The BBC has rested DIY SOS, but a Liverpool plasterer who worked on the show insists the campaign to save it is far from over. Over 43,000 people have signed an online petition urging the broadcaster to keep the series on air, following the announcement that it will be rested in 2027 as part of budget cuts.
The long-running series, described as "more than a TV show," has helped transform the lives of thousands of families over more than two decades. Presented by Nick Knowles, the show brought together a core team of volunteers to undertake large construction projects for households across the UK, with every episode centred on a family in need of extra support.
In 2010, the show relaunched as DIY SOS: The Big Build, shifting to larger-scale charitable and community-driven projects. The BBC's decision to rest the series comes as part of its aim to save £500m over three years, and it has already cancelled several well-known shows including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live At The Apollo.
Petition launched by plasterer David Claydon
A petition was launched on October 18, 2026 by self-employed plasterer David Claydon, who has worked on DIY SOS. The campaign has already reached over 43,000 signatures. The description reads: "This wasn't just another reality TV series; it was a beacon of hope for those struggling in difficult circumstances."
Sam Jones, a 38-year-old plasterer originally from Walton who now lives in North Wales, worked on the 2025 Children In Need special episode at The Joshua Tree cancer charity in Cheshire, as well as a project in Llanberis in North Wales. He is backing the campaign and described himself as a driving member of the online effort to keep the show going.
In an interview with the Liverpool ECHO, Sam said: "I was shocked, heartbroken and disgusted. 27 years it's been on the BBC and it doesn't make sense to me why anybody would stop a programme like this."
'An institution and community'
Sam explained that the show is much more than a TV programme, calling it an "institution and community." He said: "Most tradesmen now really would like to help people where we can and it's just an avenue to be able to help out and join a community who are like-minded in that way. It's all voluntary, nobody gets paid, even all the materials are donated."
The most important part of the show, he said, is the families at the heart of each episode. "We get to meet the families at the end and that's the joy. That's your payment, just seeing what you've done for them. We don't get rid of the diagnosis, but when we leave they're left with somewhere they can call home and a bit of hope. When you get to see the families who you've done it for and their faces light up, that's really what it's about," Sam told the ECHO.
Sam also spoke about the community built among builders, plasterers and volunteers. He said: "It's hard to explain, it's literally the best thing you could ever be a part of. It's not just what we do for the families, it's the community side of everybody else. What it does for your mental health as a man, it's great to just be around like-minded people."
Final episode airs on BBC iPlayer
Reflecting on the Llanberis project, Sam said: "The weather on the Llanberis project was absolutely horrific, we worked through two storms. It got called 'The Impossible' and we made it possible. We've all got the same opinion and I'd class them as family and friends now. We're all in WhatsApp groups and everybody messages checking in on each other."
He added: "It's not just a show it's an institution to help people. I can't praise it enough. We don't want it to end, there's so many more families that need the help. It would mean everything to keep it going. Seeing something like this restores a bit of faith in humanity. That's what it did for me, meeting all those people who just wanted to help it's amazing. A plasterer called Peter said to me 'Us plasterers don't stop when we're tired, we stop when we're done, and we're not done yet.'"
The campaigners hope the petition will convince the BBC to reverse its decision. When approached for comment, a BBC spokesperson said: "In light of the BBC's savings challenges we have taken the decision to rest DIY SOS in 2027 and commission a new spin off show instead from producers South Shore. DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life (w/t) will revisit successes from the show's past and expand the brand on the BBC in a more cost-effective way next year."
The final episode of DIY SOS aired on Tuesday, October 27 and is available on BBC iPlayer.
