Monty Don, the face of Gardeners' World, has revealed that his wife Sarah Erskine threatened to leave him unless he sought help for his depression. The ultimatum came during a particularly dark period in their marriage, when his 'black moods' became too much for her to bear.
In an episode of White Wine Question Time in 2023, Don recounted how Sarah told him: 'I just can't take any longer your moods and your black depression, you've got to do something about it because if you don't, I can't live with you – I'll take the children and I'll go.' He followed her advice and saw a doctor, which led to him managing his condition.
Don, 68, has suffered from depression since his mid-twenties and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during winter. He finds solace in gardening, saying: 'The benefits of nature are all about the physical connection with the rhythm of the natural world. If you believe that spring will blossom inside you, as well as outside in the garden, that's powerful.'
The couple, married since 1983, have weathered other storms including bankruptcy in the 1980s. They have three children, Adam, Freya, and Tom, and are now grandparents. Don credits Sarah's intervention with saving their marriage.
