Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost has shared a moving tribute to his late mentor and former show host, Geoff Hamilton.
Frost - who is part of the Gardeners’ World presenting team alongside Monty Don - marked the 30th anniversary of Hamilton’s death with an emotional segment on Gardeners’ World followed by a video on Instagram.
Hamilton, who presented the beloved BBC series from 1979 to 1996, died aged 59 after suffering a heart attack while taking part in a charity cycle run.
Frost, 59, had fans “in tears” as he discussed their sweet friendship on Gardeners’ World at Barnsdale Gardens, the gardens that Hamilton had cultivated on the show.
“I find it very hard to believe that we lost Geoff Hamilton 30 years ago," he said.
"He had such an influence on me as a gardener. I'm 21 years old, and I got a job at Barnsdale Gardens for the great man. If one person set a moral compass as to how I was going to garden for the rest of my life, it has to be Geoff."
Gardeners' World then showed old footage of Hamilton, before Frost met with the TV star's son, Nick, to share memories of him.
Frost concluded his tribute by telling viewers Hamilton had "touched so many lives" and would continue to do so.
He reflected again on his late friend’s death in a heartfelt tribute on the Gardeners’ World Instagram account on Tuesday.
“So if I could have one more conversation with Geoff Hamilton, famously the memory that comes to mind is on a Saturday, the programme had gone out on the Friday night, and Geoff would always come down the nursery, and the first thing he would say to Nick Hamilton, his son, was, 'What did you think ultimately about last night's programme?'” he recalled in a video.
Frost gave a rueful smile and went on: “So I would love to say to Geoff, on a Saturday morning, 'What did you think?' And then just hope it was what I wanted to hear.”
His fans flooded the comments with their appreciation for the message.
“He’d be so proud of you Adam. I remember crying buckets when Geoff died and I only ‘knew’ him through Gardeners’ World. But some people just have the power to affect others, and his effect was all good. A lovely man, sadly missed,” one wrote.
“I loved watching this episode this morning. It had me in tears. So beautiful Adam to have experienced all those beautiful memories with Geoff and ones you’ve continued to build on!” another added.
“He would be as proud of you as he would be of his own son Nick,” a third posted.
Hamilton first started making guest appearances on Gardeners' World in the 1970s, becoming its regular presenter in 1979. In 1985, he moved the show to his own garden at Barnsdale in Rutland. He died in 1996.
Frost met Hamilton in 1990 when he was 21 after replying to a job advert seeking "a young landscaper required for a television garden in Rutland".
The TV star’s tribute to his late friend comes after he gave fans a bittersweet update on “saying goodbye” to his old home.
He traded in his Grade II-listed 18th-century farmhouse and its two and a half acre garden for a different farmhouse in October 2025.
The presenter lives there with his wife Sulina and three of their four children - Abi-Jade, Jacob, Amber-Lily and Oakley.
He reflected on the major life change in a video with Gardeners’ World magazine.
"If you're leaving your house and you've gotta leave the garden that you've loved for a long period of time... if you're like me, I wouldn't worry about it at all, I've done exactly that. We left in October, what have I taken with me?” he said.
"Probably a few little bits I dug and divided, contained them. And then obviously I took all my pots with me. Outside of that, I haven't bothered.
"And you know, the beautiful things is, I went back to see the couple that have bought the garden and I walked around with them and they are absolutely loving it.
"And I think that's a great thing to hold on to, is the fact that maybe you've just left somebody else a whole load of joy."
It is not known where Frost lives now. Frost - who joined Gardeners’ World in 2016 - previously revealed the family had downsized to that house because he was suffering “burnout” and depression.
