HEARTBREAKING NEWS: Nick Knowles left emotional after tearful DIY SOS build
DIY SOS returned with a new series (Image: BBC)
Nick Knowles has admitted the new episode of DIY SOS “broke” his wife. The BBC star returned to the show for a 35th season, with the first new episode taking place in Glasgow. Nick and his team worked their magic to help single dad Raymond, who was raising his two children, Kai and Nell, after the devastating death of his wife.
Raymond wanted to make their home more accessible for daughter Nell, who used a wheelchair, after being diagnosed with arthrogryposis when she was born, and being told that she wouldn’t be able to walk. “The way things have panned out since Nell was born, they’ve pulled us together even stronger. Kai’s an amazing big brother for Nell, he’s always looking out for her. We’ve always been a tight family,” he said, reports
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Nick helped widower Raymond, whose wife devastatingly died leaving him to raise their two children (Image: BBC)
The family had planned to transform their home after moving in, making it more adaptable for Nell, however, tragically, Raymond’s wife Gill died just months later. She had become seriously ill, and needed an emergency liver transplant, but contracted sepsis. Breaking down in tears, Raymond recalled: “They told us her whole immune system has gone, she only lasted about two days. It was terrible.”
The emotional episode saw Nick create the home that had been designed by Gill, making the downstairs area adaptable for Nell, and transforming Raymond and Kai’s bedrooms upstairs.
Stepping inside, Raymond laughed: “Where are we? This isn’t our house!” He broke down in tears as he saw memories of his wife throughout the home. “She would absolutely love it,” he said. He added: “I’m absolutely blown away, it’s beautiful.”
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Raymond also grew emotional as he thanked the volunteers who had made the renovation possible. “The difference is going to make for Nell, it’s life-changing,” he said.
Talking about Gill, he wiped tears from his eyes, saying: “It’s Gill to a T. The whole thing, she’s always with us. She always will be.”
Nick added: “This was the home she envisaged for her family, and you built it. You’ve got me going now, you’ve started me off!”
After the episode aired, Nick took to Instagram to share that he was watching the episode with wife Katie. He showed Katie wiping away her tears, as he added: “We’re watching DIY SOS and it broke my wife, it gets us too. Even though I’ve seen it, put the voiceover on it, worked on it, it gets us too.”
One viewer replied: “Well done to everyone involved , bawling my eyes out. Still can’t believe she’s not here, what great gift to give them.” Another follower said: “Nick , I just have to say that you and the team really are an incredible set of people. You, Gaby and the lads bring a brilliant personal touch to the show, and I very much admire your understanding and empathy. The team behind the scenes need to be on camera too , so we can applaud who they are , and the volunteers on every project need to understand how incredible they are too. It makes you believe that amazing humans still live among us, despite all the negativity around! Please share my, and other comments, with the wider team … Because you all need the recognition you deserve. (P.s. I’m also in floods of tears mate lol).”
Someone else wrote: “Wow just wow what a transformation and a life time experience very proud to be a part of it I had the lump in my throat and the tissues at the ready.” Another added: “Well done Nick. Once again I am crying buckets. Just the most incredible episode as always.. makes the world a brighter place.”
