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Monty Don extended an apology to a winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show after orchestrating a surprise award presentation alongside co-host Rachel De Thame. During the broadcast on BBC Two this Tuesday, the duo eagerly anticipated revealing the recipient of the RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year accolade.
At 70, Monty was engaged in a playful ruse to catch the winner, Sarah Eberle, off guard. Eberle, known for her garden designed for the Campaign to Protect Rural England, was led to believe she was participating in a routine interview about receiving a gold medal. Monty explained, “I was tasked with keeping the winner occupied, making them believe it was a standard interview about their gold medal achievement.” Meanwhile, Rachel collaborated with RHS director-general Clare Matterson backstage to prepare the special award presentation.
Sarah Eberle, a seasoned RHS Chelsea participant, expressed her thoughts on winning a gold medal, stating, “The more golds you acquire, the greater the challenge becomes. As I age, I question my capabilities and feel the pressure of expectations.”
As the interview proceeded, Rachel and Clare surprised Sarah by emerging with the Garden of the Year award. Their strategy proved successful as the landscape gardener was visibly taken aback, exclaiming, “Thank you! Thank you so much! Oh my goodness, wow! This is all thanks to an amazing team behind me, so thank you to them.”
With a laugh, Sarah remarked, “Well, it seems it was worth it. You absolutely surprised me.”
Monty then asked if Sarah’s winning is ‘tricks of the trade’ or a master of ‘I know how to do it’. The winner said: “It’s a bit of a mixture of all of that. I’m experienced at it, I know about working with people. Working as a team is the key to success, bringing them on board, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and it’s knowing how to work with them and people who are especially as I am.”
Looking at that moment, Monty admitted that he was feeling nervous. “They could have turned around at the wrong moment, but Rachel you pulled it off very well.”