Monty Don, the youngest of five, struggled at school but discovered a lifelong love of gardening early on.
Monty Don has confirmed he plans to continue hosting Gardeners’ World until at least 2028(Image: Ben Montgomery/Getty Images)
Monty Don, the long-time host of Gardeners’ World, has clarified his future with the BBC programme and shared his perspective on life after 70, putting to rest recent speculation about his retirement. Known for his unorthodox path both on and off screen, Don has never been one to chase approval.
Earlier this year, the presenter sparked rumours he might step down from Gardeners’ World after 22 years at the helm. However, Don confirmed that negotiations are ongoing for him to continue presenting the flagship show until at least 2028.
“I hope I’m continuing, but as I come up to the end of every contract, I seriously consider how it fits the rest of my life,” he told Saga. “And each time, it’s come down fairly and squarely that I’d like to continue.”
The youngest of five, he was sent to boarding school at seven, and an unconventional upbringing saw him expelled twice and struggling academically. Yet those early experiences in school gardens laid the foundations for a lifelong love of horticulture, which would eventually define his career.
Monty says he finds purpose and joy in his work, with his wife joking he is “completely addicted to work.”(Image: Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
At 70, Don is showing no signs of slowing down, maintaining a busy schedule that includes new travel documentaries and the launch of his latest book, British Gardens , which explores why the UK has such a passionate gardening culture. For his milestone birthday last July, he marked the occasion in the garden, harvesting new potatoes with his wife Sarah, rather than seeking a grand celebration.
“I’m not one for drama with birthdays. It’s just one step nearer the grave,” he said. Don is candid about the role work plays in his life.
When broached about retirement, Monty revealed that he “genuinely” doesn’t know how he’d fill his days. Despite not engaging in typical retirement hobbies like golf or crosswords, he finds satisfaction in his profession.
He admitted that his wife often jokes about his dedication: “Whenever I say to Sarah, ‘Well, thank God, I have no addictions,’ she rolls her eyes and says, ‘You are completely addicted to work!’”
He added that work continues to provide purpose and joy, and turning it down is rarely an option.
His lifelong commitment to gardening has not been without physical cost.
As reported earlier by the Daily Record, Don revealed in his BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine column that years of kneeling and working in gardens have taken a toll on his knees.
“For the last 10 years or more, my knees have been giving me the gyp and, it turns out, slowly deteriorating.
“This is not so unusual or unexpected,” he wrote, reflecting on decades of manual work and time spent on hard surfaces.
He noted that the strain came not just from gardening, but also from pounding tarmacked roads in earlier years, leaving his joints in need of care.
Even when offered prestigious positions outside television, Don has remained true to himself, famously turning down an invitation to become a master of an Oxford University college.
“Of course, I’m flattered, but it’s absurd,” he said, reflecting on the pressure of conventional markers of success.
“One of the great liberations of age is realising that you don’t have to try and impress anybody. Just do your thing.”
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