Monty Don has apologised to a RHS Chelsea Flower Show winner when he and co-host Rachel De Thame planned a surprise to present the award. On Tuesday's BBC Two programme, the presenters were excited to reveal the winner for the RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year.

The 70-year-old was attempting to 'engage in subterfuge' for a complete surprise to winner Sarah Eberle, who designed her garden for the Campaign to Protect Rural England. He said: "My job was to distract the winner and make them feel they were having a normal interview with me about getting a gold medal, and why not?" Meanwhile Rachel went backstage with RHS director-general Clare Matterson to prepare the prize.

RHS Chelsea veteran Sarah Eberle was asked how she felt about winning a gold medal, she replied: "The more gold medals you get, the harder it gets. I’m getting older, am I still able to do it? Also I have a level of expectation on myself."

While she continued the interview, Rachel and Clare emerged from behind and presented the Garden of the Year prize to Sarah. It appeared Monty and Rachel's plan worked, the landscape gardener was shocked and said: "Thank you! Thank you so much! Oh my goodness me, wow! This is thanks to a brilliant team behind me, so thank you to them."

Sarah laughed and said: "Well it seems it's worth it. You completely fooled 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."