BBC Strictly's Nick Knowles opens up on relationship that was 'nearly over'

Nick Knowles and his fiance Katie Dadzie have been through a lot together

Nick Knowles and his fiancee Katie Dadzie have faced tough times in their relationship, yet they've managed to rekindle their connection.

The future of the DIY SOS star on Strictly Come Dancing hangs in the balance after a Charleston mishap left him injured, but Nick remains upbeat, hopeful that he'll bounce back to perform 'Rain on the Roof' from Paddington 2 during movie week, with practice sessions ongoing.

Nick, 60, shows the same tenacity in his personal life as he does on the dance floor, having navigated a rocky period with Katie, 33, who at one point contemplated calling it quits.

Read more: Strictly star 'falling apart'

In an exclusive chat with Closer before hitting the Strictly stage, the couple discussed their 27-year age difference and the significance of spending quality time together despite busy lives.

As he gears up for his third marriage, Nick revealed: "We try to do some amazing trips we've just come back from Dubai which was fantastic. And we like to treat ourselves with overnight stays at Home House. It's a members' club in London and you don't need to be a member to stay there. The rooms are beautiful. It's almost like a museum because it's so stunning.", reports the Mirror.

The business savvy Katie, who runs the lingerie brand Boa Boa, shared with fans about her relationship: "Nick is definitely a romantic. He cooks lovely dinners for me, something that he'll know I really like, especially when I'm not feeling great. We always have a date night where we'll pick a really great restaurant. We also love hotel stays and nice holidays! ".

Despite their close bond now, Katie, who has two children, admits it wasn't all smooth sailing at the beginning, especially when dealing with Nick's celebrity status and the attention that comes with it. Speaking to The Times, the beaming fiance commented on the tough times when Katie was targeted by "horrible, racist abuse" from online trolls, leaving her utterly heartbroken.

Nick expressed his understanding of the situation: "You just get people being properly vile. So you understand when she goes, 'I don't know if I want to be around this'."

Nick confessed he didn't try to coax Katie into staying during those moments, recognising how overwhelming it had been for her. Happily, the couple have since navigated past these early hurdles.

In current times, Katie opts to stay out of the camera lens alongside Nick to avoid unjust labels, even though her doting partner asserts that she's "wealthier and more successful".

Reflecting on navigating romance under the scrutinising public eye, the father of four Nick offered some personal insights, declaring: "You have to be brave. You can't let previous difficulties stop you falling in love, because you close yourself off to the possibility of being happy."

The now-overjoyed pair have been an item for roughly three years, first catching each other's eye at their children's play centre. Nick popped the question in summer 2022 while on a jaunt to New Orleans, with Katie joyously saying yes.

Nick has reached out to Strictly enthusiasts before this Saturday's performance, sharing an upbeat message on Instagram: "I have to see how I get on - and then a decision will be made on Friday. I just wanted to take this moment to say thank you for all the well wishes that I've received and encouragement from everybody. And I'm hopeful that I will be dancing on Saturday."

In an unfortunate twist, the TV DIY expert injured his leg in last Friday's rehearsals, as he 'leapt' into place after missing the beat, leading to what he described as 'a bit of a collapse'. He has since had an MRI and is undergoing daily treatment.