Nick Knowles is forced to pay for his knee surgery after Strictly 'refused' and pleas 'I'm hoping they will help with rehab' as he's supported by fiancée Katie Dadzie

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Nick Knowles was forced to pay for his knee surgery after Strictly Come Dancing 'refused' to pay up.

The DIY SOS star, 62, had to pull out of this years live shows in October after badly injuring his knee during rehearsals.

After going through two major operations to help him 'walk normally again', Nick pleaded the BBC to help out with rehab costs.

According to The Sun, in a now-edited post, he said: '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.'

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for a comment.

Nick Knowles, 62, has been forced to pay for his knee surgery after Strictly Come Dancing 'refused' to pay up

After going through two major operations to help him 'walk normally again', Nick pleaded the BBC to help out with rehab costs (pictured with fiancée Katie Dadzie)

The DIY SOS star had to pull out of this years live shows in October after badly injuring his knee during rehearsals

Earlier this week, Nick revealed he's learning to walk 'normally' again as he shared a candid clip of himself attempting to walk up the stairs using crutches, with the assistance of a medical professional.

In the video, Nick is also padded out with knee and elbow braces as he slowly takes it step by step, admitting he hopes to be 'back to 100% fitness' by August 2025.

Updating his 312,000 followers, he wrote in the caption: 'So it wasn’t on my letter to Santa for two major operations - one to reattach my bicep and a second to build a new ACL and mend two years in the meniscus. 

'Thank you to my two magnificently talented surgeons - Mr Ahrens for the bicep and Mr Jig Patel for the knee.

'Three types of knee brace and one type of elbow brace - crutches - game ready ice and pressure machine - pressure leggings - physio stretching out for months ahead but I want to be walking normally by start of February for the next DIYSOS.'

He added: 'Katie my fiancee has been patient and supportive and amazingly patient with me - the worst patient in the world.

'It’s been frustrating and very expensive but I’m determined to get back to 100% fitness which I hope will be around August 2025. Thanks for all the well wishes and encouragement - happy new year all.'

It comes after Nick took to his Instagram to explain his absence from the Strictly final earlier this month.

In a now-edited post, he said: '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'

Nick was supported by Katie as they stepped out for a brief walk in Berkshire on Sunday

Nick looked visibly in pain as he struggled to walk on crutches

The lovebirds packed on the PDA during the outing

The DIY SOS star filmed himself watching the live show from the comfort of Katie's home in Berkshire.

Nick revealed he wasn't appearing on the show or in the group dance after having a knee operation two days before for the injury he sustained while competing in the competition.

He firstly suffered a shoulder injury when he was changing a tyre on his car and then a failed knee jump during a dance rehearsal left him on crutches.

The presenter told his followers: 'Hello everyone. So it's Saturday night, and the big final is on TV. I'm watching it, same as you, but from home rather than being in the studio because, unfortunately, I had a big arm operation, and I've now also had a big leg operation.

'As a result, I'm only two days out from surgery, so I can't be there.

'But I'm sat here watching the amazing show like you, wishing the best of luck to my buddies - JB, Sarah, Chris, and Tasha - who all deserve to be champions, so I hope they all do great.

'Thank you for all your lovely well-wishes and for wishing me a speedy recovery. I'm really sorry I can't be there with all the others too. It's been the most wonderful experience.

'Merry Christmas to all of you, happy New Year, and congratulations to whoever wins the final.'

Nick revealed he's learning to walk 'normally' again as he shared a candid clip of himself attempting to walk up the stairs using crutches, with the assistance of a medical professional 

Updating his 312,000 followers, he wrote in the caption: 'So it wasn’t on my letter to Santa for two major operations'

He thanked his 'two magnificently talented surgeons - Mr Ahrens for the bicep and Mr Jig Patel for the knee' (pictured in October)

Disaster first struck for Nick during a dress rehearsal with Strictly pro partner Luba Mushtuk, which reportedly saw the star do a jump and take a bad landing 

Alongside the clip, he penned: 'So I can't be there at the final because I'm only two days out of surgery and it was quite a big operation on my knee - for those that want to know it was a full ACL reconstruction and two meniscus repairs which included harvesting a replacement tendon from my hamstring - and I'm still recovering from the operation to re attach my distal bicep which makes moving on crutches difficult too.

'I had to have the operation now to be mobile and ready to start filming on @BBCDIYSOS at the beginning of February.

'Lots of rehab and work with physios to come but I will go at it as hard as I did the dance training and success will be managed in stages.

'First to be able to walk without crutches, climb stairs, walk safely on uneven ground by February and then dance too as I have to be able to do my first dance at my wedding in June and I'm assured if I work hard I will be back to 100% as good as new in about 8 months

'Best of luck to my buddies competing tonight and those who are back together in studio. I loved the dancing and the cameraderie - the injuries not so much.

'Merry Xmas to you all and thank you for your wonderful messages wishing me to get well soon.

'I've got some great work coming this year with more amazing DIY SOS shows - two of which we have filmed already and so many wonderful families to introduce you to - there's two amazing travel shows through Mongolia coming soon too which is epic and beautiful and full of amazing people.

'So as I lay on the sofa looking like half a Darth Vader with all the added robot attachments I wish you a happy Christmas and an adventurous and fun new year. See you in 2025.' 

It comes after Nick took to his Instagram to explain his absence from the Strictly final earlier this month 

The star filmed himself watching the live show from the comfort of his fiancée Katie Dadzie's home in Berkshire

Nick has kept his followers up to date with his operation 

He wrote: 'Lots of rehab and work with physios to come but I will go at it as hard as I did the dance training and success will be managed in stages'

Nick is hoping he will recover in time for his first dance at his wedding to Katie next summer.

He shared: 'We've booked our wedding for next summer and the plan is for us to be able to do a first dance. It won't be a full Strictly routine but I'm determined to have a special dance with Katie.'

The TV veteran praised his 'amazing' Katie for taking him to his hospital appointments and even 'putting his trousers on' as he can't do that himself at the moment.

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