Staff, who have worked on the long-running home renovation TV series DIY SOS, are left furious after it was announced that the show will be 'rested' next year amid the corporation’s ongoing 'savings challenges.'
The hit programme, hosted by Nick Knowles, first aired in 1999 and helps transform the homes of families who are facing severe illness, disability, bereavement or building disasters.
It began as a low-budget show with broadcaster Knowles and a small team helping homeowners fix botched DIY projects, and relaunched as DIY SOS: The Big Build in 2010.
The reality renovation programme shifted focus to larger-scale projects and followed Knowles and his team as they repair and transform people’s homes across Britain with the help of local communities.
The BBC has confirmed the show will be 'rested' after its latest series; however, those who work behind the scenes and on set have given their own thoughts on the matter.
One person close to the production said, 'It's a disgusting outrage,' with another stating that 'It feels like they're too spineless to say what we all know: DIY SOS has been asked.'
When asked about the future of the show in 2028/29, 'they couldn't give us an answer.'
Rubbing salt to the wound, it was also revealed that there will be no Big Build for Children In Need this year.'
A BBC spokesperson said: 'In light of the BBC’s savings challenges, we have decided to rest DIY SOS in 2027 and commission a new spin-off show instead from producers South Shore.
'DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life will revisit successes from the show’s past and expand the brand on the BBC in a more cost-effective way next year.'
It comes amid a series of recent cuts by the corporation as part of the first phase of its bid to save £500 million over the next three years, which have included the cancellation of TV shows Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live At The Apollo./
DIY SOS has taken on many ambitious projects through the years, and in 2015 Knowles worked with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and hundreds of volunteers to transform a derelict street in Manchester into housing for veterans.
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William returned to the programme in 2018 for its two-part special focused on supporting the survivors and community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people.
Posting a picture on his social media, Nick remembered all the good times that the show brought.
'What I always come back to is that it’s the people who are the beating heart of SOS. Over the years we’ve had thousands of tradespeople, suppliers and volunteers, all people trying to make their own living, who have shown up time and time again for the families who need it most. Kind, hardworking people and real working-class heroes coming together to build a better community. It really is the best of Britain, and we need to see more of it on telly.'
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