The news that celebrity gardener Monty Don is stepping down as the main presenter of BBC2's Gardeners' World after having a minor stroke has shocked his fans.
The 52-year-old, who was most recently seen on BBC2's Around the World in 80 Gardens, says he will take his own version of gardening leave over the summer to recover.
Alongside Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Diarmuid Gavin, Monty has become one of the country's most loved gardeners after his five years presenting Gardeners' World, following in the footsteps of Percy Thrower, Geoff Hamilton and Titchmarsh.
His departure will leave a big hole at the top of the show.
A self-taught horticulturalist, Monty also wrote a long-running column for the Observer, often straying beyond gardening to discuss personal issues such as his own experiences with depression and seasonal affective disorder.
He began his television career as the resident gardener on This Morning before going to present a string of Channel 4 series including Don Roaming and Lost Gardens.
He had no formal training as a gardener, but said his authority came from a "lifetime of gardening and a passion amounting to an obsession for my own garden".
The BBC has now launched a search for a new presenter of Gardeners' World.
Amongst the frontrunners must be his current fellow hosts - Carol Klein, described by the BBC as an "experienced and enthusiastic plantswoman", who has been on the show since 2005 while Joe Swift has been a regular since Titchmarsh's time at the helm and currently blogs on the show's website.
What's your favourite Monty moment? And who would you like to replace him?
