BBC’s Gardeners’ World host Monty Don has opened up in a heart-wrenching interview, sharing the devastating moment his world came crashing down in the 1980s — when he lost his home, business, and nearly his sense of self.
Monty, 69, revealed that he and his wife Sarah faced financial ruin during the economic crash, which triggered a deep depression that left their children confused and frightened. “We lost everything,” he admitted. “Our house, our business… we even sold every stick of furniture at the Leominster market.”
The couple had once been thriving, running a luxury jewellery brand that catered to A-listers like Michael Jackson and Princess Diana. But the crash changed everything. Monty’s mental health spiralled, and Sarah — overwhelmed with caring for him and their young children — gave him an ultimatum: get help, or she couldn’t go on.
He recalled their children innocently asking, “Why is Daddy always crying?” — a moment that pushed him to seek treatment. He credits antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy from the NHS with helping him through.
Later, in 2008, Monty suffered a minor stroke. In a moment of sheer vulnerability, he told his wife, “Hold me because I think I’m dying. And if I am, I want to die in your arms.”
Fortunately, Monty recovered, but the experience led to a three-year break from Gardeners’ World. Today, he remains one of the UK’s most beloved gardening figures — not just for his expertise, but for his honesty about the battles he’s faced behind the scenes.
