As the face of Gardeners' World, horticulturist Monty Don has enjoyed enormous success in his professional career.
But it hasn't all been plain sailing for the gardening guru, who has had his fair share of personal difficulties behind the scenes. Monty has previously spoken candidly about the mental health issues he's lived with over the years, having dealt with depression since his mid-twenties.
The 68-year-old has long found that his mood plummets during the winter months, due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition linked to less exposure to sunlight during wintertime. For Monty, at one point, his 'moods and black depression' during these months became so severe that his marriage and family life took a brutal knock.
Unable to bear it any longer, Monty's wife, Sarah Erskine, felt she had no choice but to issue a stern ultimatum to her husband - vowing that she would leave and take their three children with her if he didn't make a huge lifestyle change. Her warning would go on to shape how he dealt with his mental health difficulties, ultimately saving their marriage.
Monty Don's wife issued a stern ultimatum (Maggie Hardie/REX/Shutterstock)Monty and Sarah tied the knot in 1983 and experienced their fair share of ups and downs together, including bankruptcy in the 1980s following the collapse of their once-thriving jewellery business. During a particularly dark period in their marriage, Monty's depression took its toll and Sarah sat him down for a serious conversation.
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During a 2023 episode of White Wine Question Time, Monty revealed: "Marriage is never a bed of roses. There was one point where Sarah said to me, 'Look, I just can't take any longer your moods and your black depression, you've got to do something about it because if you don't, I can't live with you – I'll take the children and I'll go. It's not that I don't want to live with you, it's not that I don't love you, but I just cannot cope with you and … the fact we're in this rented horrible house'.
Sarah was left unable to bear Monty's dark moods any longer (Popperfoto via Getty Images)"We had no money, I had no work, she had three little children. She said, 'I just can't cope with you too if you're not prepared to help yourself – go and see a doctor'. And I did go and see a doctor and I did that very male thing, I said 'My knee hurts'. He said 'Fine, okay, anything else?' and then I burst into tears. He said 'Fine, okay, do you want to talk about this?' He was great, he said 'This is an illness, we can help you'."
After following Sarah's advice, Monty was able to find ways to manage his depression and has since found particular solace in being outdoors in the natural world. Opening up about the therapeutic qualities of gardening during an interview with the BBC, Monty said: "I have for many years, suffered from depression, which comes and goes but tends to be something that is worse in winter. And, touch wood, it's been much better for the last few years.
The couple managed to work through their difficulties (Nick Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)
Gardening guru Monty finds solace in the natural world (Jabphotography/REX/Shutterstock)"But for me, the benefits of nature are all about the physical connection with the rhythm of the natural world. Some of that rhythm is bleak – winter is cold. And yet even if inside you are bleak and grey and cold, if you believe that spring will blossom inside you, as well as outside in the garden, that's powerful. So that's how it works for me."
Having weathered various storms together, Monty and Sarah are still happily married to this day. They share three children Adam, Freya, and Tom - all now believed to be adults in their 30s - and are now proud grandparents to multiple grandchildren.
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
- You can catch Gardeners' World this evening (April 12) at 8pm on BBC Two.
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