BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don revealed details of the awkward exchange after announcing his surprise exit from the show
Monty Don told his colleague to ‘leave’ after the incident (Image: Getty Images)
Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don has recalled the brutal exchange he had with a colleague over a rather awkward mix-up. The 71-year-old, who announced earlier this month that he will be leaving the programme after 23 years, fronts the show from his famous Longmeadow garden.
The spot of land was also where he once stored a hugely valuable Biot pot, which was successfully repaired after being smashed during a storm.
Speaking on the show’s magazine podcast, Monty said he and his wife faced more bad luck when one of their cats smashed the antique again, and this time it couldn’t be repaired.
The couple’s luck wasn’t completely out, however, as the potter told him he could “make a copy” of the “valuable antique” using the remaining pieces.
“He handed us back all the pieces of the pot and some of them were quite big,” he shared.
More than four years later, while filming Gardeners’ World, Monty said he heard “a smashing sound”, only to discover that a colleague was smashing the pieces up with a sledgehammer.
“He said, ‘I found all these old bits. We can use them as crocks, we’re running out of crocks’. And I was just speechless with not so much rage as sorrow,” Monty recalled.
Recalling what he said to his colleague, he added: “I said, ‘Please leave, come back tomorrow morning and we will never speak about this. But I cannot bear the sight of you for the rest of today’ and that’s what happened.”
Monty’s stint on the show will come to an end later this year. In an announcement shared on Instagram, he said it was “time for a change”, while telling fans he will continue working on projects with the BBC.
“There are more books to write, more programmes to make. And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow,” he added.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, said in a statement: “Monty’s decision to leave Gardeners World is one I respect, but I’m still very sad he’s leaving.
“Monty is utterly unique, a wonderfully engaging broadcaster with a soothing, calm presence who has inspired so many with his passion for gardening,” adding he will be “hugely” missed by the team.
Many of his fans also flocked to the comments section on his page to send supportive messages.
Presenter Kate Thornton wrote: “Nooooo! This is a horticultural tragedy. Thank you for sharing so much passion, knowledge and wisdom. You will be hugely missed.”
A fan typed: “You will be so missed in Gardeners world,” while a third added: “Awww, you will be missed, thank you for your beautiful, thoughtful presenting, wishing you fab times ahead.”
