🧥 MONTY DON ADMITS GARDENERS’ WORLD IS A “DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD” AFTER BBC WARNING

BBC Gardeners’ World viewers tend to assume the stunning Longmeadow garden seen on screen is Monty Don’s handiwork alone, but he says it’s actually a shared labour of love

Monty Don has described Gardeners’ World as a “two-edged sword” (Image: Getty)

Monty Don has described Gardeners’ World as a “two-edged sword” as he explained why his wife “pulled out”. Fans of the BBC gardening show often assume that the renowned Longmeadow garden seen on screen is his alone, but Monty explained that it’s really a shared labour of love with his wife, Sarah.

His remarks came as he shed light on the realities of his job as main host, explaining that it’s a role where people “come to you”, allowing him to “wander out” into the garden — something he called a “treat”. Gardeners’ World was described as the “ultimate” work-from-home job on the podcast Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?. Monty said he agreed with his assessment as he outlined his and Sarah’s respective roles in the garden.

Monty and his wife, Sarah, tied the knot in 1983 (Image: Getty)

He told the podcast: “It is. I mean, the thing about it is it’s a two-edged sword. The good edge – what a treat to be able to wander out into the garden that you’ve made and you love, have everybody come to you, to pretty much control the editorial. And obviously, it’s collegial, and we agree, but I have a complete veto.”

Monty theorised that he’s in control of about 90 per cent of what takes place in the garden, while “people might suggest” on the remaining 10.

The gardening expert was asked if Sarah, whom he married in 1983, had a say in matters, to which he responded: “Well, therein lies… you can imagine”, as he and the host started to chuckle.

He continued: “It’s actually really relevant because viewers think it’s my garden. It’s absolutely not; it’s our garden. And Sarah and I made it together as a team from day one.

“In principle, I design it and do the broad brush, and she does the detail. In practice, the basic rule has always been we both have a veto. So, in order to do anything, the other has to agree.”

Monty explained that it’s a role where people “come to you” (Image: Getty)

He added: “Well, we never work together. It was very interesting. We make the garden together; we talk about it together, but we very rarely work side by side in the garden. We’ll be in different parts of the garden, doing different things, and we still do that.”

Monty went on to reveal: “When telly came to town, Sarah pulled out because she’s not interested in doing television.”

It comes after Monty was recently “reminded” about the BBC’s rules surrounding clothing after he donned a jacket on Gardeners’ World made by a firm he’d reportedly promoted.

BBC guidelines state that hosts must not “appear on air wearing clothes or using products, goods or services which they have agreed, or been contracted, to promote”.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We have clear guidelines around presenters’ commercial activities while working with the BBC, and Monty has been reminded of these guidelines.”