Daytime TV legend signs for Strictly Come Dancing after months of talks amid show scandal
DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles has signed up for Strictly.
The 61-year-old BBC star is to take part after months of talks — as the dance show reels from celebrities’ claims of abusive behaviour.
Nick put a clip of his footwork on Instagram in March last year — with one fan commenting: “I see Strictly Come Dancing on the horizon.”
It was understood that he had been in talks with the BBC for months and recently came to an agreement to join the show.
A source said: “Nick has always loved Strictly and he is so excited.
“He’s got a great personality, is incredibly driven and competitive and is up for giving anything a crack. He’s going on the show to entertain and to win. He’ll give it his best shot.”
Nick will be competing against a host of other celebs including fellow Beeb star, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30.
He plays Jay Brown on the soap and won the Strictly festive edition last year.
We also revealed last month social media star Grace Keeling, 24 — known as GK Barry online — is in advanced talks to sign up.
Last year, dad-of-four Nick teamed up with some of the dance show’s pros, including Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk, for a Strictly special of his home makeover series DIY SOS.
They renovated a performing arts school in Wallsend, North Tyneside.
In 2022, the star — set to marry for the third time after getting engaged last year to Katie Dadzie, 34 — hinted at what it takes to win Strictly.
He chimed in when fans were discussing how CBBC star Molly Rainford — a trained dancer — was in the bottom two, while ex-Arsenal captain Tony Adams breezed through.
He posted: “@bbcstrictly is an entertainment show not strictly a dancing competition — otherwise those that went to drama college & learned dance would have an unfair advantage.
“It’s the one who connects with the audience that wins.”
Strictly is set to return in September despite the ongoing probes into dancers including Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, over their conduct towards celebrity partners on the show.
Nick and Strictly were asked to comment.