‘No pain, no gain’ says Nick Knowles as he reveals extreme training ahead of Strictly – and how much weight he’s lost

NICK Knowles has showed off the fruits of his training labour as he prepares for his debut on this year's Strictly Come Dancing. 

The TV presenter, best known for stints on DIY SOS and Who Dares Wins, has swapped DIY for dumbbells, admitting he's been lifting weights in the gym to get in shape for the star-studded show.

Nick was confirmed as a show contestant by the BBC earlier this week.

Joining footballer Paul Merson and GB hockey hero Sam Quek, he will dance alongside another ten names as they take to the TV screens later this year. 

Appearing on Monday Night's The One Show, he told presenters: "I danced in Rio last year doing an Argentine Tango and I thought this is great."

"My elder sister was a ballroom dancer so I am the least talented person in the family."

Already taking it seriously, however, a slimmed-down Knowles has been seen out and about recently.

His new look led to fans speculating on how much weight the Bafta-winning presenter will lose during his stint on the show. 

Replying to a comment on X, formerly Twitter, one fan said: “Got a book running with everyone on how much weight you'll lose doing strictly…I’ve got a score on 3.5 stone…(22.22kg).”

Nick replied: “Well I've been training in the gym and on a strict diet and have lost 7 kilos already.”

The gravelly-voiced presenter had previously admitted to piling on the pounds in lockdown, telling his X followers in 2021: "Nothing like seeing your lockdown weight gain splashed all over several national newspapers with before and after example photos to (really) drive home the point...”

He was also previously quoted as saying: "I've made a living by looking like a bag of spanners on TV. "

"I'm 18 stone. I'm massive. I'm always on building sites. During lockdown, I put on almost four stone.”

The Bafta-winning presenter, who is engaged to fiancée Katie Dadzie, 27 years his junior, is set to take to the dance floor next month.

Despite recent scandals surrounding the show, it has been a firm favourite with viewers since launching in 2004, with more than 10 million tuning in to watch last year’s final.