Adam Frost has revealed how illness in his family, burnout and the pressures behind Gardeners’ World left him feeling as though his “life was unravelling”
Adam Frost has opened up about one of the most challenging periods of his life, revealing how the pressures of family illness, Covid isolation and relentless work left him feeling as though his “life was unravelling”.
The long-standing presenter on Gardeners’ World spoke candidly about the toll the pandemic years took on him and his family. Writing in his book, For The Love of Plants, he said: “During lockdown, like so many, we as a family had our challenges. Mrs Frost was really poorly, and so too was our youngest daughter. Then, just as we got through that, I caught Covid and shut myself away for 10 days to quarantine,” he explained.
While isolating alone, Frost said his mental health began to deteriorate. “During my isolation I started to feel disconnected, as if my life was unravelling. I spent a lot of time looking out of the window at the vast garden I’d created, and the only thing that comforted me was music.”
For viewers of Gardeners’ World, Frost’s garden has long been a source of inspiration, admired across the seasons for its naturalistic planting and thoughtful design. But behind the scenes, his perspective was very different. “Lots of people watching Gardeners’ World each week seemed to love seeing my garden over the seasons, yet all I could see, trapped in my room, was a long list of jobs that had to get done.”
That admission — that instead of joy he could only see mounting tasks — marked a stark contrast to the calm, reassuring presence he projects on screen. Frost acknowledged he had been pushing himself too far. “In all honesty, I was working stupid hours to keep everything going and was starting to feel overwhelmed.”
After finally leaving isolation, he sought medical help. “When I eventually left the room I spoke to a doctor who diagnosed burnout and a sort of depression. So I found myself with a psychiatrist, exploring, explaining, and questioning what had been going on in my life.”
Those sessions prompted deep reflection, not just about the immediate crisis but about the path that had led him there. “I began to think long and hard about what was really important to me. During my sessions with the psychiatrist lots of stuff came out, particularly about my childhood, how I had loved gardening with my grandparents, how I left home at 16 to work in the Parks Department, then got a job with the late, great Geoff Hamilton, as well as the craziness of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, TV work, and how all of this led me to where I am now.”
Frost’s career has been rooted in a lifelong passion for horticulture. Leaving home at just 16 to work in a parks department, he later worked alongside the revered Geoff Hamilton, a formative experience that shaped his approach to gardening and broadcasting. He went on to design multiple award-winning show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and became a familiar face on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World, where his warmth and honesty have made him a favourite with audiences.
Through therapy, Frost realised that two passions had anchored him throughout his life. “It dawned on me that the two consistent elements in my life have been music and plants.”
Determined to regain balance, he made a significant lifestyle change. “It became obvious that to get back on track mentally, I needed to simplify my life, so we downsized to a cottage with a much smaller garden. It was like flipping a switch immediately; I started to connect with the space and create a new garden in what felt like different world, both personally and professionally, inspired by the music and plants that I love.”
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