Did I hear this right? Monty has suffered a stroke and will be stepping down from GW. Reported on the 6pm news on Radio 2.
oh dear
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7415469.stm
yep, minor stroke so he's taking the whole summer to get over it
Let us hope he makes a good recovery
Poor Monty, hopefully he'll make a full recovery- sounds like he's on the mend already but sensibly taking it easy.I'll miss him. :(
Radio4 news reports him as saying he is looking forward to some "gardening leave". Good old (oops he is only 52!) Monty.
Bloody good get rid of, miserable sod.
I think he suffers with depression.Saying that I know someone who used to work for him and she did not like him much. I still hope he has a good recovery. :)
Along with Titch, Julia Ladbury and that chef James whats his name from Yorkshire ;)
are we sure this gardening thing is as healthy as it's cracked up to be? geoff Hamilton pops his clog, and now Monty has a stroke.
Titchmarsh is safe, cus he was only pretending anyway
I am so very sorry to hear dear MONTY DON, is poorly i wish him so well very soon.
Ace show some compassion even if you do not like him.
I wish him a speedy recovery but a long long long period of recuperation, then maybe they'll get a gardener on the show.
whatever you think of him stroke is horrible i hope he recovers, i guess the time off is because following a minor stroke and for a little while after there is a higher risk of a big one
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 22, 2008, 20:20:59
are we sure this gardening thing is as healthy as it's cracked up to be? geoff Hamilton pops his clog, and now Monty has a stroke.
Titchmarsh is safe, cus he was only pretending anyway
Have to say, all due respect to the departed an' all that, but I wasn't a bit surprised about GH. He used to wheeze and gasp so much when demonstrating a bit of digging, I never believed he did any regularly.
I wonder if there is a job going! Gizzajob, I could do that.
now that would be something to watch ;D ;D
Am trying not to panic and vow to give up gardening!!!!!!! But am thinking that the report says he will give up being the main presenter!! I think he liked the special programmes he did ie the allotment ones. Am sure when he is fit and well he will get itchy feet and just have to do something he really enjoys!!
Wonder if he wants me to pop round and nurse him!!!!!!!
Quote from: ACE on May 23, 2008, 07:39:57
I wonder if there is a job going! Gizzajob, I could do that.
I am sure your charm will attract thousands of new viewers ACE :D
What a shock !! 52 is very young and in someone who is outside and fairly fit !!
Wish im well and thoughts are with his family :)
Quote from: flowerofshona2007 on May 23, 2008, 10:06:28
What a shock !! 52 is very young and in someone who is outside and fairly fit !!
Wish im well and thoughts are with his family :)
I am sure it was Monty who used to be a wine expert on This Morning with Richard and Judy. Maybe he imbibed a little too much!
Seriously though I wish him well. I quite liked him. :)
Quote from: flowerofshona2007 on May 23, 2008, 10:06:28
What a shock !! 52 is very young and in someone who is outside and fairly fit !!
Wish im well and thoughts are with his family :)
My pop was only 54 when he had a stroke - he's outside type, had 2 allotments and a big garden.. he only gave up one allotment (which is now mine) and still has the garden, and he beats me hands down in a digging race.
I wonder who will take over - Maybe someone like G.Ramsey... that would be amusing to watch.
Quote from: greyhound on May 23, 2008, 00:27:31
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 22, 2008, 20:20:59
are we sure this gardening thing is as healthy as it's cracked up to be? geoff Hamilton pops his clog, and now Monty has a stroke.
Titchmarsh is safe, cus he was only pretending anyway
Have to say, all due respect to the departed an' all that, but I wasn't a bit surprised about GH. He used to wheeze and gasp so much when demonstrating a bit of digging, I never believed he did any regularly.
GH was the only GW presenter who actually lived on the site and he did a lot of the work you saw. He cut his teeth as a landscape gardener and was very hands on, probably the most practical guy ever to present the programme.
Strokes are a terrible thing.My dear old Dad had a small stroke and carried on to have more ,robbing him of his speech and eventually his life.So horrible.
Fingers crossed they don't replace him with Joe Swift!!! I believe Monty suffers from SAD. Get well soon Mr Don.
Poor Joe Swift is getting more stisk in the Mail today ,it showed a pic of his front garden! what can I say ,not a good a d vert for a garden designer
can you imagine it in the swift house "not now dear I,v been doing it all day"
marg
strange how all the main presenters of GW have been men. Maybe there's some law about it, like the Catholic Church, or Dr Who
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 22, 2008, 20:20:59
Titchmarsh is safe, cus he was only pretending anyway
A bit unfair- he worked his way up through the parks dept and RHS training from aged 16!
