Nick Knowles says 'workaholism and fame destroyed his relationships'

Nick Knowles has opened up on his past romances, candidly revealing workaholism and fame had destroyed several of them.

The DIY SOS star, 62, who is currently competing in Strictly Come Dancing, is set to walk down the aisle for a third time as he prepares to marry partner Katie Dadzie, who is 28 years his junior.

And while Nick is blissfully happy with the lingerie business owner, 34, in a frank new interview he told how he begrudges his past relationships being brought up, noting that they are not 'relevant' today. 

The presenter - who recently found himself facing accusations of a past misogynistic slur - also slammed the 'horrible' abuse Katie receives as a result of their relationship, with Nick admitting that Katie has questioned whether continuing their romance is worth the drama.

Speaking to The Times, Nick, who's ex Gemma Oaten recently claimed her cruelly dumped her - explained: 'Every marriage, divorce, break-up I’ve ever had is always dragged up. It’s very odd. You get people you went on two dates with ten years ago popping up writing about what it was like going out with me. How is that relevant today?'

The TV personality noted that while he's had 'a lot of relationships', he doesn't believe he's been in an 'abnormal amount' over the past 40 years, adding that he 'chose' to be in the public eye when his partners didn't. 

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Nick went on to share how he believes his workaholism and fame contributed to the breakdown of some of his former relationships, suggesting that it's often not 'fun' with him being away for work for months on end, while the being in the spotlight can be 'intense'.

He shared: 'People think dating me will be fun, but then I’m away for months on end. Or you ask them to go to a premiere; people think it will be amazing, they get their hair done, then suddenly they’re standing in front of 40 photographers on a red carpet and it’s terrifying. It’s not a glamorous experience at all. It’s really horrible and intense.'

However, he went on to note that there are other professions which are much more 'difficult' than his, including being in the army, police or working for the NHS. 

TV star Nick, who split from his wife Jessica Rose Moor in 2016, made his first appearance with Katie in September 2021, after ending his romance with PR guru Emily Hallinan in February 2020.

He was also previously married to Gillian Knowles from 1996 to 2000.

Katie has daughters Savannah, nine, and Alex, six, from a previous relationship, whereas Nick has four children from three different relationships.

He shares his daughter Tuesday and son Charlie with his ex-wife Gillian, while he shares another son, TJ, with dancer Paula Beckett.

Nick also has son Eddie, who was born in 2014, with his ex-wife Jessica, and the presenter met girlfriend Katie through his youngest son.

While Nick and Katie's relationship has gone from strength-to-strength, the Who Dares Wins hosts told how he tried to avoid being photographed with the stunning brunette as she often receives 'horrible racist abuse' and accused of being a 'gold digger' whenever a picture of them appears.  

The exasperated star confessed that the experience can be 'unpleasant and unfair', before going on to praise the 'super-intelligent' mum-of-two, who's lingerie brand went onto be stocked in Next just eight months after launching.

Detailing the strain it puts on them, he continued: 'You just get people being properly vile. So you understand when she goes, "I don’t know if I want to be around this".'

When asked if he talked her round, Nick told that he didn't as he 'understands' her feelings, remarking that the strength of their love saw them through in the end.

Nick's candid remarks about his love life comes after he was accused of saying women from the North East are 'munters' in a chat with a young charity worker, it has been claimed.

According to The Sun, the TV presenter is said to have ogled the woman's breasts along with making a string lewd and offensive remarks while filming the BBC's DIY SOS: The Big Build.

The publication writes that the support worker was left embarrassed and mortified by their interaction, although it is understood that Nick does not recall saying those words.

The woman, who is a mother-of-one, claimed she was interviewed by Nick in 2018 for an episode of the show where a young blind girl received a home renovation.

She said he turned up late for filming after drinking the night before and later slept in a van. 

Nick was said to have been hungover and smelled of alcohol and cigarettes after a night out at the North Shields Fish Quay. 

When the woman accidentally dropped her microphone down her blouse, Nick is alleged to have said: 'It's a shame that's not a camera.' 

She also claimed the presenter told her she was the 'first good-looking woman' he had seen in the North East. 

She told The Sun: 'I was mortified. He humiliated me in a very personal way in front of the whole crew. It was offensive. He was in his late 50s. He was being so inappropriate and I felt belittled.

'I had been looking forward to meeting him and he ruined the whole experience for me.'

'I remember just laughing along and feeling awkward. There were other people around and everyone was there to do a good deed for a little girl. I didn't want to spoil that special moment.' 

The woman didn't challenge Nick on any of his remarks, saying there were other people there and she didn't want to 'spoil' things. 

Nick took a photo with the woman during filming and she claims he tried to talk her out of getting married when he saw her engagement ring, telling her marriage hadn't worked for him.

The woman, who has not been identified, also claimed the host is a different person off-air than the image he portrays on screen.

She was motivated to speak out after watching Nick dancing with Luba Mushtuk on this year's Strictly Come Dancing. 

MailOnline has contacted representatives of Nick Knowles and the BBC for comment.  

It comes as the star is set to walk down the aisle with fiancée Katie Dadzie, 34, despite their 30-year age gap.

Nick popped the question in August 2023 and the big day appears to be approaching after the bride was spotted shopping for her dress recently. 

Nick's Extensive Dating Life 

1995-2000: Gillian Knowles

Nick had two children with his first wife before their split in 2000. 

They share son Charlie, 27, and daughter Tuesday, 26. 

UNKNOWN: Paula Beckett-Vass

Little is known of his romance with beauty therapist Paula, although the couple share son Tyrian-J, 23.  

2000-2003: Suzi Perry 

The two presenters met on the set of BBC's City Hospital soon after his split from his first wife and went on to date for three years. 

2009-2016: Jessica Rose Moor

Nick began dating Jessica in 2009 before they tied the knot in 2012 and welcomed their son Eddie in 2014.

 They split in 2016 - initially amicably, as he supported her through her battle with cervical cancer. 

Following her recovery, they debated reuniting but split for good in December 2016. 

Things later turned nasty, with a war of words between the pair. 

Jessica accused the star of abuse in an explosive open letter on Twitter. 

They also became locked in financial wars when she asked for more money to provide for their son which led to further heartache for the pair however they later resolved their issues. 

2017: Pascal Craymer

Nick hit headlines with TOWIE star Pascal following a fleeting romance.

 Things turned sour however, when model Pascal claimed she blocked Nick after he reportedly bragged about his 'revolving' bed' and 'dating younger women'.

She alleged that the twice-married DIY SOS host was 'desperate to get his leg over' when they went on a few of lavish dates last year.

She also claimed 'forward' Nick tried to kiss her before the starters during a £600 meal and embarrassed her with his 'dad dancing' in a nightclub.

2019-2020: Emily Hallinan

Emily and Nick began dating in 2019, after exchanging a series of messages about a work opportunity on Twitter, with Nick telling Emily to get in touch. 

Sadly, one year later, in February 2020 Nick confirmed the pair had split. 

He took to Twitter to reveal he is single and urged his followers not to worry about Valentine's Day as he too was spending the day alone.