Monty Don, a beloved presenter on Gardeners' World, has long been a familiar face to gardening enthusiasts across the UK. For decades, he has shared expert advice on nurturing plants through every season, helping gardeners achieve vibrant, thriving gardens year-round.
Despite his cheerful on-screen presence, Monty has candidly revealed his personal struggles with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a condition affecting one in 20 people in the UK, where seasonal changes trigger mood disturbances. During an appearance on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, Monty described how his battle with SAD deeply affected not just himself, but also his family.
Married since 1983 to his wife Sarah, with whom he shares three children—Adam, Tom, and Freya—Monty recalled a pivotal moment when Sarah confronted him about his mood swings and depression. He shared, “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.'” It was this stark ultimatum from Sarah that prompted Monty to seek professional help.
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Initially prescribed anti-depressants, Monty has since transitioned to managing his condition with a light therapy box. He spoke in depth about his coping strategies on the Gardeners’ World podcast, explaining, “I now have a pattern whereby I try and spend one day a week on my own in the garden, which is obviously usually a weekend, one of the two weekend days. It’s a kind of treat I give myself.” Interestingly, Monty prefers solitude while gardening, even noting that although he and Sarah garden together, they rarely work side by side.
Monty’s openness about his mental health extends beyond podcasts. Earlier this year, he told Gardeners’ World magazine that December is especially challenging, saying, “December can be a low time of year for me psychologically, as I am prone to seasonal affective disorder, but my spirits always rise when we get to Boxing Day.” He finds solace in gardening tasks like sowing seeds and pruning apple trees during the colder months, grounding himself in the promise of spring.
Fans can look forward to Monty’s return to television with Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens, airing Fridays at 8 pm on BBC Two.