According to major media reports, Monty Don had a knee replacement in October, shortly after turning 70 last summer. ' He explained that before the surgery, his mobility was severely limited, affecting his ability to work. 'I was finding by the end of a day's filming I could barely walk upstairs and I certainly couldn't take the dogs for a walk,' Don said.
' Three months post-surgery, Don reports he is gardening again and has not used a walking stick for a month. His wife Sarah has noted he has been doing too much, but his recovery is proceeding as planned. Don also revealed he will likely need his other knee replaced, probably in late 2027.
I was finding by the end of a day's filming I could barely walk upstairs and I certainly couldn't take the dogs for a walk. It was severely limiting what I was doing. I did it so I could keep on working because it was getting to the point where filming was cutting round me limping.
Regarding his professional future, Monty Don has been hosting Gardeners' World since 2003, with a break between 2008 and 2011. He is in discussions to continue hosting the show until at least 2028. ' He added, 'But there will come a time when either they’ll say, ‘No, thanks’ or I’ll say, ‘It’s time for a change’.
However you do it, a knee replacement is horribly painful. But three months on I’m gardening again and haven’t walked with a stick for a month. Sarah says I’ve been doing far too much stuff, but it’s fine and going to plan – though it can be inexplicably painful one day and then not at all another. At some point, I’m going to have to do the other one – but only when I can fit it in, probably late 2027.