Matthew Biggs, the celebrated horticulturalist and longtime panelist on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, died on Thursday morning, May 21, 2026, at the age of 65.
He had been living with bowel cancer for six years.
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Biggs recorded his final appearance on the show last week at The Serge Hill Project during Mental Health Awareness Week, where he was receiving palliative care.
A Life Dedicated to Horticulture
Born with cerebral palsy, Biggs built a career spanning five decades as an author of more than 20 books, a lecturer, an RHS show judge, and a television presenter on Channel 4 and ITV.
He was heavily involved in promoting the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
He led a project to design and plant a new outdoor space for patients at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Hertfordshire, which will be named The Matthew Biggs Sanctuary Garden.
Shortly before his death, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded him the Victoria Medal of Honour, a distinction usually limited to 63 living recipients, by granting a special 64th medal at RHS Garden Wisley.
Tributes from Colleagues and Industry
GQT producer Dan Cocker highlighted the widespread affection from listeners following the broadcast of Biggs' final moving contribution about his life in gardening.
Mohit Bakaya, Controller of Radio 4, expressed deep gratitude for Biggs' dedication.
"He has been an extraordinary contributor and a true ambassador for Radio 4 in the horticultural world," Bakaya said.
Biggs aimed to use his final broadcast to provide support and inspiration, offering "both guidance to others facing illness and encouragement to listeners of all ages."
Cocker recalled how much the audience appreciated Biggs' expertise and friendly demeanor since he joined the show in 1994.
"Listeners loved to hear Matt’s passionate advice and knowledge," Cocker said.
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"His enthusiasm leapt out of the speakers, and when you listened to Matt describe the colour of a rose, or the petal structure of a Paulownia, you couldn’t help but fall in love with him," Cocker added.
Industry charity Perennial expressed deep sorrow, calling Biggs "a fantastic person, a much-loved horticulturist and a great friend of Perennial."
Horticultural professional Lewis Normand of Bernhard’s Nurseries described Biggs as a "legend in horticulture," noting that "few people will ever be spoken of with such love and warmth as Matt is."
Landscape architect Adam White praised Biggs as "one of horticulture’s most generous and enduring voices," who "gave so much to horticulture and to so many people."
Garden designer Matthew Wilson, who worked alongside Biggs for 17 years on the BBC program, said Biggs "was always the most upbeat, enthusiastic, cheerful, energetic person in the room.
A superb plantsman, tremendous gardener but above all wonderful human being."
Wilson noted that Biggs faced illness with positivity, putting other people first right up to the end. His final GQT recording was testament to that.
The Royal Horticultural Society acknowledged Biggs' legacy, stating: "Across five decades, Matthew helped define public understanding of horticulture in the UK, bridging the worlds of professional practice, gardening history and everyday experience with rare generosity and warmth."
Earlier this year, Biggs spoke about his hospital garden project with characteristic humility, saying he wanted to "make a silver lining."
Upon receiving the Victoria Medal of Honour, he said: "I’m totally overwhelmed. In my mind, I’ve just been having fun and learning new things alongside great people."
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Biggs is survived by his wife Gill and his two daughters Chloe and Jessica.
