The host of BBC Gardeners’ World, Monty Don has addressed rumours that he is leaving the favored horticultural present.
Last yr in November, Monty, 68, introduced that he’ll seemingly surrender the ‘remorseless treadmill’ of the hit present as he approaches his seventies.
He hinted at his departure throughout a Times Radio interview, saying: ‘The logical factor to do is surrender Gardeners’ World.’
The presenter, who has hosted the BBC Two present beloved by green-fingered amateur-gardeners throughout the nation since 2003, stated that was contemplating bowing out to pursue different different equivalent to writing and presenting journey reveals.
However, it appears his feedback might have been taken out of context, as Monty defined in an additional current interview with Times Radio.
The host of BBC Gardeners’ World, Monty Don has addressed rumours that he is leaving the favored horticultural present
He elaborated: ‘In the top, I’m a gardener and my life is lived in my backyard. To share that by means of the medium of Gardeners’ World shouldn’t be solely a privilege, it is also utterly central to who I’m and what I do.’
During the dialogue, he additionally opened up about his psychological well being, confessing: ‘I’ve, for a few years, suffered from despair, which comes and goes however tends to be one thing that’s worse within the winter.’
Although the presenter claims that he at present feels ‘superb,’ he added: ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve been healed. I’d say I’m being healed. It’s an ongoing course of.’
Monty has been candid about his psychological well being lately, having admitted final yr in December that his seasonal affective dysfunction was so unhealthy that his spouse Sarah threatened to stroll out on him with their three youngsters if he didn’t search assist.
The presenter additionally suffered a minor stroke in 2008 that pressured him to step down from presenting Gardeners’ World, and later informed the Mail in 2011 that he did not wish to be often called ‘the person who was sick.’
He stated: ‘I do not work so laborious now, and once I do issues I do them on my phrases. Psychologically, I’ve tried to place it behind me however, sure, I turned very conscious of my mortality and that was very actual.’
Monty was talking to Times Radio forward of the premiere of his new present Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens, which launches on BBC Two on February 23.
Monty described filming the present as ‘an exhilarating and engaging expertise,’ writing on his web site: ‘This was filmed final yr once I spent 7 weeks in Spain throughout April, May, June and October and covers over 40 completely different gardens.’
Monty confirmed that he’s to stay on the BBC present, telling Times Radio: ‘I’m a gardener and my life is lived in my backyard. To share that by means of Gardening World is a privilege’
‘I discovered it an exhilarating and engaging expertise with gorgeous gardens and realized a lot extra concerning the nation – regardless of having visited many occasions earlier than as a vacationer.
‘It seems unimaginable and hope you discover it as entertaining and rewarding watching it as I did making it.’
Last yr, in October, the Gardeners’ World star revealed his beloved canine Nell had died of most cancers – three years after shedding Golden Retriever Nigel.
The famed horticulturist took to social media to share the tragic information, which got here 4 months after his companion was recognized with the illness.
Don, who is understood for his love of canine and usually inviting his furry associates to share display screen time with him, shared the unhappy information along with his a million Instagram followers on October 21 and thanked them for his or her assist in a follow-up publish.
Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens premieres on BBC Two on Friday 23 February at 8pm.