Monty Don's parents 'didn't talk to him for 6 months' over huge life decision

Monty Don has revealed that his parents once stopped talking to him for six months due to an "irresponsible" life decision.

In an episode of the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast from May, the gardening icon was discussing how people in his age group and particularly himself need to help others "get the same rewards" that he enjoyed.

Monty recounted a time when he made an enormous decision at the tender age of 26 simply because a relative knew someone from the golf course, unfortunately leading to tension with his parents.

He said: "You're not going to be able to do it like I did it. You can't go and buy a house. I got a mortgage at the age of 26 because my brother-in-law played golf with a bank manager of the mortgage company."

He went on to say: "It was crazy. The mortgage, I can tell you, was for £15,000, and my parents didn't speak to me for six months because they thought it was so irresponsible. Different times. Different times."

It appears that impulsive decision-making wasn't the only feature of Monty's younger years, with his youth less about perennials and more about "sex, drugs, and rock and roll", reports the Mirror.

The Gardeners' World star, 69, who replaced Alan Titchmarsh on the show in 2003, was reportedly even expelled "from a few schools". However, it wouldn't be long until Monty discovered his passion for gardening.

He reportedly found his calling after he experienced an "ecstatic moment" while sowing carrots and would later begin his career in television with a gardening segment on ITV's This Morning.

In 2003, the German-born horticulturist joined Gardeners' World, with Alan Titchmarsh himself recommending him for the job. He later fronted his own BBC and Channel 4 shows.

Monty told Abode2 Magazine that he is now ready to "embrace a quieter, slower pace of life" watching garden life "flow by" as he approaches 70.

The green-fingered presenter explained that he doesn't "tend to work quite so hard these days" but he has enjoyed "every second" of his long career.

Monty recently told Times Radio the "logical thing" would be to end his stint on Gardeners' World, which he described as a "remorseless treadmill" despite its "virtues".

However, fans needn't worry just yet as it was also reported this month that Monty is currently scheduled for at least three more years, which includes this year.