DIY SOS star Nick Knowles has spoken about his wife Katie Dadzie's latest health setback after a string of surgeries, admitting it was "a learning curve" for both of them. The couple discovered that Katie's hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was not being absorbed into her skin because of her hot flushes, sweating and the sun.
Wife's health struggles since wedding
Katie Dadzie has suffered a period of excruciating health issues since the couple married last summer. The businesswoman battled through years of chronic pain before being diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Shortly after the couple walked down the aisle in June 2025, Katie underwent a hysterectomy, which triggered surgically-induced menopause for the lingerie entrepreneur. Katie has since suffered a series of health issues, and Nick has now reported that his wife recently faced a fresh health setback.
HRT absorption discovery
Speaking on the Walking The Dog podcast, the BBC presenter said: "She went from 36 to being plunged directly into full medical menopause, no perimenopause, no ease into it, some kind of ramp. She was just piled into it. She's been extraordinary."
"We discovered recently that her HRT that she's been using wasn't actually being absorbed into her skin because of her hot flushes and sweating and the sun. So she was only getting a tiny percentage of what she needed and actually that was a learning curve too. There's so many things to learn."
Nick's role as carer
Katie's health issues were so severe earlier this year that the DIY SOS star said he needed to "disappear" for a while to look after Katie, reports the Daily Express. The Daily Mail's Richard Eden reported that he said: "I've been looking after my wife a lot because she has been through it. She's had a lot of tough times. She's got another operation coming up."
During her recovery from her hysterectomy, her cervix ruptured, forcing her into another emergency surgery. She returned to hospital a few months ago for another corrective surgery. Katie said her cervix rupturing has left her with "crippling abdominal pains".
How the couple met
Katie previously admitted she "didn't like Nick" much when the pair initially met in 2019. The pair met at a children's playgroup because their kids were friends.
She told the Sun: "I actually didn't like him very much. We just knew each other as our kids were friends. I'm very shy and quiet, while Nick is quite extroverted and a complete chatterbox. He didn't give me a lot of opportunity to talk. I didn't know a lot about him."
"But when we were both single we went for coffee and he let me talk, eventually, and we had a lot in common. We both love cooking and have an interest in history. During lockdown we spent a lot of time chatting over the phone, which meant we could really get to know each other. The more we went out the more I realised what a nice guy he is as he's constantly bombarded by fans and always has time for a picture."
