I didn’t like Nick much at first but I never notice our 28-year age gap, says DIY SOS star’s girlfriend Katie Dadzie

THERE might be 28 years between them but TV handyman Nick Knowles’s girlfriend Katie Dadzie says she never notices as he’s like a “teenage boy”.

In her first newspaper interview, the 33-year-old reveals the secret to their successful relationship is separate homes — and her independence.

Businesswoman Katie, who has been dating the DIY SOS favourite, 60, for two years, told The Celeb Report on Sunday: “Nick has a Peter Pan complex, he doesn’t act the age he is at all. He is like a teenage boy and has so much energy. I also act a bit older, so it works out.

“We’re really happy and support each other with kids and our work lives. He’s a really lovely person. We have separate homes, which I think works for our relationship.

“We try to see each other as much as possible but allow time apart for work and kids. I’ll travel to visit him on location when he is filming away with work. It suits us.”

Katie, who has daughters Savannah, eight, and Alex, five, from a previous relationship, met Nick through her children befriending his youngest son Eddie, eight, at a play centre three years ago.

Katie runs her business Boobbix, which sells lactation products for mums, from her home in Windsor, Berks, while Nick, who has grown-up children Tyrian, 30, Tuesday, 28, and Charlie, 27, from his first wife Gillian, lives in the Cotswolds.

Katie added: “Nick tucked into the Boobbix lactation cookies recently in my kitchen and was half a packet down before he realised what he was eating. He said, ‘Oh my God. Am I going to start lactating?’ Fortunately, they don’t work on men.”

Attacked by online trolls

It wasn’t an instant attraction for the lovebirds as it took Katie a while to warm up to Nick’s bravado and enthusiasm.

She admitted: “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.”

The couple sparked engagement rumours on Valentines’ Day after Katie posted a picture of a sparkly ring to her Instagram account, but she has clarified that it was a commitment ring.

She said: “Nick surprised me with an aquamarine diamond ring for my birthday in February, which was a joint Valentine’s Day and birthday present, followed by an eternity band. I was blown away.

“I don’t know about the future and marriage, but we are really happy. We complement each other really well. And his thoughtful gifts show his commitment to me.”

Asked if more children were on the horizon she added: “We aren’t planning any more together.

“I’m focused on running  my businesses now too and love the ages my kids are. Nick likes to spend time with his youngest son, so it’s hard enough to juggle work and childcare without adding to it. We’re both happy with our broods.

“Nick doesn’t like my cat though, who always goes and sits on him. I can’t believe he puts up with it.”

After they went public, Katie was attacked by online trolls, accused of being a gold digger.

Nick jumped to her defence, going on Twitter to tell fans his girlfriend was “wealthier and more successful” than him.

He said at the time: “I get upset when they come for people that I care about. Normally I never comment back to the trolls, but on one occasion, when people were a little bit judgmental, I was angry on Katie’s behalf.”

Katie revealed: “People assumed that I was after fame because I was dating Nick, but I’m actually really reserved and hate having my picture taken.

“At one point I had a lot of horrible comments directed my way and Nick stood up for me on social media because I was so upset.

“I’ve learned to laugh at unflattering pictures of myself getting into a taxi, tipsy with Nick after we’ve been out for dinner or at an event, and I want to support him when he’s working.”

Despite being a natural homebody, Katie has taken the limelight in her stride, joining Nick at events including the Chelsea Flower Show, movie premieres and the Cheltenham Festival, where she met actor Idris Elba.

She said: “Idris was really lovely. We were all in a box watching the horse racing, he was super down-to-earth and friendly. He knows Nick. It was a fun day.”

Katie has also been introduced to Mike Tindall, married to royal Zara Phillips, who is a patron of the Rugby for Heroes charity alongside Nick.

She added: “Nick and Mike have a budding bromance, but I’m not threatened by it.”

The couple are now going into business together with Katie’s lingerie company Boa Boa, which specialises in comfy, sexy underwear and empowering women, along with sex toys.

She said: “The brand is all about encouraging women to feel confident and normal. I wanted my sex-toy range to be different to how it was 15 years ago, less smut and more about improving your wellbeing and mental health.

“Studies have shown there are many advantages for your mental health and physical health to having regular orgasms, including a decreased risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

“Plus our body releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone, which calms and creates feelings of connection and trust.

“Nick was uncomfortable with the idea at first.

‘Horrible stripping off’

“But after a bit of explaining he realised I wasn’t going to sell them in the tacky way that sex toys used to be flogged, like a trip to the red light district in Amsterdam, but coming from a place of positivity.”

The campaign images see Katie strip off to model the new lingerie range, encouraged by Nick.

She said: “Normally I wouldn’t dream of modelling but it was Nick’s idea for me to do it, alongside a huge range of beautiful women of all sizes. It was horrible stripping off on the day of the shoot and I was in my dressing gown hiding in the corner. I’m not a fan of looking at myself in the mirror, so it felt so uncomfortable being in front of a camera.

“But I had to have a word with myself and realised I can’t be head of a brand about empowering women and not do it myself.

“I have a big scar on my stomach from a birthmark I had removed as a child, which Nick made me feel more confident about.

“He came down to the studio on the day of the shoot to support me and I was really happy with the pictures.”

Katie has been out to visit Nick on his latest Channel 5 travel shows in Mexico and America — but found she kept getting in the way.

She said: “I was really excited to go and visit Nick on location but TV isn’t as glamorous as people think. I thought I could relax by the pool, but in reality we were just driving around the countryside.

“I was trying to do work but then I kept getting in the shot and having to move. There was no wifi so I couldn’t work.

“Nick works really long hours too. I think I’ll wait to go on holidays with him instead.

“I much prefer drinking cocktails by the pool and getting dressed up to go for nice dinners when I’m abroad.”

Katie has no plans to join Nick on screen but thinks she could be tempted by BBC investment series Dragons’ Den, adding: “That’s my language.

“I’m interested in business and promoting entrepreneurship, so if there was any show, then that would be it.

“I’ll leave the presenting to Nick.”