Gardeners' World's Monty Don says 'I can't go on forever' after backlash to 'exit' comment

Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has addressed a controversial statement he previously made regarding his future on the BBC gardening programme. In 2023, he left devoted fans concerned after insisting that he might depart the show before reaching his 70th birthday.

Looking back on those remarks the subsequent year, Monty clarified: "I got a bit of stick for that. I said it at the end of a very long year and I was exhausted. I can't go on forever."

Nevertheless, he proceeded to comfort supporters that he wasn't departing anytime soon, telling The Telegraph: "But I'd be very happy to do another five years. If the BBC renew my contract, I'd happily take it."

Most recently, he announced that his current contract goes up to January 2027.

Monty's initial remarks emerged during a conversation about his professional future on Times Radio.

Aged 68 at the time, the green-fingered specialist said "the logical thing to do" would be to eventually withdraw from the programme.

"The serious point is I will be 70 in two years' time," he said.

"I want to go on. I like making television programmes. I like writing books. To have the energy to do that and not always feel like I'm scrabbling."

Monty revealed that should he ever need to abandon one of his professional commitments, it wouldn't be his writing or "the travel stuff" he adores.

"So therefore the logical thing to give up is Gardeners' World, which is, for all its virtues, a remorseless treadmill," he explained.

Rather than stepping back from TV completely however, he revealed his desire to pivot towards travel documentaries - ventures that have already whisked him away to gardens in America, Italy, France and further afield.

Looking into the future, Monty has already outlined his vision for a potential successor should he decide to bow out.

Speaking to The Guardian, he expressed: "I would like to think the next Gardeners' World presenter ideally would be female, would represent either singly or in multiplicity the diversity in this country, and have at least some urban context.

"The world's changing; we need to change with it. In many ways, it's likely I'm the last middle-aged, middle-class white male with a large garden doing Gardeners' World, which is fine."

Monty took over from Alan Titchmarsh as lead presenter back in 2003.

He temporarily departed in 2008 owing to health concerns, before making his comeback three years later.

Monty fronts the show from his Longmeadow garden in Herefordshire, where he lives with his long-term wife Sarah.

The couple married in 1983 and are parents to three children - two sons and a daughter.

Monty Don's Spanish Gardens airs tonight at 7pm, followed by Gardeners' World at 8pm on BBC Two.