TV presenter Nick Knowles has broken down in tears during a “physically and emotionally draining” house renovation on DIY SOS.
The 64-year-old has fronted the BBC reality renovation series which follows Knowles and his team as they repair and transform people’s homes across Britain.
Helping Dan return home
Tuesday’s episode follows the team to Preston as they help 16-year-old Dan, who has spent the last three years in hospital after life-saving surgery to remove a brain tumour left him with complex disabilities.
Despite being ready to leave hospital for 18 months, Dan has been unable to go home because it could not meet his needs.
The family have been living apart for years with Dan’s mother Julie by his side in the hospital while his dad, Nigel, was at home looking after their daughters, Charlotte and Emily.
Emotional moment
During the episode, Knowles appeared emotional and said: “I genuinely don’t know how to put into words how tough this has been, how amazing everyone has been, how much doubt I had along the way, how much guilt I felt, and how amazing it is that these amazing people have pulled it off.
“Physically and emotionally draining.”
He could be heard later saying to himself: “Pull yourself together.”
According to an episode overview, the project was one of DIY SOS’s “most ambitious builds in 27 years”.
Knowles on getting emotional
Knowles previously said he does not like to get emotional on screen as he wants the reveal to be about the families, however, will often have a little cry on his own after filming ends.
In an interview with Lorraine in 2021 he said: “When it comes to that moment, I get off-screen. I don’t think the end of the show, those moments, are about me.
“I tend to get out of the way so that the people who are volunteering and the people whose lives are being changed can have that moment together.
“I don’t think you need a TV presenter in there at that point – but yeah, I quite often have a little cry.”
Knowles has had a long career at the BBC and is known for the long-running renovation programme as well as gameshows Who Dares Wins, Break The Safe and 5-Star Family Reunion.
He also took part in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018, and hosted travel programmes including The Mighty Mississippi With Nick Knowles on Channel 5.
The broadcaster competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 alongside professional dancer Luba Mushtuk.
