Nick Knowles explains his Strictly absence as star pulls out of the show’s final

Nick Knowles took to his Instagram to explain his absence from the Strictly final on Saturday night.

The 62-year-old star filmed himself watching the show live from the comfort of his fiancee Katie Dadzie’s home in Berkshire.

He told his followers: ‘Hello everyone. It’s Saturday night and the grand final is on television. I’m watching it, just like you, but from home instead of being in the studio because, unfortunately, I had major surgery on my arm and now I’ve had surgery on my leg as well.

‘As a result, the surgery is only two days away, so I can’t be there.

“But I’m sitting here watching the amazing show like you, wishing the best of luck to my friends, JB, Sarah, Chris and Tasha, who all deserve to be champions, so I hope they all do very well.”

‘Thank you for all your lovely well wishes and for wishing me a speedy recovery. I’m so sorry I can’t be there with everyone else too. It has been the most wonderful experience.

“Merry Christmas everyone, happy New Year and congratulations to whoever wins the final.”

Alongside the clip, he wrote: “So I can’t be there in the final because I’m only two days away from surgery and it was a pretty big operation on my knee – for those who want to know, it was a full ACL.” reconstruction and two meniscus repairs that included removal of a replacement tendon from my hamstring, and I’m still recovering from surgery to reattach my distal biceps, which also makes movement with crutches difficult.

‘Had to have the operation now to be mobile and ready to start filming on @BBCDIYSOS in early February.

“There is a lot of rehabilitation and work with the physiotherapists left, but I will do it as hard as I did the dance training and success will be achieved in stages.”

“First, to be able to walk without crutches, climb stairs, walk safely on uneven ground by February and then dance too, as I have to be able to dance for the first time at my wedding in June and I am confident that if I work hard, it will come back be 100% like new in approximately 8 months.

‘Best of luck to my friends competing tonight and to those who are back together in the studio. I loved the dancing and the camera, the injuries not so much.

‘Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for your wonderful messages wishing me a speedy recovery.

“This year I have a great job with more amazing DIY SOS shows, two of which we have already filmed and many wonderful families to introduce to you – soon there will also be two incredible travel shows through Mongolia, which are epic and beautiful and packed of incredible people.

‘So as I lay on the couch looking like half Darth Vader with all the added robotic accessories, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of adventure and fun. See you in 2025.’

Nick wasn’t the only star missing from Saturday’s final, as Paul Merson was also absent from the show.

Former footballer turned pundit Paul, 56, who was associated with Karen Hauer, did not turn up because he was unwell.

A Strictly spokeswoman said the sun: ‘Unfortunately, Paul is not feeling well today. “He will be greatly missed and is sad that he was unable to attend.”

Earlier in the day, Nick appeared to be in severe pain as he left the hospital on crutches after surgery.

He had to withdraw from this year’s live shows in October after seriously injuring his knee during rehearsals.

Nick was seen struggling to walk after surgery on his left knee and also had pins in his left arm.

The DIY SOS presenter has since revealed that it could take around nine months for him to recover from his injuries.

However, Nick appeared to be in good hands as he had the support of his fiancée Katie Dadzie, 34, who runs a lingerie company.

The couple shared a kiss as Nick walked to Katie’s 4×4 so she could take him home after the recent operation.

The television presenter looked comfortable in a black short-sleeved T-shirt that he combined with shorts and white Nike sneakers.

Disaster first struck Nick during a dress rehearsal with his Strictly professional partner Luba Mushtuk, who allegedly saw the star take a jump and make a bad landing.

It happened just weeks after the TV presenter injured his shoulder and arm while changing a car tire.

Nick now hopes to recover in time for his first dance at his wedding to Katie next summer.

He shared: ‘We have booked our wedding for next summer and the plan is for us to do a first dance. It won’t be a full Strictly routine, but I’m determined to have a special dance with Katie.

The TV veteran praised his “amazing” Katie for taking him to his hospital appointments and even “putting on his pants” as he can’t do it himself at the moment.