Nick Knowles took to his Instagram to explain his absence from the Strictly final on Saturday night.
The 62-year-old star filmed himself watching the live show from the comfort of his fiancée Katie Dadzie’s home in Berkshire.
He told his followers: ‘Hello everyone. So it’s Saturday night and the grand finale is on TV. I’m watching it, just like you, but from home instead of the studio, because unfortunately I’ve had an operation on my big arm, and now also an operation on my big leg.
‘As a result, I’m only two days away from surgery so I can’t be there.
‘But like you, I’m sitting here watching the great show and wishing the best of luck to my friends – JB, Sarah, Chris and Tasha – who all deserve to be champions, so I hope they all do great.
“Thank you for all your kind wishes and for wishing me a speedy recovery. I’m really sorry I can’t be there with everyone else. It was the most wonderful experience.
Nick Knowles took to his Instagram Story to explain his absence from the Strictly final on Saturday night
The 62-year-old star filmed himself watching the live show from the comfort of his fiancée Katie Dadzie’s home in Berkshire
“Merry Christmas to you all, Happy New Year and congratulations to whoever wins the final.”
Alongside the clip he wrote: ‘So I can’t be there for the final as I’ve only had surgery two days ago and it was quite a major operation on my knee – for those who want to know it was a full cruciate ligament reconstruction and two meniscus repairs, including the removal of a replacement tendon from my hamstring – and I’m still recovering from surgery to reattach my distal biceps, which also makes moving on crutches difficult.
‘I now had to have the operation to be mobile and start filming on @BBCDIYSOS in early February.
‘There’s still a lot of rehabilitation and work with physios to come, but I’ll be pushing it as hard as I did during dance training and success will be managed in stages.
‘Only in February will I be able to walk without crutches, climb stairs, walk safely on uneven ground and then also be able to dance, because I have to be able to do my first dance at my wedding in June and I am sure that if I work hard I will pass will be 100% as good as new again in approximately 8 months
“Good luck to my friends competing tonight and to those back in the studio together. I loved the dancing and the cameraderie, but not so much the injuries.
‘Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for your wonderful messages wishing me to get better soon.
‘I’ve got some amazing work coming up this year with even more amazing DIY SOS shows – two of which we’ve already filmed and so many amazing families to introduce you to – there’s also two amazing travel shows coming through Mongolia soon which are epic and beautiful and full great people.
Nick informed his followers that he has just come out of major surgery
The star showed off his arm in a cast
He then revealed that he had damaged his knee
He wrote next to the post
“So as I lie on the couch looking like half Darth Vader with all the added robot attachments, I wish you a Merry Christmas and an adventurous and fun New Year. See you in 2025.’
Nick wasn’t the only star missing from Saturday’s final, as Paul Merson was also absent from the show.
Former footballer and pundit Paul, 56, who worked with Karen Hauer, did not show up because he was not feeling well.
A Strikt spokeswoman said this The sun: ‘Paul is unfortunately unwell today. He will be greatly missed and is sad that he could not be there.”
Earlier in the day, Nick appeared to be in severe pain as he left hospital on crutches after surgery.
He was forced to withdraw from this year’s live shows in October after seriously injuring his knee during rehearsals.
Nick struggled to walk after undergoing surgery on his left knee and also had pins in his left arm.
Nick wasn’t the only star missing from Saturday’s final, as Paul Merson was also absent from the show
Nick has kept his followers updated on his surgery
Due to his injury, Nick confirmed he will not return to the dance floor with partner Luba Mushtuk for the Strictly final tonight
The DIY SOS presenter has since revealed that it could take around nine months for him to recover from the injuries.
However, Nick seemed to be in good hands as he was supported by his 34-year-old fiancée Katie Dadzie, who runs a lingerie company.
The pair shared a kiss as Nick walked to Katie’s SUV so she could give him a ride home after recent surgery.
The TV presenter felt comfortable in a black T-shirt with short sleeves, which he paired with shorts and white Nike sneakers.
Disaster first struck for Nick during a dress rehearsal with Strictly pro partner Luba Mushtuk, where the star reportedly took a leap and landed badly.
It happened just weeks after the TV presenter injured his shoulder and arm while changing a car tire.
Nick is now hoping he will recover in time for his first dance at his wedding to Katie next summer.
He said: ‘We have our wedding booked for next summer and the plan is for us to have a first dance. It won’t be a full Strictly routine, but I’m determined to do a special dance with Katie.’
The TV veteran praised his ‘amazing’ Katie for taking him to his hospital appointments and even ‘putting on his pants’ as he can’t do that himself at the moment.