Monty Don Ends Gardeners World Run After 23 Years

Monty Don has completed filming his final Gardeners World episode at Longmeadow in Herefordshire as he prepares to leave the BBC gardening program after 23 years, following his announcement that the current series will be his last and that he plans new projects.

The 71-year-old presenter shared an update from his garden after cameras recorded the final visit to Longmeadow, where he has filmed for the program for the past 16 years, according to the Evening Standard and AOL.

Don previously described his decision as the “right time for a change” and said the departure followed a period that included the death of his dog Patti and recovery from a knee replacement described as “horribly painful” by the presenter.

“Filming today what will be the very last visit to Longmeadow,” captioned Don in a social media update showing the camera crew packing away at his garden.

Don also shared a photo of his Golden Retriever Ned and wrote, “Balancing act.”

Viewers responded with emotional messages after the filming update, including comments about the end of his regular appearances from Longmeadow.

“I feel genuinely sad. Every Friday I look forward to hearing Monty say ‘Hello’ at the beginning of the programme. That is all it takes to make me feel like all is well and calm has been restored no matter what my week has been like,” wrote one viewer.

Another viewer commented, “Bittersweet. Thank you for all the wonderful years of watching you garden at Longmeadow.”

A third viewer shared concerns about the final episode and Don’s absence from the program.

“I’m not ready for the final episode! Not sure Fridays will be the same without you on Gardeners World!” wrote another fan.

Don said his exit comes after around 700 programs, during which he presented his gardening work from Berryfields and later Longmeadow.

“I have decided that the current series of Gardeners’ 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. Throughout that time - and around seven hundred programmes - I have had the privilege of sharing my own abiding passion for gardens and gardening with an equally passionate, and often equally knowledgeable audience.

But now is the right time for a change. 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.

And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow,” said Monty Don.

Don later clarified that leaving Gardeners World does not mean he is retiring and said he expects to continue working on future projects.

“I'm not retiring. I am leaving Gardeners’ World, but I have other projects on the go,” said Monty Don.

He also addressed his plans to continue sharing updates from Longmeadow with audiences.

“Who knows what the future holds, but I will still be working, and still sharing Longmeadow with you here, on Instagram, if nowhere else,” said Monty Don.

Don has also worked with New Balance on a campaign featuring trainers inspired by “wild gardens,” according to the Evening Standard.

The presenter has discussed health challenges after his knee replacement surgery, which he said affected filming and daily activities before his recovery improved.

“I was finding by the end of a day’s filming I could barely walk upstairs and I certainly couldn’t take the dogs for a walk,” said Monty Don in comments to Saga magazine.

Don said he had returned to gardening after the operation but may need another procedure in the future.

“However you do it, a knee replacement is horribly painful. But three months on I’m gardening again and haven’t walked with a stick for a month,” said Monty Don.

He also explained that his wife Sarah had concerns about how much activity he was doing during recovery.

“Sarah [his wife] says I’ve been doing far too much stuff, but it’s fine and going to plan – though it can be inexplicably painful one day and then not at all another. At some point, I’m going to have to do the other one – but only when I can fit it in, probably late 2027,” said Monty Don.

Don also revealed that leaving the BBC series will affect the funding arrangement for maintaining Longmeadow, a two-acre garden he has developed with his wife Sarah since 1991.

“The BBC pays a contribution towards their wages,” said Monty Don at an RHS Malvern event while discussing the gardeners who help keep the site ready for filming.

Don explained that the funding support would end and that he would explore ways to generate income from the garden.

“Not enough, but they do pay something, which is great. Obviously, that contribution is going to go. I will have to think of ways - I can't afford it unless we earn money from it - so I am going to think of ways of earning something from the garden, but I can't do that until the middle of next year at the earliest,” said Monty Don.