Monty Don has suffered a stroke, forcing him to step down as presenter of Gardeners' World on BBC2.

The 52-year-old has been off the show for six weeks, with the corporation blaming his absence on 'exhaustion'.

But yesterday it admitted he had had a 'minor stroke' and is taking time off to make a full recovery.

Monty Don has been off BBC programme Gardener's World for the past six weeks after being struck by a minor stroke

While he is unlikely to return to Gardeners' World, Don will continue writing for the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine.

And his agent said that once he is better, he plans to resume his presenting career.

Don, who suffered the stroke during a break from filming, has recently told how he came close to death after an attack of peritonitis late last year.

He claimed then that his illness was caused by exhaustion and stress as he was filming his Around the World in 80 Gardens series.

He took over from Alan Titchmarsh as the main presenter of Gardeners' World in 2003, following stints as the resident horticulturist on ITV's This Morning.

His other programmes include the Channel 4 series Don Roaming and Real Gardens.

The BBC said it will now look for a new Gardeners' World presenter because Don cannot commit to regular filming while he recovers.

Yesterday the former jewellery firm boss, who lives with his wife and three children in Herefordshire, said in a statement: 'I am proud to have led Gardeners' World for the past five years and have enjoyed every minute of sharing my passion with the programme's viewers.

'I intend to take some gardening leave for the rest of the summer to make a full recovery and so that I am ready to tackle new projects.'

His agent Araminta Whitley said Gardeners' World is a 'very physical job' and a 'very big commitment and he needs time to recover. But he is 'out and about' again after the stroke.

She added: 'He is in great form, surrounded by friends and family, and we are confident that with the break and time to rest he will make a full recovery.'

After fighting back from peritonitis last year, Don continued filming for the ten-part Around the World in 80 Gardens series.

Over 18 months, he travelled as far afield as the Arctic, Namibia, Australia and Norway with his television crew.

He is said to have flown on 12 separate trips, 68 days of which he estimates were spent either in the air or at airports.

He has said: 'Whilst we were away, we worked our socks off, rarely having a day off and constantly travelling as well doing ten to 18 hours each day filming.'

'The combination of exhaustion and varying foods meant that I was ill at some stage on most of the trips.'

Yesterday the BBC said: 'Monty will be sorely missed by viewers and the production team. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to work with him again some time in the future.'

A stroke is the third most common cause of death in Britain and is also a leading cause of severe adult disability. Most victims are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children.