Monty Don's Heartbreaking Confession: Twin Sister's Accident Leaves Lasting Scars
In a deeply emotional interview ahead of hosting Have I Got News for You, Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has revealed the devastating impact of a car accident that nearly claimed the life of his twin sister, Alison, over five decades ago. The 70-year-old horticulturist spoke candidly about the trauma, his lingering guilt over their strained relationship, and the family crisis that unfolded in the aftermath.
A Bond Forged in Childhood
Monty described an inseparable childhood with Alison, sharing every moment from their early years. "We grew up together completely for the first six years, barely ever apart," he told podcast host Gyles Brandreth. "We were always in the same class at primary school, we slept in the same room, we shared the same bath, we did everything together." Although they drifted slightly as Monty attended boarding school and pursued different interests, he emphasised that their fundamental connection remains unbreakable.
The Telegram That Changed Everything
While on a gap year in southern France during the mid-1970s, Monty received a telegram that instantly filled him with dread. "It just said, 'Ring home, Alison, accident'," he recalled. Knowing that such telegrams were reserved for dire emergencies in that era, and feeling an intuitive link with his sister, he immediately sensed the severity. "I knew that she hadn't just fallen off a horse," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Alison's Horrific Injuries and Recovery
Rushing to Stoke Mandeville hospital, Monty found Alison "terribly injured" from the crash. She had been blinded, rendered tetraplegic, and suffered lung damage from a burst bag of cement. "She was given the last rites," Monty revealed. He spent days at her bedside, lying underneath to talk to her, sharing jokes and stories about dogs and gardens, only to step outside and weep privately. Despite the grim prognosis, Alison made a remarkable recovery, eventually marrying, having children, and undergoing around 50 operations, though she never regained full use of one arm and one eye.
Family Turmoil and Emotional Strain
The crisis deepened when Monty's mother suffered a heart attack shortly after Alison's accident, landing her in hospital as well. Suddenly, Monty found himself holding the family together, cooking for his father who expressed his distress through anger. "Because that was the only way he could express emotion, and he couldn't cook, and he wouldn't eat anything my mother hadn't cooked," Monty explained, highlighting the compounded emotional burden.
Lingering Guilt and Distance
Now in his seventies, Monty admits with sadness that he and Alison are no longer as close as they once were. "I adore my sister. I love her as much as it's possible to love another human being who isn't your partner in life. But we don't share it very much," he confessed. He fears that Alison may feel hurt by this distance, adding, "There is no day to day sharing of life. And I feel sad about that. I feel sorry about that." This revelation underscores the lasting psychological impact of the tragedy, intertwining love, loss, and unresolved guilt.
Monty Don hosts Have I Got News for You tonight at 9pm on BBC One, bringing his personal resilience to the public stage amid these heartfelt disclosures.
