Monty Don, the beloved Gardeners’ World presenter, has shared a deeply personal account of a tough period in his early married life when he and his wife Sarah “lost everything” due to the 1987 financial crash.
Despite now being one of Britain’s most respected gardening broadcasters, Monty and Sarah faced severe financial hardship after the Black Monday stock market collapse, which caused the failure of their jewellery business. Monty candidly told The Times, “We lost everything: our house, business, furniture. For about two years, we literally had no money. I was claiming the dole. We were severely in debt. We didn’t go bankrupt, but it was very difficult.”
Reflecting on those years, Monty said, “With hindsight, maybe we were stupid—maybe we should have just said, ‘We can’t do this.’ It took me seven years to pay it all back.” The 1987 crash, known as Black Monday, was a sudden and devastating event that shook global markets, leading to prolonged economic uncertainty.
READ MORE: The ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’ Embodies the Charm of a Classic Market Town
READ MORE: Winning EuroMillions Numbers: Full National Lottery Results with Thunderball – Friday, January 30, 2026
Despite these hardships, Monty and Sarah rebuilt their lives. In 1989, Monty began writing a gardening column for the Mail on Sunday, which eventually led to TV presenting roles on shows like This Morning, Holiday, and Tomorrow’s World. Though initially hesitant about his broadcasting skills, financial pressures motivated him to accept these opportunities.
In 2003, Monty took over as the main presenter of Gardeners’ World, succeeding Alan Titchmarsh. Aside from a brief pause due to health reasons, he has remained a fixture on the show ever since. Monty and Sarah have been married for more than 42 years and have three children: Adam, Tom, and Freya.
Monty has also revealed he has turned down multiple offers to participate in Strictly Come Dancing, citing his lack of dance skills and recent knee surgery. “I am without question the world’s worst dancer,” he admitted. He prefers to avoid shows with “celebrity” in the title, focusing instead on his gardening career.
In previous interviews, Monty has acknowledged the strain his work schedule places on his family life, with Sarah noting his difficulty in saying no to professional commitments, often at the expense of health and home.
Monty Don’s Rhineland Gardens airs this Friday at 7 pm on the BBC, followed by Gardeners’ World at 8 pm.