In a surprise announcement, Monty Don has revealed that he is stepping down as lead presenter of Gardeners' World. He explained that this series of the long-running gardening TV programme is his last in an Instagram reel shared this morning.
Monty has hosted Gardeners' World for 23 years, 16 of which have been at his current garden, Longmeadow. "It's been fantastic," he says. "I've loved every minute and I've worked with amazing people and it's been a joy to share my gardening life, and my dogs, with you. But it's time for a change."
He released the video message on his own account and that of the show, with his beloved dog Ned seated beside him on a bench, in the garden that millions tune in to see every Friday night.
Monty took over from Alan Titchmarsh as the lead presenter of Gardeners' World in 2003 and since then has written and produced several of his own gardening TV series, including Around the World in 80 Gardens and the most recent, Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens, which aired in spring 2026.
As the lead presenter, Monty has become one of the best-known faces in horticulture, alongside his beloved pet dogs: he even designed a show garden in their honour at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
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Monty did not reveal what he'll be doing next, but he referred to the announcement as "the end of a chapter".
Who will replace Monty Don on Gardeners' World?
Of course, the big question on everyone's lips now is who might take over the reins as lead presenter on the show - the most coveted job in garden media.
Many people will see Adam Frost as an automatic shoo-in for the role. With his Cockney charm and down-to-earth, cheeky personality, the designer-gardener has won the hearts of many viewers over the past decade as a co-presenter on the show, filling in for Monty some weeks. He originally trained in horticulture with the late great Geoff Hamilton, who was lead presenter from 1979 to 1996, and Adam credits Geoff with steering his life in the right direction and giving him the grounding and tools to be a success.
Adam was presenting the show and running a gardening school at a large, beautiful property when Covid hit, and when his wife got ill, and then he fell into depression, they decided it would be best to move to smaller property that wasn't quite so demanding.
Many considered that this closed the door on him becoming lead presenter, since the majority in recent times have presented the show from their own fabulous gardens. However, Adam recently moved again to another larger property and was seen on screen happily working on areas with a mini digger, so it seems there is again the possibility of him having a space to present the show from.
What about a woman this time?
The last time the lead job was up for grabs, plenty of viewers made it clear they wanted Carol Klein to be the one to take over. The former nurserywoman and gardener has a uniquely expressive way of describing plants and gardens with true enthusiasm and delight that is utterly infectious. Having been through the wringer before on this, however, and having survived a difficult cancer diagnosis in 2025, it remains to be seen if she will get the look in many feel she deserves.
Rachel de Thame often presents segments for the show, as does fan favourite Arit Anderson, but the co-presenter who has had the most publicity this year is Frances Tophill, a young horticulturist who started out presenting with Alan Titchmarsh on his ITV garden makeover show. Her surge in coverage is down to having designed a garden for HM The King and the RHS with David Beckham for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which was a resounding success and much beloved by the home gardeners at the show and watching on TV. In many interviews at the time and since, however, she made it clear she isn't interested in Monty's level of fame or the top job - but perhaps she can be persuaded?
Another young presenter who shouldn't be ruled out is Jamie Butterworth, the nurseryman who worked hand in hand with Monty on his Dog Garden for Chelsea in 2025, and has since become a regular presenter on Gardener's World. He has less camera time under his belt than any other candidate, but is happy to admit to being ambitious and working non-stop.
There are of course many other co-presenters who have appeared on the show throughout the years, including Joe Swift, who always presented the Chelsea Flower Show coverage with Monty until 2025; Sue Kent, who has been doing more pieces every season; Advolly Richmond, who specialises in garden history; and Toby Buckland - who was actually lead presenter before, from 2008-2010, in the years that Monty had taken a step back for health reasons, and the BBC attempted to make GW more Top Gear.
Whoever gets the gig, there's sure to be consternation from one set of fans or other, but one thing is for certain: we will all miss Monty's dulcet tones easing us into the weekend as he plants up his pots in the enviable surroundings of his garden at Longmeadow.