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 23, 2008, 13:49:33
strange how all the main presenters of GW have been men. Maybe there's some law about it, like the Catholic Church, or Dr Who
Carol Klein seems to be fronting it in Monty's absence.
I think Carol would do the job well if she calms down a bit.Joe is good I think he would do well if given a chance. :)
Yep..Carol is ok..but It would be great to get Bob Flowerdew back in TV... ;D..that would get some posh folks going mad... ;D
He is even more "organic" and anti-spending than Monty...
Matthew Wilson for me.
Meg sorry the job has gone of nursing Monty, i am taking some grapes round & feeding him them very slowly and of course mopping his brow. ;D ;D.
I wish Monty a full recovery. However I have stopped watching Gardening World since Monty became the main presenter, he is not a team player and does not anchor the programme well AT was good at drawing everyone in, I thought it unfortunate that Chris Beardsmore left and always felt it was due to a clash of personality with Monty. I like Carol Clyne but feel she is a little too light weight to front the programme. Bob Flowerdue gets my vote
Hmm, and me! :)
Anybody but Carol! >:(
Bob Flowerdew would be great. Again.
Quote from: caroline7758 on May 23, 2008, 14:17:35
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 22, 2008, 20:20:59
Titchmarsh is safe, cus he was only pretending anyway
A bit unfair- he worked his way up through the parks dept and RHS training from aged 16!Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on May 23, 2008, 13:49:33
strange how all the main presenters of GW have been men. Maybe there's some law about it, like the Catholic Church, or Dr Who
Carol Klein seems to be fronting it in Monty's absence.
yes I was being unfair. If Alan T stuck to gardening it'd be fine, but the BBC seem to tout him as an expert on everything from Geography to Classical Music
Just seemed odd that GW was a male preserve when so many of the great gardeners were and are women, and Carol Klein isn't one of them tho she isn't terrible
Wow,hold your horses,Did you not watch carol at last years Chelsea when she did a live walk about for about half an hour.This lady knows her stuff and I have every respect for her knowledge ;D
to be fair to everyone, i'm watching GW more than I used to, so they must be doing something right. On the other hand, is it wise to leave someone in charge of such a cherished institution, when it's so obvious she could go completely bonkers at any moment ?
Bob Flowerdew would be great I wish he was on TV more. I like Carol too and a woman would be a welcome change. Isn't it filmed at Montys garden? I wonder if they will relocate if that is the case.
No, Berrryfields isn't Monty's.
Nippie, Monty wasen`t on the Dummer & Dummer show as a wine taster, he was this mornings Garden adviser.
A little bird gives Chris Beardwattsisname the job. Anyone would do, even me, but not the bag lady
QuoteI wonder if there is a job going! Gizzajob, I could do that.
OK. You do the clever stuff and I'll do the s
hit stirring. TV ratings will go through the roof.
I like Monty. I think he's a fine chap and I'm really sorry to hear about his illness. I don't object to any of the others either, although I do find Carol a tad over dramatic. Sometimes I just don't find the programme too entertaining. For me the real trough was Rachel de Thame and Chris Beardsmore. I think it has improved since then.
Mind you sometimes something as simple as a change in the line-up can put you off something.
I met him briefly at last years Gardner's world at the NEC.I was helping to man the NAA stand.He came with his crew to interview our secretary and she had wondered off.I managed to say she will be back soon and he just looked at me and smiled.Lots of people had gathered round and I felt rather important as I was standing next to him but I must say he is not a very good public person.While he was waiting he just ignored the crowd and it was a good opportunity to speak to people.Alan Tichmarsh would have bantered with them.I wish him well health wise but he is not my ideal presenter
Yes I suspect that Monty is a quite reserved character. must make it hard for him.
I think it is really sad for Monty and his family and wish him a speedy recovery. I'm really shocked by some peoples responses on here, he may not be your favourite kind of person but he isn't an evil person, he just doesn't present one of your favourite programmes the way you would like it to be done.
If you cant say anything nice .... ::)
Well said GW.
Quote from: glosterwomble on May 24, 2008, 12:12:06
If you cant say anything nice .... ::)
I have been within earshot off camera, Did not like what I heard about us common gardeners.
He also had about the same charisma as Gordon Brown.
So, bloody good get rid of!
Or just stay quiet and get the same again.
