Monty Don Breaks Down On-air as he reveals life’s tragic moment.

Beloved British gardening expert Monty Don has long been a comforting presence in homes across the UK. With his calm demeanor, poetic narration, and deep love for the natural world, Monty has become the heart and soul of Gardeners’ World. But behind the peaceful gardens and warm television moments, Monty Don has battled his own personal storms—something he recently opened up about again, with moving honesty.

During a recent episode of Gardeners’ World, Monty revisited his long-standing struggle with depression, offering a rare and deeply emotional glimpse into a battle that many silently fight. The timing of his reflection—shared during Mental Health Awareness Week—made the message all the more powerful, reminding viewers that even those who seem calm and composed on the outside may carry invisible burdens within.

A Quiet Struggle Behind a Public Face

Monty Don has spoken in the past about his experience with mental illness, but his recent words struck a particularly raw chord. While introducing a segment featuring Elliot, a gardener who found healing through tending his own green space, Monty couldn’t help but draw parallels to his own journey.

“There’s something about being in a garden that demands honesty,” Monty said on-air. “It’s just you and the earth—and you have to meet it as you are, no matter how you’re feeling.”

This wasn’t just commentary—it was a confession. A moment where Monty, the expert, stepped back and became Monty, the man. Viewers saw the emotion in his eyes and heard it in the softness of his voice as he acknowledged how nature had helped him through some of his darkest periods.

Depression in the Shadows

Monty has battled depression for much of his adult life. In previous interviews and writings, he’s described it as a “black cloud” that settles over him with little warning, bringing fatigue, numbness, and a sense of profound despair. He’s even referred to it as being “like a switch being flipped”—one moment he’s functioning, the next, he’s barely able to get out of bed.

For Monty, the condition is not a passing sadness but a recurring presence. It’s a part of his life that he has had to learn to live with, not eliminate.

What’s remarkable about Monty’s approach is his willingness to speak openly about these issues in a world that often demands emotional restraint—especially from men, especially in the public eye. In doing so, he has helped de-stigmatize mental illness and made it easier for others to talk about their own struggles.

Gardening as Therapy

In the most recent episode, Monty reflected on how gardening became his salvation. He described how, in his lowest moments, the simple act of planting something, pruning a hedge, or watching a seedling rise from the soil gave him purpose.

“There’s healing in the rhythm of the garden,” he said. “It doesn’t rush you. It doesn’t demand you to be happy. It just asks you to show up—and in return, it gives you something to hold onto.”

For Monty, nature wasn’t a metaphor for healing. It was the healing. In a time when the world often feels loud, chaotic, and unforgiving, his garden became a place of refuge—a space where he could feel grounded and quiet the noise in his head.