Strictly contestant reveals they’ve already shed over a stone to prepare for the show and plan to lose more
Nick Knowles is gearing up for the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor and has revealed that he has already lost 8 kilos (17 pounds) and hopes to lose another 5. Currently at 18 and a half stone, the star of BBC's DIY SOS, wants to lose more to be "elegant" as he's competing on the show. Speaking about being invited onto the show, he said: “I’ve never had the time in my schedule to fit it in. In 40 years on British TV, I’ve never had the space to do it. I’ve been asked to do acting and West End shows, but I can’t commit to being away for three or six months. This year, there was a gap in my schedule, so I was able to take it on.”
Training for the show can be gruelling but the eager presented as “already started.” He said: “Once it was confirmed, I knew I needed to get back to fighting weight. So, I’ve been on a tough fitness regime, losing eight kilos in five weeks, with about 4 or 5 more to go. I’m following my old rugby training routine because I used to really enjoy the off-season, eating and drinking well.” Nick was recently spotted filming alongside professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, 35. The duo were seen at a London shopping centre this week, in pictures obtained by The Sun, and were joined by a film crew.
In the snaps, Nick donned a navy suit while his potential counterpart looked stunning in a white shirt and jeans.
READ MORE:This Morning's Alison Hammond admits 'I was dying' as she opens up on 11 stone weight loss
Nick believes that discipline is key when doing a show like Strictly, which he is most looking forward to. “As a rugby player, I’m used to being solid on the floor and tackling other big guys. Now I need to undo that and become more graceful on my feet. I’m curious to see if I can move this frame around the dance floor elegantly, or if I’ll end up looking like a lump bouncing up and down.”
His love life has often been in the public eye. Before he became famous, Nick was married to a woman named Gillian and they welcomed two children together, Tuesday and Charlie.
After they split up, Nick dated Paula Beckett-Vass, a beauty therapist and they had a son named Tyrian-J. Then, in 2000, Nick met Suzi Perry while working on City Hospital and they dated for three years before breaking up.
These days, Nick has found love with his fiancée Katie Dadzie. Apparently, Nick ran into Katie, 33, at a playgroup attended by his youngest son Eddie, yet for Katie, it wasn't an instant attraction.
During a revealing chat with The Sun, she confessed: "I actually didn't like him very much. We just knew each other as our kids were friends." Despite their contrasting personalities, Nick and Katie have been together since 2019 and got engaged last summer.
When he told his kids, Nick admitted they were “embarrassed.” “My kids were like, "Oh god," because having a dad on TV is cool up until about age eight. After that, it becomes the most embarrassing thing in the world. They’d rather I was a milkman or worked in a factory— anything but be on TV! But despite the embarrassment, they’re excited for me and can’t wait to watch every week. They’ll be cheering me on no matter how well I do.”
The much-anticipated celebrity line-up joining Nick includes comedian Chris McCausland, singer JB Gill, opera star Wynne Evans, rock icon Toyah Willcox, TV doctor Dr. Punam Krishan, model Tasha Ghouri, reality TV hunk Pete Wicks, actor Shayne Ward, comedy actress Sarah Hadland, EastEnders favourite Jamie Borthwick, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean MBE, Gladiators star Montell Douglas, former footballer Paul Merson and Olympian Sam Quek.