Monty Don, the beloved gardening expert and long-time presenter of BBC’s Gardeners' World, has expressed his relief as filming wraps up at his treasured Longmeadow garden until next year. After decades on screen, Monty appreciates the rare chance to tend his garden uninterrupted by cameras.
In his latest column for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, Monty shared that the production team won’t return until spring, offering a valuable break from the usual hustle. He noted the “lack of pressure” during this downtime provides welcome respite after months under the spotlight, as reported by Wales Online.
Discussing his upcoming winter projects behind the scenes, Monty reflected: “Should we be filming all of this? Probably. I wouldn’t mind at all, but there’s no doubt that filming doubles the time it takes and adds a level of scrutiny and pressure we’re happy to avoid for a few months before the filming circus returns next February.”
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Monty also acknowledged that while the show’s traditional seasonal schedule has been consistent for over 20 years, it doesn’t always satisfy viewers who wish the gardening could continue through winter. “The commissioning and scheduling are mysterious processes, so it’s unlikely that will change soon,” he explained.
Beyond the demands of television, Monty’s gardening pursuits face their own challenges, particularly from Britain’s unpredictable weather. Recently, he disclosed on Instagram that his Herefordshire home suffered from flooding, remarking, “There has been really bad flooding in this part of the country and homes and businesses have suffered very badly, so we are lucky that it is just the fields and garden that is wet here.”
This isn’t the first time Monty has spoken about climate challenges. On the Talking Gardens podcast, he highlighted how extreme weather—very wet, dry, cold, and hot spells—has made gardening increasingly unpredictable. “We’re in new territory,” he noted. “Plants that once fit specific niches now need to adapt to extremes, which is testing everyone.”
As Monty Don bids farewell to the cameras for the season, he looks forward to nurturing his garden away from the public eye, ready to return refreshed for another year of cultivating both plants and viewers’ enthusiasm.