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“If I need some DIY done, I get an expert to do the work”: Life according to… Nick Knowles

© Paul PoynterNick Knowles
Nick Knowles

Nick Knowles, host of BBC quiz Who Dares Wins, is one of the guests at this year’s Ideal Home Show.

Here, he answers our questions…


What’s your dream property?

The small country cottage I live in. It’s in the Cotswolds and I have a vegetable patch. It’s exactly what I want.

What’s your favourite room?

My bedroom, because it has a beautiful view and a bed the size of the Isle of Wight!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought for the home?

A rocking chair made by a blacksmith in Devon. It’s both lovely to sit on and a piece of art to talk about.

Any useful tips for DIY novices?

Learn builder’s caulk – it fills any slight gaps that look unprofessional and you can paint over it.

How much DIY do you do?

Very little – I’m hardly ever there and if I do need something, I get an expert to do the work.

What’s the worst DIY blunder you’ve seen?

A man tried to turn a bedroom into two rooms for his twin daughters. He did this by putting a garden fence through the middle of it.

What’s the most common error?

Pulling a kitchen out without knowing how to put one back in. I have seen families go years without a kitchen as a result.

Ever had a DIY disaster?

At 15, I painted a wall while standing on an ironing board. When it collapsed, I was amazed to find the pot of paint in my hand, nothing spilled and a perfect stripe down the wall.

What will you be doing at the Ideal Home Show?

I’ll answer questions from the audience, see the amazing products on display and meet the wonderful creators behind them.

What are you most looking forward to at the Eat & Drink festival within The Ideal Home Show?

I’m enjoying expanding my plant-based diet, so I’ll be interested to see what’s new in that area.

Do you cook at home?

All the time. I make amazing winter stews, slow-cooked beef, veggie curries, herb dumplings. And I do a great sweet and sour fruit crumble.

What are your favourite ingredients to cook with?

Fresh vegetables out of my own garden are a real job to cook with. My little boy and I pick peas and carrots and cook them there and then.


The Ideal Home Show is at the SEC, Glasgow, May 24-27. Tickets at idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk.