Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Monty Don and leaving GW - disappointing interview

111 replies

LaughterintheRains · 10/11/2023 10:28

Has anyone else heard or read his interview about how he plans to leave GW?
I feel differently about him now. He's clearly not enjoying it- referring to the 'relentless treadmill' of it. But it's only 6 months of the year anyway and for the rest of the time, he's giving talks on cruises, writing books and making TV progs in faraway places.

I guess what I'm saying is he gives the impression each week of enjoying the programme, yet now he's said he is a bit fed up with it. So I don't feel the same about him anymore.

He also said they needed a new presenter, ideally female, with a more diverse background, not Oxbridge educated, middle class male. I think that's discriminatory at best (should be the best person for the job) but also, his predecessor was Alan Titchmarsh who didn't go to any uni (but trained in horticulture. )

He was evidently pissed off when Don got the job as a 'non-expert hobbyist gardener'. And before that, Geoff Hamilton was not Oxbridge.

I've always had a lot of time for MD (and his MH struggles) but this time I think he's talking out of his and it won't be the same watching the next series knowing he doesn't really want to be doing it.

OP posts:

AbbeyGailsParty · 10/11/2023 10:31

Jobs get repetitive, they get boring. Time for him to move on.

WeekWeekWeek · 10/11/2023 10:33

He’s 68. I think a lot of people view working as a relentless treadmill at that stage.

boudiccathecat · 10/11/2023 10:33

If he gives up GW the cruises etc will lessen, and maybe that’s the plan

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TurkeyTrotToXmas · 10/11/2023 10:34

It's ok for him to find his job boring and repetitive. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It's good he recognises it and allows someone new to shake things up. It's not a bad thing.

ramonaquimby · 10/11/2023 10:34

I’m quite often fed up with my job but def give the impression of enjoying it for my clients sake….I’m a teacher 😂

Talipesmum · 10/11/2023 10:34

You can love gardening and what you do, but get fed up of being committed to make a weekly tv show about it for half of your life every year.

Willow12345 · 10/11/2023 10:38

ramonaquimby · 10/11/2023 10:34

I’m quite often fed up with my job but def give the impression of enjoying it for my clients sake….I’m a teacher 😂

I do the same!

EmptyVesselStar · 10/11/2023 10:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Rosiem2808 · 10/11/2023 10:40

Don't forget his beloved doggie died recently and that must have partly influenced his decision. I will be sad to see him go.

MeinKraft · 10/11/2023 10:41

I think you have totally misunderstood what he said to be honest. He made it very clear that he's talking in the context of that he's approaching 70 and can't keep doing everything he does at the rate he's doing it now so will have to give something up. Of course presenting a weekly programme is a lot of work especially when you consider the work behind the scenes that has to go into his garden. Of course he has a team of gardeners who help him but he's the face of GW and Longmeadow and I'm sure he puts in plenty of work too to make sure it's all right for TV.

Also his actual words about who should follow him were:

"I mean, what one would like is to feel that they hire the best person, whoever that was.
"And regardless, you know, in a truly just and fair society, we wouldn't care what someone's colour or race or creed or sex was.
"But the truth is that it's much more delicate and I think that I'm absolutely persuaded that in order to include everybody, you have to open doors that either are or seem to be shut.
"And if the door is perceived to be shut then it is shut even if actually you think it's not.
"You know, I mean, I come from a middle-class Oxbridge background. Every door is open to me and has been all my life. It's an incredibly privileged class."

MorrisZapp · 10/11/2023 10:41

I suppose it's like pulling back the curtain. The magic of TV gives us relaxed, lugubrious Monty meandering round his garden each week, and lingering dog shots.

In reality, there are crew crawling all over his house and each scene has to be filmed over and over.

I once appeared in a two minute segment on daytime TV. Filming it took all day and I have literally never been so tired in my life. It was utterly exhausting.

For the brief moments I was on screen, I look relaxed and as if I was casually turning to camera and speaking just because I felt like it.

At one point, there was one second of me opening a door and stepping into a house. I had to film that approach so many times I forgot how to walk and was convinced that my shoulders looked embarrassed.

blueberry1976 · 10/11/2023 10:44

Hi, where can I hear this interview please?

Whattodowithit88 · 10/11/2023 10:44

I think you’ve took it the wrong way. Even if he enjoys it, there is a big difference between doing something that you want to do and something you have to do, ot sucks the joy out of it.

BarbaraCadabra · 10/11/2023 10:50

I hope Adam Frost takes over from him, with all the other box ticking or not presenters who are usually on still having their input.

MeinKraft · 10/11/2023 10:55

BarbaraCadabra · 10/11/2023 10:50

I hope Adam Frost takes over from him, with all the other box ticking or not presenters who are usually on still having their input.

