Monty Don to Leave Gardeners' World After 20 Years and 700 Shows

Q: After Monty Don's iconic two-decade run, who will the BBC choose to lead Gardeners' World into its next era?

The BBC has not announced Monty Don’s successor, so any name at this stage is speculation. What the available evidence does show is the likeliest replacement will come from the programme’s existing on-screen bench rather than from outside. The strongest internal contenders are Adam Frost, Carol Klein and Frances Tophill, all established Gardeners’ World presenters with credibility among viewers. Frost appears particularly well placed because he is already one of the show’s most prominent regulars, has a broad design-and-practical-gardening profile, and is frequently highlighted in related BBC gardening coverage. Frances Tophill could appeal if the BBC wants a younger face to signal renewal while keeping the programme’s calm, accessible tone. Carol Klein brings authority and long-standing audience trust, though her role may be seen as more specialist than that of a single long-term anchor. Jamie Butterworth is another name to watch. He is increasingly visible across BBC gardening coverage and has strong horticultural credentials, but he is less proven than Frost or Tophill as the principal face of the franchise. The BBC’s statements focused on Don’s legacy and future projects, not on succession, which suggests the decision may still be under review. The broadcaster is likely to prioritize continuity, warmth, practical expertise and viewer trust—qualities central to Don’s success. For now, Adam Frost looks the most plausible choice, but no official appointment has been made.

Q: With Monty Don stepping down, will his legendary Longmeadow garden completely disappear from our television screens?

No. Longmeadow is not set to vanish from television immediately, and it may still appear in future BBC projects with Monty Don. The BBC has said Don will continue presenting *Gardeners’ World* from Longmeadow until later this year, so viewers will still see the Herefordshire garden on screen through the end of the current run. Don himself also stressed that he will keep gardening there, saying: “I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow.” What changes is *Gardeners’ World*’s main format. Since 2011, much of the programme has been filmed at Longmeadow, making it central to Don’s era on the show. Once he steps down as host, there is no indication that Longmeadow will remain the regular base of the series in the same way. However, the BBC has also made clear that Don is not leaving the broadcaster altogether. Both Don and BBC executives said he will continue working with the BBC on other projects. That leaves open the strong possibility that Longmeadow could still feature in future specials, documentaries or other gardening programmes tied to him. So the likely answer is that Longmeadow will stop being the weekly heart of *Gardeners’ World* after Don’s departure, but it is unlikely to disappear completely from screens as long as Don continues making programmes from there.

Q: What mysterious new BBC projects is Monty Don planning to pursue now that his remarkable 20-year chapter is closing?

They are not yet publicly specified. The BBC and Don have only said that he will continue working with the broadcaster on “other projects” and “future projects,” while also “following new avenues.” What Don has made clear is the general shape of what comes next: he plans to keep making programmes, write more books, and continue gardening at Longmeadow in Herefordshire. In his own words, “There are more books to write, more programmes to make,” suggesting that his post-Gardeners’ World work will remain rooted in broadcasting and publishing rather than retirement. Given his recent body of work, the most plausible direction is more gardening and natural-world programming for the BBC, potentially in the style of his other series such as British gardens and lifestyle-focused projects. But no titles, formats, or release dates have been announced. So for now, the “mystery” remains just that: Don has confirmed ongoing BBC collaborations, but neither he nor the corporation has revealed the specific projects.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 8

Monty Don, 71, will step down as Gardeners' World host at the end of the current series, ending a run that made him the programme's longest-serving head gardener.
Around 700 episodes after joining in 2003, Don said it was "the right time for a change" and called his years on the BBC show a deeply rewarding experience.
The BBC said Don had inspired millions of viewers with his warmth and gardening expertise, while chief content officer Kate Phillips said his departure would be keenly felt.
Don began the programme at Berryfields in Stratford-upon-Avon before it moved in 2011 to his Herefordshire garden, Longmeadow, and said he will continue working with the BBC on other projects.