Monty Don’s final Gardeners’ World episode set for Friday

Monty Don’s final Gardeners’ World episode will air Friday, November 6, at 8 p.m. on BBC Two, ending his 23-year run presenting the gardening programme. Don announced his departure in an official Gardeners’ World video, saying the upcoming programme would be his last. The date is consistent with the Friday broadcast described in the announcement, which was reported on Wednesday and Thursday. Don said he had presented the programme for 23 years and filmed from his garden at Longmeadow for 16 of them. He called his work on the show a privilege and invited viewers to watch the final episode. The programme’s accompanying caption said the instalment would be the last of the current series and would be broadcast at 8 p.m. Don said leaving the programme did not mean he was retiring. He plans to continue working with the BBC on other projects and to write books, while continuing to garden at Longmeadow. He has described the decision as the right time for a change. In remarks included in the farewell announcement, he said the work followed him home throughout the week and that he had decided it was time to stop. Kate Phillips, the BBC’s chief content officer, said she respected Don’s...