Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don has been married to wife Sarah since 1983, but their marriage has weathered financial ruin and a shock ultimatum
Joe Crutchley Screen Time reporter
10:48, 13 Mar 2026Updated 10:52, 13 Mar 2026
Inside Gardeners’ World star Monty Don’s love life with wife including ‘difficult’ start(Image: BBC)
Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don is a television icon, having appeared on our screens for several decades – but who is his rarely-seen wife?
The 70 year old star rose to prominence back in the 1980s, and has since established himself as one of Britain’s most beloved horticulturists.
Besides hosting BBC’s Gardeners’ World since 2003, Monty has also fronted Monty Don’s Paradise Gardens, Chelsea Flower Show coverage, Around the World in 80 Gardens and Big Dreams, Small Spaces.
Beyond his television work, Monty enjoys a happy marriage to his rarely-seen wife. But what do we know about their relationship?
Here, we’re exploring Monty and his wife’s marriage, reports the Mirror.
Monty Don and wife’s ‘difficult’ beginning
Monty has been married for several years(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Monty and his wife Sarah initially crossed paths at Cambridge University whilst she was already involved with someone else. Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast in 2023, he revealed: “I don’t think it was love at first sight. I think it was an intense attraction at first sight. Her husband was someone that I rode with and knew very well, and that was the case for about six months when I’d meet them socially.”
Monty maintained he never deliberately pursued another man’s wife, explaining it wasn’t something he consciously contemplated.
During this period, Sarah’s husband departed on a four-month field trip, and she and Monty formed a deeper connection “in a completely platonic innocent way”. As their emotions intensified, she confronted a difficult decision.
The Gardeners’ World presenter shared: “You know that thing when you’re very attracted to somebody you don’t go too close to them, or you don’t dare show too much interest or whatever. It turned out that we both felt the same way. But she was married to someone else and so it was very difficult.”
Sarah chose to leave her husband, leading to a “difficult, unhappy tormented set-up”. Monty explained: “She decided that she absolutely didn’t want to sort of have an affair. She chose me and it was for about six months an extremely difficult, unhappy tormented setup because he obviously was not very happy with that arrangement. He completely reasonably felt betrayed and very, very, very angry.”
Monty and Sarah’s wedding
The pair tied the knot in 1983(Image: CHANNEL FOUR)
Following their hearts, Monty and Sarah tied the knot in 1983 at the Finsbury Registry Office in London, after a proposal on a secluded Scottish island.
“We got married in Finsbury Registry Office and then had this lunch in L’Escargot, and that was it, we never had a honeymoon,” Monty disclosed on the podcast. They also became parents to three children: Adam, Tom, and Freya.
In 2022, Monty posted a rare snapshot from their wedding day on Instagram, capturing the couple outside a set of wrought iron gates just after saying their vows.
Monty sported a black spotted tie and a neutral-toned suit, whilst his bride eschewed traditional white for a striking blue cornflower jacket embellished with bold buttons.
Monty on ‘losing everything’
Monty previously revealed their struggles(Image: BBC)
Monty and Sarah endured a challenging period early in their marriage when they fell victim to the 1987 financial crash. Speaking to the Times, Monty said: “We lost everything: our house, business, furniture. (The jewellery business he ran with his wife collapsed after the crash).
“For about two years, we literally had no money. I was claiming the dole. We were severely in debt. We didn’t go bankrupt. With hindsight, maybe we were stupid – maybe we should have just said: ‘We can’t do this.’ It took me seven years to pay it all back. It was very difficult.”
The 1987 financial crash, known as Black Monday, was a severe and largely unforeseen global stock market collapse that triggered concerns about prolonged worldwide instability.
Thankfully, Monty and Sarah succeeded in recovering from their financial difficulties. Monty began writing a column for the Mail on Sunday in 1989 and subsequently presented a live gardening segment on This Morning.
Monty’s wife’s ultimatum
His wife gave him a stern ultimatum(Image: Getty Images)
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Monty has also previously disclosed that his wife Sarah issued him with an ultimatum following his battle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a condition that substantially impacts people’s emotional wellbeing depending on seasonal changes.
During his appearance on the White Wine Question Time podcast, he revealed how Sarah eventually encouraged him to seek professional help, explaining: “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 this pivotal moment, Monty consulted medical professionals and was prescribed anti-depressants, although he has since stopped taking medication and opted instead for light box therapy.
Gardeners’ World airs on Friday on BBC Two at 8:00pm
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