Monty Don to leave Gardeners' World after 23 years, final episode on 6 November
Monty Don will sign off as lead presenter of BBC Two's Gardeners' World on 6 November after 23 years. Outlets differ on the announcement date, the broadcast time and whether a successor is expected.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Monty Don is leaving BBC Two's Gardeners' World after 23 years, with the farewell episode due on Friday 6 November. Daily ExpressR “Monty Don has made the decision to leave Gardeners' World after 23 years, as he said it's the "right time".” Read at Daily Express ↗ Radio TimesN “Next Friday (6 November), after 23 years across two stints, the programme's longest-serving lead presenter will sign off.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Right · 1The Daily Express says the BBC has confirmed the episode will end the 57th series, and that Don is due to appear in a couple of winter specials. Daily ExpressR “The BBC has now confirmed that Monty's farewell episode of Gardeners' World will air on November 6, marking the conclusion of the 57th series.”“the 71-year-old is due to feature in a couple of winter specials” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 1In an official statement, Don said it was "the right time for a change" and described sharing a passion for gardens with an audience across about seven hundred programmes. Daily ExpressR “But now is the right time for a change.”“around seven hundred programmes” Read at Daily Express ↗
Right · 1Don said they will keep working with the BBC on other projects and pursue new ones, with more books and programmes planned, and will keep gardening at their home, Longmeadow. Daily ExpressR “I look forward to continuing to work with and for the BBC on other projects, as well as following new avenues. There are more books to write, more programmes to make.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 1Co-presenter Adam Frost told Morning Live that Don would be "sorely, sorely missed" and called Don "my friend". Daily ExpressR “he is going to be sorely, sorely missed and his dogs.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Centre · 1Radio Times columnist Caroline Frost wrote that viewers will miss Don's warmth and candour about mental health as well as their horticultural expertise, and noted that Don's career has included the collapse of a jewellery business in the 1980s and some 25 books. Radio TimesN “we'll miss his warmth and wisdom as well as his horticultural expertise”“losing everything when his jewellery business collapsed in the 1980s” Read at Radio Times ↗
Mixed · 2The two outlets differ on some details: the Express says the departure was announced "earlier this year" and that many hoped Adam Frost would take over as lead presenter, while Radio Times dates the announcement to September and says no successor has yet been named. Daily ExpressR “earlier this year, the 71-year-old announced he was stepping down from his role on the show, with many hopeful that Adam Frost would be stepping into the part” Read at Daily Express ↗ Radio TimesN “No successor has yet been named” Read at Radio Times ↗ Mixed · 2They also give different broadcast times for the final episode: the Express says Gardeners' World airs Fridays on BBC Two from 9pm, while Radio Times lists the final episode at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. Daily ExpressR “Gardeners' World is available to watch Fridays on BBC Two from 9pm.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Radio TimesN “is on Friday 6 November at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A magazine opinion column that celebrates Don's career and character and looks ahead to a successor.
- Emphasis
- Don's warmth, candour about mental health, resilience, dogs and the public's affection for TV gardeners.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Don's official statement about future BBC work or mention the winter specials.
- Charged language
- “end of an era”“show legend”
- For example
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“it is truly the end of an era.” — Radio Times
“whoever fills Monty's boots will have earned the opportunity” — Radio Times
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A news-style entertainment report confirming the farewell date, built around Don's statement, a co-star's tribute and viewer reactions.
- Emphasis
- Don's official statement, Adam Frost's comments, winter specials and fan reactions on Instagram.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the two-stint career or give a settled view on a successor beyond speculation about Frost.
- Charged language
- “end of an era”“hanging up his trowel”
- For example
-
“He's hanging up his trowel for television screens.” — Daily Express
“devoted viewers were quick to share their reactions, with many describing it as the end of an era.” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Monty Don is leaving Gardeners' World after 23 years.
- The final episode airs on Friday 6 November on BBC Two.
- Don is expected to remain active with books and programmes.
Where accounts differ
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Broadcast time of the final episode
- Centre
- Radio Times says 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
- Right
- The Express says Gardeners' World airs Fridays from 9pm.
-
Successor
- Centre
- Radio Times says no successor has yet been named.
- Right
- The Express says many were hopeful Adam Frost would become lead presenter.
-
When the departure was announced
- Centre
- Radio Times refers to September's announcement.
- Right
- The Express says earlier this year.
Monty Don person
Says it is the right time for a change, thanks the audience and BBC team, and plans more books, programmes and BBC projects while still gardening at Longmeadow.
“But now is the right time for a change.” — Daily Express
“And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by my side, here at Longmeadow.” — Daily Express
Gardeners' World other
The long-running BBC Two programme reaches the end of its 57th series with Don's farewell episode on 6 November, per the Express; no successor named, per Radio Times.
“marking the conclusion of the 57th series” — Daily Express
“No successor has yet been named” — Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Radio TimesN · · Opinion
What Monty Don's Gardeners' World replacement needs to learn from the departing show legend
Celebratory Affectionate opinion column praising Don's career and character and asking what a successor must learn.
Right1 article
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Monty Don's last Gardeners' World appearance confirmed as star steps down after 23 years
Sympathetic Report confirming the farewell date with Don's statement, a co-star's tribute and fan reactions.
- 26 Oct 13:52 First Daily ExpressR Monty Don's last Gardeners' World appearance confirmed as star steps down after 23 years
- 26 Oct 17:00 +3h 9m Radio TimesN What Monty Don's Gardeners' World replacement needs to learn from the departing show legend Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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