Monty shared behind-the-scenes insights into the process required to produce the long-running BBC gardening programme and named one aspect that he views as the “bane” of his life
Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter
07:00, 31 Oct 2025
Monty Don has revealed what he views as the “bane” of his life in a fiery rant
(Image: Getty Images)
Monty Don has revealed what he views as the “bane” of his life in a fiery rant about a certain aspect of his role on BBC Gardeners’ World. In a clip that emerged earlier this year on the Fane Productions YouTube channel, Monty shared behind-the-scenes insights into the process required to produce the long-running BBC gardening programme.
Speaking candidly about his role at An Audience with Monty Don at The Forum in Bath back in January, the green-fingered host explained how episodes must be planned three weeks in advance.
So, when he walks around his beautiful Longmeadow garden to decide what he’d like to film, he has to consider whether a plant will “still be looking great” in two weeks or 10 days when they film.
He also has to consider if it will relate to viewers “10 days after that”. Monty then described how they’ll “thrash it out” in a meeting, but mentioned how they cannot repeat themselves on the show.
Monty shared behind-the-scenes insights about Gardeners’ World
(Image: Getty Images)
It means that, if, for example, Monty suggests a segment about strawberries, but it’s already been featured, then they won’t agree to it. The same applies when other shows clash (such as a separate show on a similar topic).
Monty then addressed the so-called “jobs for the weekend”. Monty said: “There are the jobs for the weekend, and I have to say, I know they’re very popular, but they are the bane of my life. I long to say, ‘Jobs for the weekend, do what the f**k you like! I don’t care’.
“I’m really glad my wife isn’t here; she wouldn’t approve of that. Obviously, I care deeply about you and your gardens, but the serious point is that, for the beginning of the year, it’s easy.
“Lots of jobs to do, but after a bit, you know, we all weed all the time, we mow the grass all the time, we cut the hedges sort of twice a year. You can’t repeat jobs. ‘No, no, we’ve done that’.”
In related news, Monty recently opened up to Gardeners’ World magazine about the moment they “breathe a sigh of relief” when filming concludes at his garden at the end of October.
Monty addressed the so-called “jobs for the weekend”
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
He revealed that they take the opportunity to “bask in the lack of pressure” for a couple of weeks, as they don’t have to ready themselves for the arrival of the crew.
Monty said: “So we all breathe a sigh of relief and for a couple of weeks we bask in the lack of pressure of not having to prepare for the arrival of the next film crew.”
Yet, as the cold winter months approach, Monty noted that he’s about to enter the “busiest” period on the gardening calendar and “can now make a mess”.
He added: “For a start, we can now make a mess — a luxury that we now indulge in. All the housekeeping projects that have accumulated through the year can now be tackled.”
You can next catch Gardeners’ World on BBC Two on Friday, October 31, from 8pm to 9pm.
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