STRICTLY Come Dancing star Nick Knowles has opened up about the aftermath of his injury sustained on the BBC One show.
TV presenter Nick, 62, is due to go under the knife in just four weeks’ time after being struck down by a serious knee injury while on Strictly.
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The DIY SOS star has exclusively revealed he and fiancé Katie Dadzie have booked their big day and will be tying the knot in the UK next summer.
But the star will be out of action for several months – and he is worried he won’t be able to enjoy their first dance as man and wife.
Together with Katie, he attended an event held to celebrate a new collaboration between Grove Gallery and Astrea Diamonds and spoke about his concerns for their upcoming nuptials.
Wearing support braces over his suit on both his knee and shoulder, he revealed: “I’ll be resting until February but then I’m due to film for DIY SOS.
“I’m really hoping I’ll be back on my feet by then, although I won’t be fully recovered until August next year.
“We’ve booked our wedding for next summer and the plan is for us to be able to do a first dance.
“It won’t be a full Strictly routine but I’m determined to have a special dance with Katie.”
Nick tore his entire Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during a Strictly Come Dancing dress rehearsal.
The telly star landed badly while performing a jump and it led to his and pro dancer Luba Mushtuk’s withdrawal from the BBC competition.
On top of this, the pair had already missed one live show of the series after Nick injured one of his biceps while changing a flat tyre on his car.
Nick praised his 33-year-old wife-to-be Katie for her support and defended her against nasty keyboard warriors.
He said: “Katie is such an incredible woman and doesn’t deserve all the grief she gets online.
“Whenever we’re pictured together, she gets called a ‘gold digger’ and ‘fame hungry’ and it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“She is a brilliant businesswoman and has already sold her first business for a big sum.
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“Katie launched her own lingerie business last year and is already stocked in Next, one of the biggest retailers in the world.
“All this while being a single mum to two children. People have got her so wrong.”
Nick added: “Katie has been absolutely amazing over the last few weeks, taking me to all my hospital appointments.
“She’s had to put my trousers on for me too because I can’t even do that!”
Nick remained tight-lipped about the exact location of his and Katie’s big day, but it will be in the UK and there will be a special guest among the congregation – his Strictly partner Luba.
“Luba and Katie have really hit it off,” he added. “They’ve become great friends since my time on Strictly.”
Nick and Katie are now looking forward to Christmas together, even though Nick will be fresh out of surgery.
They have already decorated the outside of their home in Windsor, Berkshire, after Nick decided to pull out all the stops following a successful Halloween.
Nick said: “We went all out at Halloween so are doing the same for Christmas. I’ve even bought an inflatable 9ft teddy bear for £300.
“I’ve got a seven-year-old daughter and Katie has two children, so now is the time to fully embrace it!”