Monty Don, the beloved presenter of BBC’s Gardeners' World, has shared an intimate account of how his marriage to Sarah Erskine began under complicated circumstances. The couple met while attending Cambridge University and married in 1983. Together, they have built a family with three grown children and several grandchildren.
Monty fondly recalls proposing to Sarah on a remote Scottish island, followed by a modest wedding registered at Finsbury Registry Office in London. “We had lunch at L’Escargot afterwards, and that was it — no honeymoon,” he revealed during a 2023 episode of the White Wine Question Time podcast.
He described their initial connection not as love at first sight but as an intense attraction. At the time, Sarah was married to another man — a person Monty knew well through shared social circles and horseback riding. “I kept wondering why the woman I felt so drawn to was with someone else,” Monty explained.
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Despite this, Monty insists he never sought to deliberately pursue a married woman. Sarah had married young, at 19, and when her husband, a wealthy botanist, left for an extended field trip, their friendship deepened naturally and innocently at first. However, as their bond grew stronger, Sarah faced a difficult choice.
Monty described the challenge: “When you’re strongly attracted to someone, there’s a hesitation — you hold back, unsure. We both felt the same way, but she was married, which made everything complicated.”
Ultimately, Sarah made the tough decision to end her first marriage, leading to a painful period of turmoil. Monty recalled it as “a difficult, unhappy, tormented setup” lasting about six months, with her ex-husband understandably feeling betrayed and angered.
Reflecting on the experience, Monty admits feeling some guilt about the situation but embraces a pragmatic view. “I’ve always felt a bit guilty, but there’s also a ruthlessness in love. When you commit to being with someone, even if it means breaking up a marriage, you can’t just feel sorry for yourself.”
Monty’s honest reflection sheds light on the complex emotional realities that can accompany love and relationships.