I don't think anyone objects to you having an opinion about whether he presents a TV programme. It is the glee with which you welcomed the news that he had a stroke which was objectionable.
I don't mind who the presenter is, as long as they actually are gardeners, not just presenters with a windowbox! ;D
back to the fact that he had a stroke - i wouldn't be surprised if this was due to the ridiculous amount of air miles he clocked up for the 80 gardens programmes - a massive amount apparently (some carbon footprint!) and that could well have contributed - for what its worth
Sorry he's had a stroke and all that, but i for one will not be sorry to see him go, lets hope his replacement is a bit more of a gardeners gardener, somebody you would not mind having a mug a tea and chat in ya shed with.
the obvious answer is to rotate presenters, it is a gardening prog after all. Something like "Have I Got New Potatoes For You"
Quote from: ACE on May 24, 2008, 15:50:59
I have been within earshot off camera, Did not like what I heard about us common gardeners.
He also had about the same charisma as Gordon Brown.
So, bloody good get rid of!
Or just stay quiet and get the same again.
I didn't say it earlier but I will now.... you have had loads of sympathy from people here for your present health problems and we have all been wishing you the best and I for one have been really concerned for your problems after your emotional postings (and I don't even know you!) and yet you cannot offer a fellow human concern for their problems .....very sad Ace. :(
and I thought we were here 'cos we are into allotments.......... ???
Yes saddad you're right, I don't mean to be nasty I'm just pointing out that we shouldn't be so quick to say Good ridance when someone has had a stroke!
All of life is here displayed......
Quote from: glosterwomble on May 24, 2008, 21:26:45
I didn't say it earlier but I will now.... you have had loads of sympathy from people here for your present health problems and we have all been wishing you the best and I for one have been really concerned for your problems after your emotional postings (and I don't even know you!) and yet you cannot offer a fellow human concern for their problems .....very sad Ace. :(
Of course I am sorry about the stroke. But I am not at all sorry the bloke has to leave GW.
Now if you want to read that into my posts. I'm out of here.
Agree entirely, as I said in my earlier post. There are two parts to this:
1. Monty Don's had a stroke
2. Monty Don won't be presenting Gardener's World.
and opinions on the two can be entirely separate. Not being upset about MD leaving GW doesn't make me a bad person.
My general demeanour does that.
I do not think for a moment that ACE is not sympathetic about Montys stroke
He is like the rest of us entitled to his opinion about who fronts GW.
Unless there are any other applications then it is Ace and Eristic to liven up an extremely boring crass bit of TV.
I think you should add in Christine Whatshername and her neighbour Ron. ;D ;D ;D
It's Reg actually.Now don't you start on poor old Reg :)
Thanks Betula - it is Reg...... and I like him......he's the star of the show :D
And here are the results from the Camden Jury:
12 points go to.... Ace and Eristic
- and TIM!
(well, you've got to have a looker!)
I was very sad to hear about Monty's stroke and his departure from GW. I hope he makes a full recovery.
I cant say i am totaly surprised something like this has happened. I think the BBC have worked him far too hard in the last couple of years what with GW and all the travelling for the 80 Gardens series - a show someone else could easily have done instead. In the end something had to give.
I think many of you are rather harsh in your criticism of Monty's time on GW. I thought he was good for the show and most of the time i enjoyed watching him (although he could get a bit intense at times).
I have not actualy met him but have heard him give a talk at a flower show once and from what I saw then, on TV and his writing, do like him as a person, not least because I have suffered from depression and a mild form of SAD, so do understand that side of him at least.
I also recall from 'The Monty Don Project' TV series and admission that he beleives he might have a form of Autism/Aspergers (undiagnosed). This would explain some of his other personality traits, including the apparent aloofness in public (indicating difficulties with social interaction). This is something else I understand all too well.
As for GW itself I think it has greatly improved this year and think Carol is the natural sucessor to Monty. Her knowledge of plants, expereince and enthusiasm for gardening is exactly what you need for GW IMO. That said it would be great to see Mathew Wilson have a more regular slot on the programme. Somehow I dont think his work for the RHS would allow even this let alone become a salaried presenter.
Just read that Matthew Wilson is leaving Harlow Carr :'( to become Head of Gardens Creative Development at RHS. I love what he's done at Harlow Carr so hope they get someone good to replace him.
I think Trixiebelle should do it. If she's had a bad week , the show would be one long rant, and if she's had a really bad weeks, she'd probably have to start shouting as soon as the title music starts to get it all in
My vote goes to Trixiebelle too. I think we should have a proper poll and let the BBC know which of our members we decide on.
