, including Princess Diana. However, the 1987 stock market crash proved disastrous, cutting off their crucial American market and pushing them toward near-complete bankruptcy.
The financial devastation forced the couple to sell their properties and left Monty relying on Jobseeker's Allowance. He described the business situation as "shameful" and acknowledged how this professional collapse plunged him into a deep, debilitating depression that lasted for years.
Marriage Crisis and Ultimatum
The depression severely strained Monty's marriage to Sarah Erskine, whom he married in 1983. He revealed becoming "angry, difficult and not somebody you want to live with" during this period. The situation reached a critical point when Sarah delivered a heartbreaking ultimatum.
"She came to me one day and said, 'Look, either you move out or I'm taking the children and moving out. I'm with you, I love you, I'm not leaving you, but we can't go on living with you like this,'" Monty recounted. He acknowledged that this confrontation "would have killed him," prompting him to finally seek medical help.
Medical Intervention and Prozac Treatment
Monty visited a doctor, initially complaining about knee pain before being prescribed the antidepressant Prozac. He described a transformative experience approximately ten days after beginning medication.
"I remember washing up at the kitchen sink and noticing how beautiful the light was on the leaves in the hedge opposite," he said. "And I suddenly felt—I don't feel sad. I feel okay."
The gardening expert took Prozac for seven years, describing the initial effect as feeling "like I was on holiday in a nice seaside town and the sun was shining." He eventually weaned off the medication under medical supervision over six months and has not returned to antidepressants since.
Therapeutic Journey and Fame's Role
Monty also explored therapy during his recovery, though he found inconsistent results with different practitioners. Interestingly, he credits his television career with providing significant psychological benefits.
After the BBC offered him the series "Around the World in 80 Gardens" approximately 19 years ago, Monty discovered that professional validation and public recognition positively impacted his mental state. His wife Sarah observed that "fame really suits you," a sentiment Monty acknowledges contains truth.
"Being applauded, if you're someone who likes being on stage, being applauded is good for your health," he explained. "I tell you what it is—it's sunshine."
Childhood Cancer Battle Revealed
During the podcast conversation, Monty also revealed a previously private childhood health struggle. At just ten years old, he was diagnosed with marrow cancer after injuring his elbow during a football game at boarding school.
Doctors discovered a tumor through X-rays and performed surgery at Battle Hospital in Reading, removing bone and scraping out marrow. Monty underwent radiotherapy for a year and considers himself fortunate the cancer hadn't spread, noting that "if it had been six months later, it could have gone to the rest of my body."
Remarkably, he described "loving" his radiotherapy treatments because they provided rare one-on-one time with his mother, a precious commodity in a large family.
Recovery and Reflection
Monty Don's journey through depression, business failure, marital crisis, and childhood illness reveals a complex path to recovery. His story highlights the importance of medical intervention, the support of loved ones, and finding purpose through professional fulfillment.
The gardening icon's openness about mental health struggles provides valuable insight into how even public figures face profound personal challenges, and how recovery often requires multiple approaches including medication, therapy, and meaningful work.
