Ever since Monty Don revealed that he is stepping down as lead presenter of BBC Gardeners' World, speculation has been rife as to who will replace him.
Monty explained that this series of the long-running gardening TV programme is his last in an Instagram reel shared on 8 September. In a post on 14 September, Monty thanked everyone who had sent messages: "They were encouraging, they were moving, they were kind, they were embarrassing... it was fabulous." He stressed that he is not retiring. "I am leaving Gardeners' World, but I've got other projects on the go."
He has hosted Gardeners' World for 23 years, 16 of which have been at his current garden, Longmeadow. There are big shoes to fill – and our readers have not held back on their opinion of who should replace him.
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.
We posed the question to our followers: who would you like to see replace Monty on Gardeners' World? And the response was overwhelming.
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Many people were quick to highlight that nobody could replace Monty. One person on Facebook commented: "Monty Don is Gardeners' World. He's like an old friend that you have just dropped in to see. I wish him well for the future but will miss him."
Another said: "Nobody can replace Monty. Love him." Other highlighted that they would miss Longmeadow and of course, Ned the dog.
The most popular contender to replace Monty, according to our followers, is Adam Frost. One person commented: "If only one person, then definitely Adam Frost." and another echoed these thoughts, saying: "Adam Frost would be my first choice please."
Adam recently moved house to a place with a larger garden, so it seems likely that he could be taking on a bigger role on the show, even though nothing has been announced yet. One person on Instagram said: "Just by chance Adam's just bought a new house with a garden which needs a complete overhaul. Funny that."
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Many people also highlighted Frances Tophill as their favourite, and Jamie Butterworth as a strong replacement. One person said: "I would love to see someone young and enthusiastic take over the role. Jamie Butterworth would be perfect!"
Many mentions were also given to Carol Klein, Arit Anderson, Joe Swift, Sue Kent and Rachel de Thame. Some suggested that a newbie would be welcome, with people highlighting the likes of garden designer and influencer Henry Agg. There was even a suggestion that designer Dan Pearson, who announced the closure of his design studio in the same week, might be a new presenter. Jeremy Clarkson even weighed in in an article for The Sunday Times, saying he wanted them to choose someone safe and relaxing to watch and listen to, citing influencer Blooms & Greens by Chloe as his top choice.
One of the most commonly suggested ideas was a rotation of presenters, rather than having one person and garden as the lead. One follower said: "I hope it's a few, I love a variety of the different approaches. Perhaps it's time for a more balanced approach so not one person has the pressure of sharing their life with the camera."
Others said that reshuffling the current presenters wouldn't be enough to breathe new life into Gardeners' World, suggesting that some new faces and fresh ideas wouldn't go amiss. One person on Facebook said: "Monty's done a great job for a very long time...but the show needs a refresh with some new people."
What might influence the decision
There are many factors to consider when selecting the presenters for Gardeners' World. Of course, it needs to be someone with a suitable garden that has space for development. Adam's new garden is the largest, but all of the presenters have plots that could make for gorgeous TV.
More importantly perhaps, we should be thinking, who has the cutest pets? Almost as popular as the gardening itself has been the connection over many years with Monty's dogs. One of our followers said the best part was "Nigel, Nell, Patti and Ned. Dogs are truly essential for a happy life."
Frances, Jamie and Adam all have pets that would make for Ned-levels of cute television, so the options remain open if that's a leading consideration.
We're all on the edge of our seats waiting to hear who will be the new voice of Friday night TV. Stay tuned for updates.
To watch the latest season of Gardeners' World, head to BBC iPlayer.
