MONTY is descended from Dundee’s Keiller marmalade dynasty.
He and his wife became bankrupt after their jewellery business folded, prompting his full-time move into journalism. He has presented BBC 2’s Gardeners World for 10 years, with a gap of three years due to illness.
His book, Nigel: My Family And Other Dogs, tells the story of his much-loved golden retriever and the other dogs in his life and is published by Two Roads.
Are you jealous of the attention Nigel gets?
Jealous? It’s much more than that. I’m deeply, deeply bitter that my whole career has ended up with me playing second fiddle to a mutt! How dare he? Of course I’m kidding. I love him.
Why is he such a natural performer?
His heritage is from Guide Dogs For The Blind, so he is passive obedient. Golden retrievers are calm, and Nigel can repeat things endlessly which is useful when we’re filming.
You’ve had a stroke and depression. Do dogs help?
Yes, undoubtedly. Their companionship and friendship is invaluable, and in terms of mental health they’re a focus. You have to care for them which stops you obsessing about yourself.
How do you handle being out in public?
It’s tough. I know TV reaches a lot of people, and that’s great, but I have no privacy at all when I’m out in public. I can’t go anywhere without being recognised, and that’s an intrusion.
How long does it take to film Gardeners’ World?
Each programme takes one full, tough day. To make it look as if the cameras just turn up and nosey around means 12 hours of filming. We have to repeat everything four or five times.
Do you have a team to help?
I have a couple of guys who work in the garden. Wherever I am I text or call them to discuss what’s to be done, then I see them before recording. So a lot of gardening goes on by remote control.
Do you ever get fed up with it?
No. I do so many other things for the BBC, like filming the third series of Big Dreams. I’d like more time in my garden, not less.
How did you learn?
I’m self-taught. I haven’t actually gardened for a living since I was in my early 20s so I guess I am just an amateur gardener. But really I think of myself as a journalist and broadcaster.
What else could you have been?
When I was younger I wanted to be a rock star. Honestly. I can play the guitar a bit, but I can’t sing.
You have 24 hours left to live. How do you spend it?
In my garden with my wife, family and dogs. We would have lunch outside and in the evening watch the sun set slowly through the trees. And then darkness would gently fall.
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