the DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular is again once more this yr, and the workforce can be taking up certainly one of their largest tasks but: constructing a brand new residence for a Leeds-based charity.
With simply 10 days scheduled to finish the construct, it is one more tall order — and presenter Nick Knowles and the workforce might want to pull in quite a lot of favors from kind-hearted native suppliers and tradespeople to get every part accomplished. Happily, this yr they’ve teamed up with BBC Radio 2 to assist get much more folks concerned.
This is every part we find out about this yr’s heart-warming particular for Youngsters In Want 2022…
DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular: when is it on?
This yr’s DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular will air on Wednesday, November 16 at 9 pm on BBC One.
DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular: who’s presenting it?
After comic Rhod Gilbert stood in for him throughout final yr’s particular, long-serving DIY S.O.S. Presenter Nick Knowles is again on the location for this yr’s version.
DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular: what charity is it for?
The charity that impressed this yr’s construct is Leeds-based group Getaway Ladies (opens in new tab)which helps ladies and younger girls throughout town who are sometimes going through challenges of their lives.
Getaway Ladies initially operated out of a terraced home, however as demand for his or her providers elevated, the charity outgrew its unique area and labored from rented areas within the metropolis. That is the place the DIY S.O.S. workforce is available in: they’re planning to construct a bespoke, secure, long-term residence for the charity with all of the amenities that they should serve their group.
DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular: who’re the celeb helpers?
As a result of this yr’s construct is happening in partnership with BBC Radio 2, you’ll be able to count on to see a few of your favourite Radio 2 presenters stopping by to assist. Among the many stars donning a high-vis jacket and a tough hat to assist out on the location are Scott Mills, Rylan, DJ Spoony and Sara Cox, whereas Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball meet among the folks whose lives have been modified by Getaway Ladies — and in a DIY S.O.S. first, Zoe presents her breakfast present dwell from the large reveal of the finished constructing.
DIY SOS Youngsters In Want Particular: Nick Knowles interview
What are you able to inform us about this yr’s undertaking?
“We did it for a corporation that does extraordinary issues for younger girls and ladies within the Leeds space. They’ve a historical past of doing nice work, however they did not have a facility to have the ability to assist extra. That is the place we had been capable of deliver the development business collectively, and other people within the workforce that they would not usually be capable to afford, and because of this there’s a improbable new facility, out of which they will be capable to assist much more folks.”
What had been among the challenges you confronted this yr?
“Properly, we had the horrible information of the dying of Her Majesty The Queen firstly of the construct, after which the funeral was within the center. Our schedules are so tight, however finally we needed to present respect, and provides folks the chance to see the funeral, in order that put a reasonably large gap in it. Due to the funeral, so we had been respectful of it and marked it, but in addition pressed on and obtained the job accomplished.
“Additionally, the location was in the midst of a housing property, so we had to concentrate on the individuals who lived within the space — we had been bringing quite a lot of disturbance for a really quick, intense time. And one other drawback was supplies — the wooden for constructing has gone up one thing like 50% within the final yr and a half.would our suppliers, after they’re struggling to get provides from their constructing contractors, nonetheless be beneficiant with the rather more costly supplies in order that we might truly get the job accomplished? And as normal, folks went the additional 100 miles and pulled out all of the stops.”
How useful had been the presenters from Radio 2?
“It was fascinating — I feel all of them arrived barely nervous that they would not be capable to assist out a lot, and so they may really feel a little bit of a fish out of water! However in precise truth, all of them got here away actually moved by the folks they met on web site, and genuinely obtained caught in themselves.
“A whole lot of them introduced good concepts to the construct, which we managed to include as we went alongside — DJ Spoony particularly advised the way in which we had been about to construct one thing within the media room was the mistaken manner spherical, and it might work quite a bit higher if we shifted issues round. Rylan introduced tooth whitener and hairspray, however he additionally introduced an angle to affix in, and it labored very properly!”
What was it like having Zoe Ball broadcasting her breakfast present in the course of the massive reveal?
“As a way to hit the timings, we needed to begin the reveal actually early! I used to be making an attempt to disclose one a part of the constructing and there was an entire load of noise exterior the entrance door, and I went out and mentioned, “you’ ll must be quiet out right here as a result of we’re doing the reveal” — and it was the Radio 2 crew! I used to be like, “oops, sorry!”
“Really, on the finish of the reveal, that is the second the place I had proven them throughout and so they had been in shock, and Zoe walked in dwell on Radio 2, we had been capable of get that magic second the place they responded to what the folks had constructed for them. Organizationally, it was a unprecedented reveal to place collectively, however properly value it.”
How do you cope when the construct is over? It should get fairly emotional…
“Yeah, it’s! Folks can endure what we name “the SOS dip”, which is the week after you have accomplished one, you’ve got a form of comedown interval the place you are fairly unhappy. You’ve got been in an intense cauldron for 10 days usually — it was 13 days on this explicit one as a result of we had an overrun — and there’s a little bit of a down feeling afterward due to all of the feelings that you have occurring, and you have been maintaining it collectively for the present. It is commonplace for me and the opposite members of the workforce to tug over in a service station and have just a little emotional second on the way in which residence!”