The BBC has announced that the long-running renovation program "DIY SOS" will be axed after 26 years on air, a decision presenter Nick Knowles described as a disappointment. This move is part of the broadcaster's wider plan to achieve £500 million in savings.
Knowles shared his sentiments on Instagram, acknowledging the BBC's financial constraints. "I’m disappointed not to be filming the show next year or again in the same format we know and love. But I do understand there’s no endless pot of money at the BBC and sometimes they have to make difficult decisions," he stated. He also expressed gratitude to the families, tradespeople, volunteers, and production team who have been part of the show's success over the decades.
Instead of the flagship series, the BBC plans to launch a new, more cost-effective spin-off titled "DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life." This new program will revisit successful transformations from the show's extensive history.
"DIY SOS" began in 1999 as a more modest format focused on fixing botched renovations. It evolved in 2010 into "DIY SOS: The Big Build," which mobilized local tradespeople and volunteers to undertake significant home transformations for families facing severe illness or disability. The show's current 35th series is still airing, featuring episodes such as "Bringing Dan Home," which documented a community effort to adapt a house for a teenager with complex disabilities.
In addition to "DIY SOS," other BBC programs have recently been canceled as part of the savings initiative. These include "RuPaul's Drag Race," "Football Focus" after 52 years, "Blankety Blank," "Celebrity Mastermind," and "Live at the Apollo."
Knowles, who has fronted the show for over two decades alongside team members like electrician Billy Byrne, plasterer Chris Frediani, and designer Gabrielle Blackman, noted the dedication of the thousands of tradespeople and suppliers who have contributed their time and resources. He emphasized that these individuals, often described as "real working-class heroes," came together to build better communities, calling it "the best of Britain."