BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World just wouldn’t be the same without beloved presenter Monty Don, who is one of the best known horticulturalists in the country. But surprisingly, before Monty ever ventued into the world of gardening, his previous career had nothing to do with plants whatsoever.

The 68-year-old dipped his toe in the jewellery world before embarking on a career in writing and broadcasting, which eventually led to horticulture. Here is everything we know about Monty’s life away from the cameras, from his past business venture – which was loved by Princess Diana – to the darkest period in his life.

Family and home life

Monty has been married to his wife Sarah Erskine since 1983, meaning the couple have celebrated their milestone 40th anniversary together. The pair tied the knot after meeting at Cambridge University, and went on to have three children together, Adam, Freya and Tom. The trio are now believed to be in their thirties and have had their own children.

Monty has been presenting Gardeners’ World from his own two-acre garden in Longmeadow since 2011 – though has made it clear that the set is also his home and no visitors are allowed. A few years ago, he tweeted: “Can I make clear that LONGMEADOW IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Not on Fridays or any other day. You can ‘visit’ via GW only.” Outside of the show, he also writes and has published many horticultural books.

Bankrupt business

Back in the 1990s, Monty and Sarah ran a fashionable jewellery store named Monty Don Jewellery, which specialised in costume jewellery. It was stocked in Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Liberty, shared in Vogue and loved by the likes of Boy George and Michael Jackson, while Princess Diana herself was said to be a customer.

Sadly, everything changed after the Wall Street financial crash of 1987, and the entrepreneurial couple lost everything. In their joint 2004 autobiography The Jewel Garden, Monty opened up about their bankruptcy, remarking that they felt “like lambs to the slaughter” when their fortunes changed, left to sell “every stick of furniture” they owned at Leominster Market.

Sarah remembered: “A bad situation got worse every day. The banks wanted their money and started to bounce our cheques whilst simultaneously adding their charges – and interest on them – to the tally. Of course, it could not go on. Something had to give. As it turned out, that something proved to be our shop, our business, our savings, our furniture – and our home.”

‘Unhealable’ depression

Monty’s personal and financial difficulties took a toll, and it was after this turning point in his life that he began to suffer from what he described as “unhealable depression”. Monty’s depression became so severe that Sarah also became worried about the wellbeing of their children, who had started to ask: “Why is daddy always crying?”