A FAMILY who claims Nick Knowles’ DIY SOS wrecked their home say they begged the BBC not to air the episode.
Peter Chapman, 64, said the Beeb ignored his plea not to televise their renovation after the fix-it team made their lives “hell” – leaving them wanting to quit the UK.
Peter Chapman (centre right) with his wife Sarah, daughter Suzanna and brother Steve say their home was ruined by DIY SOS
The dad has been forced to try and fix the repairs himself
Peter begged the BBC not to show the episode – which aired in June last year
The full-time carer to wife Sarah, daughter Suzanne and autistic brother Steve, has been embroiled in a three-year row over allegations DIY SOS carried out an error-strewn renovation project at their bungalow in February 2020.
Peter has been seeking compensation from the broadcasters, claiming the show’s tradespeople caused £30,000 of destruction to the home in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.
And it has since been revealed that the desperate dad begged bosses not to show the episode – which fell on deaf ears as it was aired in June 2022.
The refurbishment initially appeared to have gone smoothly, but Peter said issues began to emerge soon after they moved back in.
He added errors carried out by Nick Knowles and his crew included wall bars on the loo for wheelchair-using Sarah, 59, and Suzanne, 39, coming off on the first day.
Other issues include a leaking roof, which now has buckets catching water, cracks in the patio decking, making it unsafe for Sarah to use her wheelchair and a ramp that is too steep for her wheelchair – issues he says could have proved fatal.
He also blames the programme for laying a driveway that sank and had to be re-laid, cracks in some of the bungalow’s walls, a lack of insulation in two ceilings and installing a slippery hard floor in the lounge when he wanted to keep carpet.
Peter claims to have refused an offer of £15,000 from the BBC, saying it would not come close to covering the cost of the repairs.
Despite all the issues, the decision was made by execs to show their home after suggesting the family meet with a psychologist before it aired, reports the MailOnline.
In an email dated January 25, 2022, the show’s exec producer Paolo Proto disputed a few of Peter’s complaints and offered some amendments as a “gesture of goodwill”.
Proto also offered a one-hour session with a psychologist.
In an email sent in response, Peter said: “I’ll sort it out all myself including the decking which I will scrap.
“Not happy. Please don’t broadcast this episode.
“I don’t need a doctor. I just needed DIY SOS to do what they said they were going to do, then I would have been fine.
“We are done talking.”
The BBC has said the work it carried out on the bungalow complied with building regulations and Peter has turned down subsequent offers to help.
Peter said he has decided to speak out after the BBC informed him it considered the matter closed.
He admitted people may think he is “ungrateful”, but added: “I’m not, I’m really cross.”
Wife Sarah and daughter Suzanne suffer from Myotonic Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that affects muscle function.
It claimed the life of the Peter’s other daughter, Margaret, shortly before filming for the programme began.
He is now moving to the US to join his son, who has lived there for 20 years, and make a fresh start following the ordeal.
A BBC spokesperson said: “DIY SOS is a heart-warming programme that brings communities together and helps improve the lives of those in need thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to participate.
“As with all of our previous projects, the Charlton Kings build was planned and completed in accordance with the necessary required regulatory approvals and signed off onsite by building control.”
The corporation said that it sought impartial third party advice to assess the property when Peter declined its offers of help.
It claimed it offered him various solutions, though Peter denied this had been the case.
The BBC added that it was aware that Peter had made his own home improvements since it finished filming, which it had no involvement with.
It said it took its duty of care to its contributors very seriously, offered Peter support and returned personal items to him.
Peter claims the cost of the repairs will total £30,000
The family pictured during the reveal in an episode aired in June 2020
He also says the driveway installed by the BBC team ‘sank’ and had to be re-laid
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