DIY SOS’ Nick Knowles REPLACED by comedian Rhod Gilbert in charity special shake-up

DIY SOS’ Nick Knowles will be REPLACED by comedian Rhod Gilbert in a charity special shake-up.

DIY SOS: The Big Build will head to Hull for this year’s Children in Need but the show’s presenter Nick, 58, will not be joining them.

Instead, comedian and presenter Rhod, 52, will join the programme’s team of Mark, Chris, Jules and Billy, alongside playground engineer, John O’Driscoll and local tradesmen and volunteers to embark on a build that will improve the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people in Hull and the surrounding areas.

On joining the programme for the BBC Children in Need Special, Rhod said: “It’s a great honour to step in to Nick’s enormous steel toe-capped boots and be involved in Children in Need. 

“I’m looking forward to joining the infamous DIY SOS team, and rallying an enormous group of local volunteers on a wonderfully ambitious and important project. 

“After having tried my hand at over 30 jobs on my ‘Work Experience’ TV programme, I’m hoping I may even be of some use around the site.  My vis is high and my hat is hard, so bring it on.”

Paolo Proto, Executive Producer on DIY SOS added: “We are delighted to have Rhod join the team for this incredibly special build in Hull for St Michael’s Youth Project.

“We can’t wait to see him get his hands dirty, and we’ll need his humour and empathy as we transform an empty field into an adventure camping site that will benefit children and young people across Hull, for the Big Build BBC Children in Need Special.”

The DIY SOS team, with the help of trade volunteers, have big plans to transform an empty two and a half acre field into a purpose built ‘adventure camping site’ for St Michael’s Youth Project in Hull.

For over 30 years, St Michael’s (St Mike’s) have been working with children and young people in Hull and surrounding areas to deliver a variety of activities that improve children and young people’s emotional and physical health and wellbeing whilst supporting them to build their confidence and self-esteem and raising their  aspirations for the future, encouraging them to reach their potential.

The team will create features including an adventure playground, a pizza oven, landscaped campfire, a field kitchen to teach cooking and to cook and exterior covered classroom.

DIY SOS charitable builds are hugely ambitious and rely on the generosity of trade volunteers and company donations and so is appealing for landscapers, gardeners and tradespeople to offer support with the transformation in September.

Those interested in volunteering as a professional trade or donating product to this ambitious charitable build should email: [email protected].

DIY SOS: The Big Build will air in November on BBC One.