Who is DIY SOS carpenter Mark Millar?

DIY SOS has been thrilling BBC viewers since it first hit our screens in 1999.

The show sees presenter Nick Knowles and his team of experts help transform and renovate the homes of people across the UK - and Mark Millar is part of the crew.

Who is Mark Millar?

As a valued member of Nick Knowles' team of DIY SOS experts, Mark Millar has worked as a carpenter all over the UK, Europe and the US.

He is from Northern Ireland and was raised in Belfast in the midst of the Troubles. 

Growing up, he had aspirations to train as a chef, but instead took up an apprenticeship as a carpenter. 

After four years, he swapped Ireland for London before settling in Bristol.

It was here where he set up his own building firm, which has achieved huge success and boasts a number of celebrity clients.

Mark's building work has taken him as far as New York.

Mark could have been on DIY SOS from the very beginning.

In 1999 he was approached to present on the first series of DIY SOS in front of the camera, but he declined due to the amount of private client work he had booked.

Six years on, he was asked again if he would like to become Project Manager for the popular series, this time he jumped at the chance.

Mark is a hugely passionate outdoorsmen.

He is a springboard diver in his younger days - he won the all-Irish diving championships, and now enjoys wild swimming and hunting for great places to do it as well as kayaking and camping.

What does Mark Millar do on DIY SOS?

When it comes to his role on DIY SOS, Mark is the project manager – the one who has to work out how to fit weeks of work into just nine days.

16 years on from his first appearance, the show has gone from strength to strength with Mark at the core.

The series is one of the most popular daytime programmes on TV, and has even received a Bafta nomination for best features programme. 

Mark's duties extend beyond showing up for when the cameras are rolling, he also plays a vital role editorially and on all production decisions.  He visits every site and has huge influence over which stories make it to the screen.

What other TV shows has he been on?

Mark's media and television work extends well beyond DIY SOS.

He is often invited to appear on radio shows as a DIY expert and has featured on Children In Need many times.

In September 2020 he helped take on DIY SOS' biggest challenge yet for Children in Need - a huge project in Swansea, building the first-ever surf school adapted for people with disabilities as a piece of landmark architecture in just 11 days.

Mark is the presenter on Dream Kitchens And Bathrooms for Channel 5 and BBC One's How Safe Is Your House.

Mark has also been a contestant on Pointless Celebrities.