{"id":13640,"date":"2026-09-08T12:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T11:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/monty-don-leaves-bbc-gardeners-world-after-23-years-in-heartbreaking-statement\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T12:04:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T11:04:00","slug":"monty-don-leaves-bbc-gardeners-world-after-23-years-in-heartbreaking-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/monty-don-leaves-bbc-gardeners-world-after-23-years-in-heartbreaking-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Monty Don leaves BBC Gardeners&#8217; World after 23 years in heartbreaking statement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_395f3f\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Monty Don will step down at the end of the current series.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">12:04, 08 Sep 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 12:09, 08 Sep 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37638968\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Monty Don has shared that he is leaving Gardener's World after 23 years.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Monty Don has shared that he is leaving Gardener&#8217;s World after 23 years.<cite aria-label=\"Image: Ben Montgomery\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Ben Montgomery\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The BBC has announced that Monty Don will be leaving <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Gardeners' World Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/entertainment\/celebrity\/monty-don-reveals-retirement-plans-36908419\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Gardeners&#8217; World <\/a>after over 20 years on the show. After featuring in over 700 episodes, the horticulturist has decided that now is the &#8220;right time for a change&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Being the show&#8217;s longest serving head gardener, <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"MontyLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/lifestyle\/monty-dons-simple-way-banish-36803129\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Monty<\/a> first joined the programme back in 2003. Sharing his love and passion for gardening with viewers for over two decades, the 71-year-old has admitted that being on the show has been a &#8220;privilege&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With millions of viewers tuning in each week to take in Monty&#8217;s wisdom, he has confessed that he won&#8217;t be disappearing entirely from our TV screens. For now, fans of Gardeners&#8217; World will be able to watch the horticulturist and his dog until the end of the current season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"BBCLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/mediacentre\/2026\/monty-don-to-leave-gardeners-world\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">BBC<\/a> about his departure, he said: &#8220;I have decided that the current series of Gardeners\u2019 World is to be my last. I began hosting the programme 23 years ago, first at Berryfields and for the past 16 years here in my own garden, Longmeadow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Throughout that time &#8211; and around seven hundred programmes &#8211; I have had the privilege of sharing my own abiding passion for gardens and gardening with an equally passionate, and often equally knowledgeable audience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37638972\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37638972\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.4774166314900803\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Monty Don with his OBE, presented to him by the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony on December 20, 2018 at Buckingham Palace, London.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37638972.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Monty-Don-2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37638972.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Monty-Don-2.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37638972.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Monty-Don-2.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37638972.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Monty-Don-2.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The OBE holder first joined the programme back in 2003.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The OBE holder first joined the programme back in 2003.<cite aria-label=\"Image: Kirsty O'Connor\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Kirsty O&#8217;Connor\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He added: &#8220;That connection with millions, not just in Britain but across the world, who share a love of gardens, plants and the natural world is something I have always treasured and which I increasingly believe to be at the heart of a life well lived.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I have also always relished the craft of programme making and to do so, week in week out, as part of a superlative BBC team has been a deeply rewarding experience. But now is the right time for a change.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">During his 23 years on the programme, Monty first welcomed viewers into his own <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"gardenLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/gardens-and-flowers\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">garden<\/a> in 2011. Audiences were then taken weekly to Longmeadow in Herefordshire as Monty shared the highs and lows of trying to maintain a garden and motivating it to flourish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Along with showing practical gardening advice throughout each of the seasons and their varying weather systems, he was always followed close behind by his much-loved dogs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While fans will be sad to see Monty go, he has revealed that he won&#8217;t be disappearing completely. He added: &#8220;I look forward to continuing to work with and for the BBC on other projects, as well as following new avenues. There are more books to write, more programmes to make.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"BBC'sLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">BBC&#8217;s<\/a> chief content officer Kate Phillips has shared that the team will miss the head gardener &#8220;hugely&#8221; and has thanked him for his honesty and kindness over the years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She wrote: &#8220;Monty\u2019s decision to leave Gardeners World is one I respect, but I\u2019m still very sad he\u2019s leaving. Monty is utterly unique, a wonderfully engaging broadcaster with a soothing, calm presence who has inspired so many with his passion for gardening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We are a nation full of budding gardeners, and his tips and advice have been invaluable to viewers for more than 20 years and have certainly helped me increase my knowledge as well as my plant survival rate!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gardeners&#8217; World will continue to air on BBC Two on Fridays at either 8pm or 9pm depending on the TV schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/entertainment\/celebrity\/monty-don-leaves-bbc-gardeners-37638848\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monty Don will step down at the end of the current series. 12:04, 08 Sep 2026Updated 12:09, 08 Sep 2026 Monty Don has shared that he is leaving Gardener&#8217;s World after 23 years.(Image: Ben Montgomery\/Getty Images) The BBC has announced that Monty Don will be leaving Gardeners&#8217; World after over 20 years on the show. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37638968.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200d\/2_Monty-Don-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[759,631,2777,11490,11245,1968,2661,16168,702,283,564],"class_list":["post-13640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","tag-bbc","tag-celebrities","tag-don","tag-gardeners","tag-gardens-and-flowers","tag-heartbreaking","tag-leaves","tag-monty","tag-statement","tag-world","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}