GARDENERS' World presenter Adam Frost has candidly opened up on his mental health as he addressed his wife's lengthy hospital stay.
The BBC anchor, 53, told how gardening had lost its appeal and felt like a chore when he was "not very well" during the coronavirus pandemic.
Host Lorraine Kelly, 63, addressed how many Brits developed green fingers during the government-enforced lockdowns and enjoyed spending time in their back yards.
Yet Adam – who has shunned the "snobby" image of enjoying the great outdoors on Gardeners' World – admitted his experience was different.
The BBC Two favourite told ITV's Lorraine show how he was diagnosed with "burn out and depression" after he isolated in a room in his home.
Talking of his "tough" time in the pandemic, he said: "Mine was borne from Mrs Frost [his wife Sulina] ending up in hospital.
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"Bless her she was in there for 11-12 weeks and I could go in there for an hour a day.
"And then going home and telling four kids everything was fine."
Sulina had been admitted to hospital with sepsis.
He added: "During that time child number three, she ended up with an eating disorder partly out of that.
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"But we slowly got through that.
"Then 10 days later I got locked in a room with Covid and sat in front of a head doctor telling me you've got burn out and depression.
"And I'm going 'really? I only went in the room with Covid.'"
Lorraine showed empathy and said: "I know, it had that affect on everyone Adam."
Talking of how coronavirus, which he contracted in 2021, impacted his love of the outdoors, he continued: "At that time I was disconnected with everything – so the garden just looked like a list of jobs.
"So I was doing 50-year-old bloke, 'I'm alright Jack, I haven't got a problem.'"
He added: "It was really weird because the garden at the time wasn't doing what it should do for me."
Adam told how the family had moved and "simplified life" as they got back on track and Sulina recovered.
He also told how he had been opening up and "talking more."
He said: "Then I was back in my safe place, and that connection."
Last month, Adam was flooded with messages of support as he admitted being "overwhelmed" in a rare post.
He regularly appears on the BBC gardening show and also shares tips with fans via his social media.
In one of his latest posts, he wrote: "Getting the best out of your garden can feel a little overwhelming at times, we can even find ourselves wondering if our neighbour's garden looks better than our own."
Adam's followers were quick to agree and share their support, with one writing: "It's very overwhelming to keep [my garden] in a neat state, even though front and back are only small areas!"
Another added: "Wholeheartedly agree! Love my garden but sometimes it overwhelms me!"
Adam then told his followers he had learned a lot about mental well-being in recent years.
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Adam joined Gardeners' World in 2016 alongside Monty Don after coming to prominence thanks to his success at the Chelsea Flower Show.
He also runs his own garden design company, Adam Frost Design, which is based in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
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