Nick Knowles puts family first as wife faces major surgery
British television presenter Nick Knowles, best known for his work on DIY SOS and Who Dares Wins, has stepped away from professional commitments to care for his wife Katie as she battles a series of serious health complications following her hysterectomy last year.
The couple, who married at Braxted Park Estate in Essex in 2025, have faced an exceptionally difficult first year of marriage. Katie, 36, underwent the procedure after enduring years of pain caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition affecting ovarian function. She also battled endometriosis and adenomyosis.
How did Nick Knowles and Katie meet?
The couple first crossed paths at a children's playgroup in 2019, where their children had become friends. But for Katie, it was far from love at first sight.
I actually didn't like him very much. We just knew each other as our kids were friends. I'm very shy and quiet, while Nick is quite extroverted and a complete chatterbox. He didn't give me a lot of opportunity to talk. I didn't know a lot about him.
Nick was previously married to Gillian from 1996 to 2000 and to Jessica Rose Moor from 2012 to 2017.
What complications did Katie face after surgery?
Just 12 weeks into her recovery, the stitches in her cervix came apart, leaving her with crippling abdominal pains. The medical emergency happened weeks after the couple's wedding. Katie was subsequently told she needed another major operation.
Speaking to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, Nick explained his decision to prioritise his wife over his career.
I've been looking after my wife a lot because she has been through it. She's had a lot of tough times. She's got another operation coming up. I will disappear for a while because I'll be looking after her. I'm always worried about her, but she's a warrior and a fighter, so I know she'll be fine.
Katie speaks openly about menopause and mental health
Katie has also spoken publicly about entering the menopause following her hysterectomy and the profound impact it has had on her mental wellbeing.
I've spoken about a lot of the physical side of menopause, but the part I've found hardest to talk about has been my mental health. I have felt incredibly low. Depressed. Unlike myself. And at times I've struggled to understand how something hormonal can affect your mind so deeply.
She described a particularly harrowing episode: Saturday when it happened I was in so much pain I couldn't move or walk and just cried on my own on the kitchen from 2-5.30am. I nearly passed out from the pain.
Katie admitted she returned to work the day after her hysterectomy, which she now recognises was a mistake. During the latest emergency, doctors prepared for three possible surgical plans, two of which were described as huge, with concerns about a perforated bowel and the need for open surgery.
Nick thanks fans for their support
Nick later thanked fans for supporting Katie during her recovery, writing on Instagram: I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has sent encouraging messages to @katieakowles through her recovery. She's a little better each day - three weeks into a careful first 6 weeks and she's been helped along by all your lovely messages.
In a separate post, he added: Thanks for all the lovely messages of support for @katieaknowles - who as you can see is well on the road to recovery. She's a warrior - a very lovely, kind, sexy, beautiful warrior.
This story serves as a reminder that marriage is a covenant of mutual support, tested most deeply in times of trial. Nick Knowles' decision to place his wife's care above career demands reflects a commitment to family values that resonates far beyond the world of entertainment.