Strictly Come Dancing star breaks silence on brutal injury that will take ‘eight months’ to heal
Nick Knowles continues to face a lengthy recovery period following injuries sustained during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
The DIY SOS presenter, 62, is currently sporting a leg brace as he relearns how to walk after undergoing multiple surgeries.
Speaking at the Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo show opening night, Knowles revealed to the press: “I’m still recovering. It’s gonna be about eight months before it’s like fully 100 per cent again.”
The TV star remains several months away from returning to any active pursuits following operations to repair his torn Anterior cruciate ligament injury.
However, his short Strictly journey was first blighted by an arm injury that made rehearsing impossible just two weeks into the competition.
The 62-year-old tore his bicep while changing a tyre on his Range Rover in the rain, forcing him to miss a week of the show.
Shortly after returning, he sustained a brutal ACL tear during a dress rehearsal with his pro dance partner Luba Mushtuk.
Despite attempting to continue, Knowles was eliminated in week four of the competition, becoming the third celebrity to exit the show.
Following his operations, Knowles confirmed he personally covered the medical expenses rather than the BBC.
“Somebody asked me on Twitter if Strictly were paying for the operation but it’s in the contract that they don’t. I was perfectly happy with that,” he explained.
However, the presenter also praised the BBC’s support throughout his recovery journey.
“They’ve been very good and helped out. They were great with physios and support, so they’ve been great from beginning to end,” he added.
Despite the setbacks, Knowles remains determined to return to his adventurous lifestyle.
“I’ve done all kinds of weird things like riding motorbikes in the desert, riding polo ponies, and doing all kinds of activities,” he shared.
He explained his motivation for the operations: “Even at my age, I want to get back to the point where I can carry on doing all the adventurous stuff that I’ve done before.”
The presenter also plans to continue surfing with his 10-year-old son, despite being “knackered and old.”
Reflecting on his Strictly experience, Knowles maintains a positive outlook despite the injuries.
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“You don’t go into things and then regret doing it afterwards, so I don’t regret it at all,” he stated. “It was enormous fun.”
The presenter views his various injuries philosophically: “All the various injuries and scars, everything that I sort of ached when I wake up in the morning, I consider as sort of badges of honour for having lived a life less ordinary.”