Nick Knowles Leads Emotional DIY SOS Build in Preston

Nick Knowles became emotional during the latest DIY SOS project in Preston, where he and the team transformed a family home for 16-year-old Dan, who has complex disabilities after brain tumour surgery and had spent three years in hospital.

According to the episode details, Dan had been ready to leave hospital for 18 months, but his home could not meet his needs. The build aimed to reunite his family and allow him to return home.

Knowles, who has presented DIY SOS for more than two decades, described the scale of the project as difficult while filming the transformation.

"I am a total mess" said Nick Knowles, presenter.

The presenter was shown struggling with the emotions of the project and briefly stepped away from the cameras during the build's final stages.

"We still have hours of hard graft ahead of us, but against all the odds, the end is in sight. 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 called it of physically and emotionally draining." said Nick Knowles, presenter.

After becoming overwhelmed by the work completed by volunteers and builders, Knowles was heard telling himself to regain composure.

"Pull yourself together" said Nick Knowles, presenter.

Knowles has previously explained that he avoids taking focus from the families featured in the program during emotional reveals. He said the important moments belong to those whose lives are being changed.

"I have been in this game long enough to know in that moment I get off screen. The end of the show and those moments are not about me, they are about the 300 people volunteering and the companies who give materials." said Nick Knowles, presenter.

He said he prefers to allow volunteers and families to receive attention during the most emotional parts of the program.

"When it gets emotional I tend to get out the way so we see the people’s lives who are being changed and the volunteers. A lot of presenters would sort of horn in on it but I tend to get out the way." said Nick Knowles, presenter.

Knowles also recalled how he processes the emotional impact of the builds after filming ends, away from the broadcast moments.

"We finish the programme and get like 50 miles down the motorway and turn into a service station and have a cry, because they are emotional programmes." said Nick Knowles, presenter.

The Preston project is part of the 35th series of DIY SOS, which continues the show's long-running focus on community volunteers helping families with major home transformations.