Gardeners World Monty Don Reveals Tragic Illness: Here's what happened

Gardeners’ World star Monty Don is one of the most well-known horticulturalists in the UK, but he has also been open about his struggles with mental health.

Throughout his life, Monty has faced significant challenges, including a difficult childhood, a battle with cancer, and suffering a stroke.

He was also diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs in seasonal patterns. Despite these hurdles, Monty remains committed to his recovery and continues to inspire others through his work in gardening.

The BBC star Monty Don has credited his love for gardening as a key factor in managing his mental health struggles, but he has also acknowledged that his wife, Sarah Don, played a crucial role in his journey.

Monty revealed that his battle with mental health was a long and difficult one, and at one point, Sarah gave him an ultimatum—threatening to leave with their young children, Adam, Freya, and Thomas, if he didn’t seek help.

Monty has openly discussed his experiences with depression, which he says “comes and goes,” becoming particularly severe during the winter months. This led to his diagnosis with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a revelation that made sense to Monty and prompted him to create his now-famous garden, Longmeadow, as a sanctuary and escape from his struggles.

“The body becomes a burden. Your immune system collapses, your digestive system rebels, and your teeth throb. Hair begins to fall out, and the skin cracks, sags, or erupts,” Monty Don shared, reflecting on the toll of long-term health challenges.

Having fronted Gardeners’ World since 2003, Monty has hinted that he may step down from the show in the near future.

Speaking to Jane Garvey and Fi Glover on Times Radio, he revealed that he’s currently contracted for another year but is unsure about continuing beyond that. “If they offered me more, I might take it,” he said, but added, “I’ll be 70 in two years’ time. Will I still want to continue?”

Monty explained that while he enjoys making TV shows and writing books, the demands of keeping up with multiple projects are exhausting.

“I don’t want to give up writing, and I love the travel work I do, so the logical choice would be to step back from Gardeners’ World,” describing the show as a “remorseless treadmill.”

He also acknowledged the changing landscape of media, humorously noting that the BBC might “think ten times” before hiring someone like him—a white, middle-class, middle-aged man