Monty Don says BBC would think twice before hiring a privileged replacement
Gardeners’ World star Monty Don has given his thoughts on who the BBC might replace him with when he gives up his presenting role on the popular gardening show.
The horticulturalist, who has hinted that he will give up his job on the show in a couple of years once he reaches 70, also admitted he believed the BBC would “think ten times” before hiring a white, middle class and middle-aged man like him.
Speaking to Jane Garvey and Fi Glover on Times Radio today, he reflected on the person who would one day fill his gardening shoes.
“I think the BBC would think ten times before hiring another Monty,” he said.
“I mean, what one would like is to feel that they hire the best person, whoever that was.
READ MORE: Monty Don shares plans to quit Gardeners’ World at 70
“And regardless, you know, in a truly just and fair society, we wouldn’t care what someone’s colour or race or creed or sex was.
“But the truth is that it’s much more delicate,” he continued.
“And I think that I’m absolutely persuaded that in order to include everybody, you have to open doors that either are or seem to be shut.
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“And if the door is perceived to be shut, then it is shut, even if actually you think it’s not,” the BBC star explained.
“You know, I mean, I come from a middle-class Oxbridge background. Every door is open to me and has been all my life.
“It’s an incredibly privileged class. But if you’d asked me at any stage of my life if I was privileged I would say, ‘Of course not. No, no. I’m just like anybody else. I know.’ And that’s just not true.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Monty admitted that Gardener’s World was “the logical thing to give up” as he approaches 70, as he still plans on continuing to write and to continue his travel shows.
He also confessed that, in spite of its many high points, the BBC show could also be “a remorseless treadmill.”
Listen to the full interview with Monty on Times Radio.
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