Gardeners’ World star Monty Don has revealed his beloved dog Nell has died of cancer – three years after losing Golden Retriever Nigel.
The famed horticulturist, 68, took to social media to share the tragic news, which came four months after his companion was diagnosed with the disease.
Don, who is known for his love of dogs and regularly inviting his furry friends to share screen time with him, shared the sad news with his one million Instagram followers on Saturday, and thanked them for their support in a follow-up post today.
He wrote on October 21: ‘I was going to tell you about my new book which is published next week but that can wait because my lovely dear Nell died last night.
‘She was diagnosed with cancer in June and every day this summer has been a gift but it is over now.’
BBC Gardener’s World presenter Monty Don with beloved Golden Retriever Nell as a puppy
Don with Nell as an adult; she began appearing on the programme in 2016 alongside Don’s other Golden Retriever, Nigel
Taking to Instagram to share the tragic news, Don shared photographs of Nell with his fans
Fans sent Don hundreds of messages of condolence and comfort after he broke the news on his Instagram account
He added: ‘We buried her in the garden next to Nigel wrapped in one of my jackets with flowers, balls and her favourite biscuits.
‘Her end was peaceful and dignified and ended obvious suffering but it never gets any easier to bear.
‘So life goes on, but for the moment we are very, very sad.’
Fans took to Instagram to send condolences and messages of comfort to the famously green-fingered presenter, who has been appearing on British screens for more than 30 years.
One fan said: ‘So very sorry to hear of your loss. They take a huge piece of our hearts with them.’
Gardeners’ World host Monty Don with beloved Golden Retriever Nell, who has died of cancer
Another wrote: ‘So very very sorry for your loss. It is never easy when we lose a member of our four legged family. Run free dear Nell.’
A third added: ‘Oh my goodness! It’s so heartbreaking! The price we pay for loving and being loved by our darling doggies. Sending love.’
A further fan paid tribute to her as a screen icon alongside Don; Nell had appeared on Gardener’s World since 2016.
They wrote: ‘Such very sad news. We have loved watching Nell over the years and shall miss her smiley face.’
In a subsequent post on Sunday morning, packed with photographs of the beloved pooch, Don wrote: ‘Thank you for all your kind messages about Nellie.
‘Today I shall plant primroses on her grave and take Ned for a long walk in the flood. She is gone but the love remains.’
Don said a bitter farewell to Golden Retriever Nigel in 2020 – and currently has two other dogs: Ned, another Golden Retriever, and Yorkshire Terrier Patti.
The presenter’s love of dogs is well-documented: in 2016, he released a book, My Family and Other Dogs, detailing how his companions came to share the screen with him on Gardener’s World.
In an extract from the book, published in the Mail on Sunday, Don said of Nigel: ‘Nigel has the rare gift of taking our love and making us feel enriched and enlarged by doing so.
‘It is not what he gives back to us so much as what he allows us to give to him. He empowers us to feel love. That’s Nigel’s very special gift.’