DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles had to pay for his own knee operation after sustaining an injury during rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing, he’s claimed.
Nick’s had two major operations this year, one to “reattach his bicep” and another to build a new anterior cruciate ligament.
Nick says he wants to be walking normally by February.
“Thank you to my two magnificently talented surgeons – Mr Ahrens for the bicep and Mr Jig Patel for the knee,” he wrote on Instagram after Christmas.
Nick Knowles paid for knee op himself
TV presenter Nick Knowles paid for his knee operation out of his own pocket following his injury in the BBC Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal room, The Sun has reported.
Nick battled back after sustaining two injuries, to be voted off in mid October. He and his partner Luba Mushtuk danced a Charleston, but it wasn’t enough to cut the mustard.
In a recent Instagram upload, he explains that it wasn’t in his “letter to Santa” to have two major surgical operations.
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“It’s been frustrating and very expensive,” he wrote. “But I’m determined to get back to 100% fitness which I hope will be around August 2025.”
A fan wrote encouragingly: “Get well soon I hope Strictly has good insurance. They will need it – good luck.”
But The Sun reports that Strictly’s insurance did not cover the operations.
“Thank you for all the amazing messages. To answer a few questions . . . the brace helps keep it stable as I recover.
“No, Strictly insurance did not cover the operations. I paid for them myself but I’m hoping they will help with rehab.”
Entertainment Daily has contacted representatives from the BBC for clarification.
Nick’s own rehabilitation efforts
Knowles posted several images of his own personal knee rehabilitation efforts to his Instagram followers on December 28.
They illustrate the lengths he’s gone to personally to self-rehabilitate.
Among them are a cryogenic pressure cuff, pressure leggings and instruments used in wet cupping.
He’s also been taking turmeric, collagen and “various other supplements to promote healing”.
“Will try anything at this stage to get back moving normally,” he wrote.
Nick added: “I want to be walking normally by start of February for the next DIYSOS. Katie my fiancée has been patient and supportive and amazingly patient with me – the worst patient in the world.”
Lots of his fans and followers have been coming forward with their own stories of rehabilitation following major surgeries.
“When I had a knee replacement,” one wrote, “the cryo cuff was a lifesaving game changer.”
Another said Nick will be “high kicking again in no time”.
Let’s hope so!
Read more: Nick Knowles addresses the ‘elephant in the room’ after his It Takes Two interview
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