Product Code Database
Nicholas Simon Augustine Knowles (born 21 September 1962) is an English television presenter, writer and musician. He has hosted several television programmes including Real Rescues (2007–2013), Who Dares Wins (2007–2019), Break the Safe (2013–2014), 5-Star Family Reunion (2015–2016), and DIY SOS (1999–present).
Leaving school at 16, he had a number of entry-level jobs as a labourer, petrol station assistant and salesman. He played in bands from the age of 14 and was constantly writing music, poetry and comedy, until he submitted a script to a BBC2 programme that invited children to make a video.
He is principally known as the main host of DIY SOS, a home renovation series broadcast on BBC One since 1999, and has presented the BBC factual show Real Rescues since 2007. Knowles has also hosted several entertainment programmes for the BBC since signing an exclusive contract with them, including Who Dares Wins, Last Choir Standing, Guesstimation, Secret Fortune, and Perfection.
Knowles has also presented programmes with a wildlife theme. In 2007, he fronted Mission Africa, in which a team of volunteers constructed a game reserve in Kenya. During this project, Knowles fell from a Land Rover, dislocating his shoulder. He flew back to the UK to receive emergency treatment. In the same year, he reported on the plight of orphaned for an edition of Saving Planet Earth. In 2009, Knowles copresented the BBC reality TV series Wildest Dreams with James Honeyborne, in which novice candidates had to complete a set of challenging tasks filming wild animals in Africa. The winner joined the BBC Natural History Unit on a one-year placement. Press Office – Mission Impossible for Nick Knowles. BBC (15 September 2006). Retrieved on 13 August 2013.
From 2011 to 2015, Knowles was the presenter of the BBC game show Perfection, in which the candidates must achieve absolute perfection to win the jackpot, aired weekdays on BBC One. From 2013 to 2014, he presented the BBC National Lottery game show Break the Safe. In 2015, Knowles began presenting the new BBC One National Lottery game show 5-Star Family Reunion, which returned for a second series in 2016.
In May 2016, Knowles presented Invictus: The Road to the Games, a one-off programme for the BBC. Knowles earned between £300,000 and £349,999 as a BBC presenter for the financial year 2016–2017.
In 2018, he participated in the eighteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, finishing in sixth place, after being voted out on 6 December.
From April 2019, he presented the BBC show Home Is Where the Art Is, in which he challenges three artists to create beautiful artwork for people they've never met. The show ran for a second series in 2021.
In May 2021, it was reported that Knowles was holding talks with the BBC regarding his role as the main host of DIY SOS due to his appearance in a Shreddies TV advert which violated BBC's commercial agreements and guidelines. A week later, the BBC announced that they had resolved the issue and Knowles would return to his DIY SOS role with filming to resume in the coming months and is expected to be back on screens in 2022.
Between August and September 2021, Knowles presented the Channel 5 series Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout.
In September 2024, Knowles was a contestant on the twenty-second series of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Luba Mushtuk. Having injured his shoulder before the second show, he had to perform an American Smooth, to the song "Parklife" by Blur, after only 16hours of training. He did not perform in the third week due to injury and as a result, his Charleston to "Rain on the Roof" (from Paddington 2) was postponed to the following week. In the fourth week, he performed his Movie Week Charleston, but was eliminated in the dance off.
His brother has a record company and his three sisters all became dancers.
In 2018 he was reported to be living in Spain.
In June 2019, Knowles was issued with a six-month driving ban and fined £1,480 for speeding and using a mobile phone whilst driving. Speaking outside the court in Cheltenham, he said: "For me, this was a wake-up call, and putting my phone in the boot of my car now stops the temptation."
Knowles plays rugby and adheres to a dietary regimen that is Veganism "80 per cent of the time". In 2016, he became involved with a Shrewsbury-based vegan restaurant called O'Joy. The restaurant closed in November 2017.
Knowles has been a regular supporter of the children's anti-bullying charity Act Against Bullying. He sang "Addicted to Love" for Children in Need 2008.
Career
Television
Knowles began as a runner in television production, before moving into presenting. Knowles was a reporter for Television South in the South East, reporting on the nightly news programme Coast to Coast.
Film
Knowles was a co-writer on the 2016 film Golden Years, which stars Simon Callow, Virginia McKenna and Una Stubbs.
Music
He released his first and last music album, Every Kind Of People, on 3 November 2017. It entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 92.
Personal life
Knowles was married to his first wife Gillian Knowles from 1996 to 2000, and they share a son and daughter. He dated his second wife Jessica Rose Moor from 2009; they married in September 2012 Interiors – Nick Knowles . Fabulous Mag. Retrieved on 13 August 2013. but divorced in 2017. Knowles has four children in total. Nick Knowles website - Personal. Accessed 24 July 2016 In 2021 he was reportedly dating Katie Dadzie and the couple became engaged. The two married on 7 June 2025 at Braxted Park in Essex.
Interests and charity support
In November 2013, Knowles and his then wife Jessica opened an antiques shop and home design consultancy in Eton, Berkshire. Nick Knowles opens antiques shop in Eton . Slough Observer. 15 November 2011.
Filmography
Television
1994–2002 Ridge Riders Presenter 1997–1999 5's Company Co-presenter Daytime series 1999–2010 DIY SOS Presenter Primetime series 2002 Airline Himself Fly-on-the-wall documentary 2003–2004 Judgemental Presenter Game show 2003–2005 City Hospital Co-presenter Daytime series 2005 Hollyoaks Fraud Patroller 2007–2011, 2013 Real Rescues Co-presenter Daytime series 2007–2019 Who Dares Wins Presenter Game show 2008 Last Choir Standing Co-presenter 2009 Guesstimation Presenter National Lottery game show Wildest Dreams 2010–present Primetime BBC series 2011–2012 Secret Fortune National Lottery game show 2011–2015 Perfection Daytime game show 2013–2014 Break the Safe National Lottery game show 2014, 2016–present Close Calls: On Camera 2015–2016 5-Star Family Reunion Game show 2016 Invictus: The Road to the Games One-off special The Retreat 5-part series 2017 Mind Over Marathon 2018 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant 6th place 2021–present Nick Knowles' Big House Clearout Presenter Primetime series 2021 Nick Knowles' New Homes Home improvement series Nick Knowles Heritage Rescue Historical buildings restoration series 2022 Nick Knowles' Railway Journeys Travel documentary series 2023 Into the Grand Canyon with Nick Knowles Two-part travel documentary Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles Travel series Into Death Valley with Nick Knowles Two-part travel documentary Between the Covers Guest One episode 2024 The Mighty Mississippi with Nick Knowles Presenter Two-part travel documentary Nick Knowles in South America Three-part travel documentary Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Series 22 2025 Lost in the Desert with Nick Knowles Presenter Three-part travel documentary
Film
2016 Golden Years Co-writer, executive producer Comedy film
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
2017
! scope="row" "River" Every Kind of People
Music videos
2017
! scope="row" "River" rowspan="3"
External links
Categories: Www.nickknowles.com Official Website, 1962 Births, Living People, English Expatriates In Spain, English Game Show Hosts, English Television Presenters, Musicians From The London Borough Of Ealing, People Educated At The Skinners' School, People From Southall, Television Personalities From The London Borough Of Ealing
|
|
