Gardeners' World star Monty Don reveals reason he's quit show after 23 years
Monty has left the showMonty Don has revealed that a sudden moment of certainty this summer prompted his Gardeners’ World exit.
Speaking to Gardeners’ World Magazine, he reflected on the demands of presenting the long-running BBC gardening programme.
The presenter confirmed last month that he is leaving Gardeners’ World after 23 years, with this series his last.
For the BBC, it means saying goodbye to the programme’s longest-serving head gardener. Chief content officer Kate Phillips said she was sad to see him go.
She praised his honesty and kindness, thanking him for speaking openly about personal struggles and nature’s mental health benefits.
Kate also celebrated his ability to inspire others through gardening. She described Monty as “a wonderfully engaging broadcaster with a soothing, calm presence”.
Why Monty Don is leaving Gardeners’ World
The move follows a working life in which home and television have been closely intertwined.
Monty first hosted the programme in 2003 at Berryfields, a rented garden in Stratford-upon-Avon. After recovering from a stroke, he moved filming to his own Herefordshire garden, Longmeadow, in 2011.
Filming at home made for a short commute, as he acknowledged in the magazine. But the responsibilities did not stop when cameras switched off: the job stayed with him throughout the week.
He then recalled the moment his thinking changed.
“Then, one day this summer, I woke up and knew it was time to stop. Simple as that.”
He compared the feeling to sportspeople recognising when they are ready to retire.
In his farewell announcement, Monty reflected on around 700 programmes spent sharing his enthusiasm with viewers.
He said he treasured that connection with an audience stretching beyond Britain to gardeners across the world. He also acknowledged how knowledgeable those viewers could be, describing a shared love of plants and the natural world.
What Monty Don plans after Gardeners’ World
Leaving the series does not mean Monty is giving up television, writing or his own garden.
He has said he looks forward to other BBC projects, alongside exploring new opportunities.
“There are more books to write, more programmes to make,” he said.
Gardening at his Longmeadow home will continue too, with his dog alongside him.
Read more: BBC shares statement as Monty Don ‘reprimanded’ over rule breach on Gardeners’ World
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