I'd have thought Adam was a dead cert until he had to downsize his home and garden, not sure he'd want the job now given all that. I'd quite like Frances to present it.

RedRiverShore4 · 10/11/2023 10:56

I'm a couple of years younger than him and at his age he probably wants to do less work, he had a health scare a few years ago and probably feels it's time to think about giving up some things. As for the next presenter I thought it would probably be Adam or Frances

Original poster

LaughterintheRains · 10/11/2023 10:58

@MeinKraft I read and listened to the entire interview (which you have kindly posted - again.)

I completely understand what he says about stepping back as I'm his age (give or take a year or two).

And yes, out of everything he does, I can understand the commitment of GW.
However, to call it a 'relentless treadmill' does give the viewers the idea he's just not enjoying it any more.

That's fine. Of course it's his choice. But I think it may have been better to say that once he was closer to leaving the show, whereas he said he was contracted for another year. He may feel he's letting us all down gently, for his departure, but it's just my opinion, he could have said it with less negativity, along the lines of 'work-life balance and cutting back'.

And it's not accurate to say that GW has been presented by Oxbridge types. He's the only one! (I'd have to check out Percy Thrower.)

He talks about his opportunities, with his background, but equally he made some huge mistakes and was in terrible debt after his experimental jewellery business went bust , decades back. (I've read his biography of that time.)

I don't care who presents it as long as they are knowledgeable and a good communicator. I think it's discriminatory to rule certain people in or out because of their colour or background.

OP posts:

Pootles34 · 10/11/2023 11:04

There is a dreadful problem with racism within the horticultural world, so I do think gw have an opportunity to try to challenge that with their presenters.

Regarding his comments about the treadmill, I think he probably wants his garden back! Yes it is only 6 months of the year, but it's the gardening season so it must be a big deal for them as a family and him personally.

YourWinter · 10/11/2023 11:05

The BBC isn’t the only organisation obsessed with employing people fitting as many minority groups as possible. They lost the plot with the now- ludicrous Countryfile and will do the same with GW, and so on. Minorities are just that - there absolutely should not be discrimination based on anything other than suitability for the role. It’s ridiculous to have to ensure every minority group is represented.

I did like Geoff Hamilton!

NoSquirrels · 10/11/2023 11:12

Interesting that’s your take, OP - when I read that interview I thought it was very honest and thoughtful and certainly didn’t give me the impression he was begrudging or reluctant, letting the viewers down gently or whatever.

And yes, whilst cruises and TV programmes in far off places are a privileged position to be in no doubt, it’s still work for him - it’s not lying by the pool drinking daiquiris!

The professional gardeners I’ve been in contact with would say that it’s hardly 6 months ‘off’ if you have a garden that’s open to the public - as Longmeadow sort of is by virtue of being on TV every week. They say autumn and winter are the hardest work months in some ways if you want a show garden come springtime.

Lululite · 10/11/2023 11:22

The lady with the northern (Lancashire) accent, Carol Klein? is very knowledgeable and a good clear speaker.
Please BBC no pets to feature in the program, it is distracting and if the poor thing gets ill or dies derails the gardening.

MeinKraft · 10/11/2023 11:22

'But I think it may have been better to say that once he was closer to leaving the show, whereas he said he was contracted for another year. He may feel he's letting us all down gently, for his departure, but it's just my opinion, he could have said it with less negativity, along the lines of 'work-life balance and cutting back'.'

I think that's just his way though. Did you ever watch that programme he did where he designed gardens for people and half the time they totally disregarded his designs and he was at times quite scathing towards them? I think how the BBC would like us to see Monty - the bumbling kindly gardener gentleman - and how Monty would like us to see Monty, the way he actually is - insightful but sharp tongued and sometimes controversial- are two different things. It would actually make an interesting documentary, the real Monty Don.

Murpe · 10/11/2023 11:25

Did he say that GW has been presented by Oxbridge types? I don't recall that he did. My understanding is that he was saying that people from his private school, Oxbridge background can experience life with a level of privilege that others don't. For him, GW might be one example of that.

I like that he's honest in interviews about the 'performance' aspect of presenting, and the sides of him that he doesn't show. He pretty much says, "I can be grumpy and demanding and selfish, and I work too hard, and I'm not as zen and kindly as I might appear".

Menopants · 10/11/2023 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Jesus Christ stick to gb news and you’ll be alright

EmmaEmerald · 10/11/2023 11:26

OP Why would you feel differently based on those comments?

he is a really top notch presenter and brings so much happiness to so many people. He's worked very hard for so many decades!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread