Gardeners' World tragedies from Monty Don's 'terrible illness' and co-star's cancer diagnosis

Gardeners' World is fronted by 70-year-old horticultural expert Monty Don, who has been the beloved face of the cherished BBC show since 2003 following Alan Titchmarsh's departure.

Whilst the plant aficionado and dog lover routinely shares updates about life's finer aspects, including cultivating flora and produce, numerous personal hardships have affected the presenter in recent times.

Monty became the lead presenter in the early 2000s and, after a brief break due to illness, returned in 2011. He presents from his own garden, Longmeadow, which has become beloved by viewers.

Since shooting to fame, Monty has faced several health issues which have completely changed his life. It comes after Monty fired back at BBC viewers who complained one thing is 'spoiling' Gardeners' World.

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Dreadful ailment

This summer saw Monty provide an update after being struck down by a "terrible" illness twice, prompting supportive messages from his devoted audience.

In 2023, he contracted COVID, informing his social media followers: "That would explain why I have felt terrible for the past couple of days."

This represented the second occasion Monty had contracted the virus, having previously been bedridden for four days, when he informed fans: "Boy, doesn't it knock you sideways - utterly exhausting."

Auditory problems

Whilst holidaying in Greece with companions this year, he realised his sense of smell wasn't matching that of his mates. He also revealed that his wife Sarah's sense of smell had been "dramatically affected" since the Coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking on the Gardeners' World Magazine podcast, he revealed: "Perfume is almost lost on me, occasionally my wife has said, 'Which perfume do you prefer?' and they're both exactly the same to me, or the difference is so small that's it's not interesting. So clearly that's a lack, but there's nothing I can do about it."

Heartfelt goodbye

Earlier this year, Monty received an outpouring of support when he said a heartfelt goodbye to a "dear friend."

He shared the sad news of his companion's passing on Instagram, penning a touching tribute.

Previously, Monty spoke about how gardening can provide solace during times of grief in a chat on BBC Radio Four.

He noted: "One of the things that has always moved me, and this has often been said by people who are grieving, is that the rhythm of the seasons is a huge comforter. In the bleakest midwinter, you trust that spring will come, that the blossom will appear."

Cancer diagnosis

More recently, a Gardeners' World contributor named Steve revealed his devastating terminal cancer diagnosis on the show alongside his wife, Pippa.

Viewers were brought to tears as Steve explained it could be "two months or two years, possibly" before he passes away.

Despite this, his positive attitude remains unbroken, and Steve sees his cancer as a "new challenge" during the poignant episode which aired earlier this month.

Gardeners' World airs on BBC Two and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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