DIY SOS

DIY SOS started off as an alternative to the usual tedious property development programmes that suddenly proliferated in the late 90's, with a lighthearted half-hour of home improvement mixed with some banter and some useful DIY tips. It was definitely better than the average show where some poor prospective buyers with a mere budget of 3/4 of a million were struggling to find a decent house! In more recent series however, the home improvement side of the programme has been almost completely removed and instead it seems to have become a very weak sitcom featuring Nick Knowles and 'the gang' who are nowhere near as funny as they seems to think they are. There used to be two houses developed each episode, now it is down to one and yet there is less work to be seen on screen, barely a couple of minutes in each programme. Every episode now consists more of the 'hilarious' antics of the team going ice-skating, surfing, swimming, etc. Why? I can see that they may have wanted to re-jig the format to keep pace with the times, but it is now just plain silly.

Another aspect that has now changed is the fact that viewers can no longer vote for the house to be developed the next week, probably down to shooting schedules. It was never that great a system anyhow with idiots tearing their kitchen apart with no idea whatsoever how to rebuild it getting voted for ahead of more deserving applicants. Most of the 'winners' were not worthy of any sympathy for their position, which in the majority of cases was their fault. Having said that it is still better than the current system where they show two prospective developments then ask you to guess which one won.

The BBC seems to have decided to axe the show anyway since the day it is on changes every week and is frequently not shown for several weeks at a time. I can't say that I am particularly sorry.

Read some of the past reviews and it seems this show has changed a lot over the years. The season that I found on a lazy Sat. Afternoon was helping people with serious needs fix a home that did not meet those needs. I have to say that this is by far the best series I have ever watched. I watched probably 10 episodes or something around there (while doing other things around the house) and each one was inspiring and worth watching.

I really used to like watching this show when they had two teams redecorating people's rooms, and they would concentrate on getting the rooms done, or they wouldn't spend too much time mucking around. Since they have changed it to redecorate one room, it has been awful because they just spend most of their time messing about. Also, Nick Knowles doesn't do very much work, and sometimes the 'designers' work is rubbish e.g. some of the wall "art", which probably gets chucked away as soon as the cameras leave, and some of their ideas for good ceiling lights in the rooms are awful, or the colour schemes are often dreadful. I hate the people that want their rooms done just to have parties, or if they have unnecessarily taken their kitchen/bathroom apart when they do not have the skills to fix it themselves. In other words, they probably just want to get their faces on the screen.

DIY SOS started as a low budget TV show where a presenter (Nick Knowles) and a small team of builders and a designer would come to the rescue of a home owner that'd started a Do It Yourself renovation, but was unable to finish it for various reasons. It degenerated into almost a parody of itself, featuring more about the builders antics than the actual building or repair work.

Then it evolved.

It became DIY SOS The Big Build. This is a totally different beast.

The same presenter, and the same core of builders suddenly became the heart of a much bigger and important venture. Each episode, a deserving family, due to illness or disability, would have their home renovated to make their lives a little easier. Whether it's making the house wheelchair accessible, or a complete internal rebuild, local trades and builders giving their free time would descend and transform the house in 9 days, to give hope to the owners of a better, or at least a less terrible future. The amount of good will displayed by ordinary people is heart warming in these often self-centred times, and makes for an uplifting TV programme.

Does Nick Knowles actually do anything in these episodes? He walks around with a mug of tea or coffee wearing a fleece with paint or plaster over it presumably trying to make out he is hands on and part of the build team! Just be honest Nick and host the show without looking like you've worked on it . He constantly uses the phrase... We've done this...We've done that.. Give us a break dude you have never got your hands dirty on mucked in!

I like this show and what it does , especially Billy he is genuinely a decent and talented bloke. As are many of the other talented builders and decorators. Nick take off the obviously put on painted fleece and just get on with presenting.