RHOD GILBERT TO REPLACE NICK KNOWLES ON DIY SOS SPECIAL

Comedian Rhod Gilbert is to present this year's DIY SOS Children In Need special, it has been revealed.

Regular presenter Nick Knowles is missing the special because it coincides with his appearance in a Shreddies ad campaign - something which is against the BBC rules on advertising. Nick will return to the show for the next series in 2022.

The one-off special will see Rhod join the existing team of Mark, Chris, Jules and Billy, alongside playground engineer, John O’Driscoll and local tradesmen and volunteers to embark on a build that will improve the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people in Hull and the surrounding areas.

Rhod Gilbert said: "It’s a great honour to step in to Nick’s enormous steel toe-capped boots and be involved in Children in Need. I’m looking forward to joining the infamous DIY SOS team, and rallying an enormous group of local volunteers on a wonderfully ambitious and important project...

"After having tried my hand at over 30 jobs on my ‘Work Experience’ TV programme, I’m hoping I may even be of some use around the site. My vis is high and my hat is hard, so bring it on."

Paolo Proto, Executive Producer on DIY SOS added: "We are delighted to have Rhod join the team for this incredibly special build in Hull for St Michael’s Youth Project. We can’t wait to see him get his hands dirty, and we’ll need his humour and empathy as we transform an empty field into an adventure camping site that will benefit children and young people across Hull, for the Big Build BBC Children in Need Special."

The Children In Need DIY SOS special will air this November on BBC One and iPlayer.