Gardeners’ World favourite, Carol Klein, has expressed her gratitude after facing a harrowing health ordeal earlier this year.
At 79, Carol bravely disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis and the subsequent double mastectomy she endured. Her recovery period necessitated some recovery time at her Devonshire abode.
Remarkably, shortly after the operation, Carol graced our TV screens once again for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Taking to Instagram, she shared that this time was not only spent recuperating but also completing her book and planting new life with seeds.
In a heartfelt exchange with MyWeekly magazine, Carol credited her swift recovery to the encouragement she received from her loved ones, affirming her fortunate experience with the words, “I was lucky and had a positive outcome.”
Carol extended her deepest thanks to the medical team who supported her through her breast cancer journey, expressing extreme gratitude for their professional conduct. She specifically mentioned, “Well I just want to thank Dr. Anna Conway and all the staff of the breast care clinic at North Devon District Hospital for their care and kindness and also their incredible efficiency. They’ve been brilliant, a real tribute to the NHS.”
The horticultural star, whose career took off in earnest with Channel 4’s Garden Party back in 1996 and subsequently secured a regular spot on Gardeners’ World in 2005, is known for filming from her very own Glebe Cottage. While reflecting on her luminous path, Carol humbly acknowledges that her rise was serendipitous, stating “everything has always just happened”.
TV broadcaster Carol Klein, known for her distinctive style, believes it is precisely this quality that endears her to viewers. In an intimate chat with MyWeekly, she shared a heartwarming anecdote: “One year at Chelsea, a northern lady came up to me and said ‘ee Carol, we love you on t’telly, we’ve got no time for those pretty ones’.”
Carol has chronicled her diverse experiences in a new book entitled ‘Hortobiography’, recounting her time as a teacher, shop assistant, bus conductor, and Rome-based illustrator, among other roles.
Her unconventional journey even includes an episode of sharing a bath with John Lennon and a confrontation with a National Front member.
Catch Gardeners’ World on BBC Two at 8pm this Friday.