BBC Gardeners’ World star Monty Don, 69, details hospital dash as he delivers verdict on future of series
Gardeners’ World star and horticulturalist Monty Don has shared an update about the future of the long-running BBC series as well as his health woes.
The 69-year-old has been advising green-fingered viewers about how to take care of their plants and gardens for decades after taking over from Alan Titchmarsh on the show back in 2003.
Fans have been speculating for a while Gardeners’ World may call it a day, with Don having opened up about the struggles he faces with the series.
However, he has assured fans the programme will continue for now, revealing: “I never make plans beyond two years, but I’ve agreed to do another two [from January 2025].”
“Every time I think, ‘Am I really going to do this?’ But the truth is that I do enjoy it. I’m lucky because it’s in my own garden.
“If the programme is made well, I’ll continue,” he told Radio Times.
The presenter also toured the UK recently with An Audience with Monty Don, sharing his gardening passion further.
“It was great,” he told the publication, adding: “I did the final night yesterday in Edinburgh, and the magnificent Scottish countryside is looking its wintry best.”
However, he has also faced a period of ill-health, which saw him having to cancel a few of the tour dates.
“I had a little spate of illness in the middle of the tour. I was in hospital last week, so I’ve been taking it easy,” he reflected.
It comes as reports suggested in the last year that Don would be calling it quits on his popular series.
However, he also made clear earlier this year that he doesn’t yet have any plans to end Gardeners’ World.
During an appearance on The One Show back in February, host Alex Jones commented: “There are some rumours in the paper, I’m not happy about it Monty, that you and Gardeners’ World are parting company.”
“Tell me this is not true,” she pleaded.
“It is not true,” Don replied as Jones breathed a sigh of relief. He continued: “All things being equal, and unless I do something terribly wrong, I will be doing it for at least another three years, including this year.”
Fans’ concerns likely came from an interview Don did on Times Radio last year, in which he stated “giving up” Gardeners’ World would be the “logical thing to do”.
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At the time, he explained: “The serious point is I will be 70 in two years time. I want to go on. I like making television programmes.
“I like writing books. To have the energy to do that and not scrabble, always that sense of scrabbling.
“I think I have to give something up and I’m not prepared to give up writing and I really enjoy the travel stuff I do.”