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.

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

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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)

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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.

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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’

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

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

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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.’

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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

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

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