Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don shared a health update about himself and his wife Sarah, after their household was affected by the coronavirus pandemic
Samantha Masters Content Editor
18:00, 25 Jul 2025
Gardeners’ World host Monty Don felt ‘terrible’ after contracting the disease
Gardeners’ World star Monty Don has opened up about a recent realisation regarding his and his wife Sarah’s sense of smell. Monty says he discovered that his smell wasn’t the same as his friends, when they could sniff out something he couldn’t five years ago.
From that moment on, the 70-year-old said he’s “probably one of the worst people” to offer advice about fragrances, and insists his wife of over 40 years is the same.
“Perfume is almost lost on me, occasionally my wife has said, ‘Which perfume do you prefer?’ and they’re both exactly the same to me, or the difference is so small that’s it’s not interesting.
“So clearly that’s a lack, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
What’s more is Monty said his wife Sarah has also had issues with her sense of smell since the coronavirus pandemic.
He added on the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast: “Since Covid, my wife’s sense of smell has been dramatically affected, I mean really dramatically affected.
Monty Don issued an update about his wife Sarah’s Covid symptom
“She says that she can’t smell most of the things that she used to smell, but I think that even within my limited parameters, the smell of sweet peas is so evocative.”
Back in 2023, the professional gardener was inundated with supportive messages from fans when he revealed he had fallen ill due to Covid-19.
Alongside a picture of a positive Covid test, he wrote: “That would explain why I have felt terrible for the past couple of days.”
As he recovered from the illness, he told fans that walking around his Longmeadow garden had been the “best medicine”.
This was the second time Monty had contracted the disease, which previously left him bedridden for four days.
Speaking to fans the year before, he said having Covid “isn’t much fun” and added: “Boy, doesn’t it knock you sideways — utterly exhausting.”
Thankfully, Monty managed to fight off the illness on both occasions and returned to filming for Gardeners’ World once he recovered.
Monty Don has been open about his health issues over the years
It’s not the first time the BBC star has opened up about his health.
Previously speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, he credited his wife for helping him through his battle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
“It’s a lot to do with the greyness, the lack of light and the general sense of the world just pressing in on you and no energy,” he explained.
Recounting a particularly tough moment when Sarah confronted him about his wellbeing, he added: “Sarah said to me, ‘Look, 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’.”
After seeking professional help, Monty adapted new ways to help with his feelings, adding: “I now have a pattern whereby I try and spend one day a week on my own in the garden, which is obviously usually a weekend, one of the two weekend days.”
Gardeners’ World continues tonight at 8pm on BBC Two.
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