BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World presenter Monty Don is one of the best known horticulturalists in the country. But surprisingly, before Monty ever ventured into the world of gardening, his previous career couldn’t have been more different.

The 68-year-old worked in the jewellery world before embarking on a career in writing and broadcasting, which eventually led to horticulture, writes The Mirror.

We take a look at 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 and his wife Sarah Erskine tied the knot back in 1983, meaning the couple have celebrated their milestone 40th anniversary together. The pair met 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

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, following the Wall Street financial crash of 1987, the 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.