DON'T GET ME STARTED isn't the greatest name for a gardening prog, but i'd watch it ;D
Very well put down in writing GA on Monty Don. I agree with everything you said about Monty and I for one enjoyed him on GW. He is nice to look at ;D ;D
I cannot look at Joe Swift now without thinking about his father. His father being 'Richard Bucket' poor down trodding husband of Hycanth. He does look like his Father. ;D
Richard, that was a wonderfull post about Monty Don, having read one of his books i understand the man more, you comments were very understanding thank you for that .
didn't Monty also have bone cancer as a child, and also more recently nearly die of peritonitis? Hearing him talking about SAD on the radio last year didn't give the impression that that was mild either
I also wish Monty a full and speedy recovery.
As to GW, you have to realise that the best gardener's are not necessarily good presenters. A presenter needs knowledge of the subject, a certain charisma, a way with people, a very sharp mind (to react when things go wrong and keep the program going). Last but not least, be attractive to the opposite sex and not repel the same sex.
How many of you could fill these criteria?
Quote from: Larkshall on May 26, 2008, 09:57:32
Last but not least, be attractive to the opposite sex and not repel the same sex.
How many of you could fill these criteria?
So we're all agreed on Tim then? Oh yeah, and Trixie?? Poor ACE... ;)
I liked GA's post, and thank you, Richard, for reminding us of Monty Don's project with the young drug addicts...he did excellent work there which patently, to me, wasn't 'just' for the cameras..
I do hope that he recovers well from the 'silent killer' which can strike us all at any time.
EH????
You want me to take over from Monty on Gardener's World??!!!
I know f**k all about flowers and even less about 'borders'!
Give me a potato & a courgette & I'll keep you entertained for hours over half a shandy & a bag of crisps, but FLOWERS ....... oh no!
I'm very sorry to hear about Monty actually. One of my very best friends suffered a stroke when she was only 30 (the result of a chiropractor who was supposed to be curing her sore neck)
It really is a debilitating condition and I wish him well.
Well I wish him a good recovery!!
As for his aloofness.....I have often thought that he may have Aspergers....he has a lot of the traits that go with the condition. That's not his fault....if anything he has done d**n well to get where he is and be so good at it!
I wish him and his family well - they are the ones that he means most to and they are the ones who will get him through this.
as for GW???????? my money would be on Bob Flowerdew (what a wonderfaul name for a gardener!!!)....but I don't think the Beeb would want the show to come from a presenters own garden and I don't think you could prise Bob from his!!! Part of the reason that they developed Berryfields was so that if they lose the presenter they don't lose the garden!!!!!
Personally I think Berryfields is an over sanitised garden - miles away from what we all have! I would like to see more normal gardens and lots more on allotments. But not the sanitised version that Joe Swift is offerring us - we never got to see it till it was all spruced up and ready for the cameras.
How about a few more guest presenters like some of us on here - proper gardeners with real problems....and bugs....and rain....and slugs etc etc ...
Get well soon Monty!
Louise
XX
gosh i hope he gets well soon but who are they going to get to replace him? I wonder if bob can pop back for a short time :)
Thank you for the positive response to my last post. Much appreciated.
On the subject of strokes i know all too well what they can do to people and that they can strike at any age really. A friend of the family was struck down by one at a younger age than Monty and has had at least 2 more that i know of since. He was a fit and active man (builder by trade) with a great personality. He is still mobile but now struggles with his speech and is partialy sighted. He also suffers mood swings, exagerated no doubt by frustration at his condition and not being able to do things. I have also known of people who have been left almost totaly paralysed by severe strokes.
I think Monty should in some ways be thankfull his was only a minor one, and has had the sense to stop and rest before a more severe one struck. Still even a minor stroke must be a horrible thing to happen to you.
Quote from: Garden Apprentice on May 25, 2008, 12:23:57
As for GW itself I think it has greatly improved this year and think Carol is the natural sucessor to Monty. Her knowledge of plants, expereince and enthusiasm for gardening is exactly what you need for GW
And if Joe Swift is going to be doing a show garden at Chelsea next year,he wont have much time for presenting (or his allotment ::)) GW with a bit of luck.I think John Cushnie from GQT and Carol would make a good pairing.
Just watched Beechgrove Garden on BBC i player, the GW team would learn a thing or two on how to make a gardening programe if they watched it. :)
Yes, the Beechgrove Garden programme is very good. I have watched it for years. You learn quite a bit on that programme from BBC Scotland.
;)