Nick Knowles
“I have never wanted to be associated with one kind of programme – it’s important to challenge yourself and make sure you are not pigeon holed. It means it takes longer to develop a career and profile with viewers and commissioners but it’s a much firmer, broader base. I can never understand presenters who will only work with autocue or will only work in studio – it’s like being a carpenter and only making wardrobes! I don’t like to stand still and try to make the next thing I do completely different from the last”
Nick saw in the New Year with us all with the BBC coverage of the midnight bongs of Big Ben on New Year Live and 2007 kicked off with Mission Africa where fifteen apprentices were guided by Nick and the wonderful Major Ken Hames through six weeks living in the African bush providing security, a wildlife reserve and safe drinking water for the Samburu people in a drought hit region of northern Kenya. Series 14, 15 and 16 of DIYSOS went down well too and were possibly some of the funniest series yet. Much credit here should go to Simon Knight who has brought a new lease of life and creativity to the show. More and more people seem to be cottoning on to just how strange a format this is and what amazing appeal it has across the age spectrum. Real Rescues, a daytime format based around the Police, Ambulance, Coastguard and Fire Services went down very well with the daytime audience. It marked a return to the partnership between Nick and his old buddies at Topical Television, who previously had been responsible for City Hospital, Ridgeriders and many more of Nick’s early forays into network TV.
Nick also made a memorable film on Orangutans for the BBC’s Saving Planet Earth series, a real insight into the error of choosing biofuels as an alternative fuel source. He also managed to squeeze in a series of Wedding Programmes for BBC1 called The Big Day. Tears aplenty as every Bride’s every wish came true. He stepped into the breach on The One Show and has been busy filming all new goodies. Last appearance for Nick on our screens for 2007 was also the first of 2008 as he brought in the New Year with Myleene Class on BBC1.
One more change at the beginning of 2008 was the addition to the team of Nick’s agent John Miles. Top of his game and a wonderful man too – contract negotiations should now run smoothly so Nick can concentrate on the business of making programmes.
2008 also saw two series of the highly popular lottery quiz show, Who Dares Wins which is back again this summer, and the high rating Real Rescues (three series so far with my old pals at Topical). Watch out for an evening version of the series on BBC1 soon. Wild About your Garden saw Nick teaming up with the wonderful and highly respected Chris Beardshaw and the boundlessly enthusiastic and brilliant Ellie Harrison transforming dead garden spaces into wildlife havens.
Also summer 2008 saw the amazing Last Choir Standing which became must see TV. It started quietly, as would any Saturday night show with choir in the title, but viewing figures rose and word of mouth just made it cool. The last show had almost seven million viewers which is pretty good for a first series and congratulations to the winning choir Only Men Aloud on their fantastic success and recording contract. Choirs are cool again appearing in numerous adverts for trains, chocolate and a BBC1 drama – All the Small Little Things.
To the Ends of the Earth aired this summer on BBC1, which saw Nick revisit Africa and get up close and personal with the wildlife. And Guesstimation kept you amused on Saturday nights.
Nick continues to break new ground with original and high rating shows, always taking risks on new projects rather than relying on tried and tested formats. “I always think would my Mum or Dad have watched this, would my brothers or sisters enjoy it, would my younger nephews or nieces find anything in this to get their attention, would people in Doncaster, Aberdeen, Norwich, Hull, Torquay or Wrexham enjoy this as much as Manchester, Birmingham or London”
Nick is also trying to squeeze in more drama writing and is going to be pretty busy for the next few months. So what’s next?
‘Everyone says they have projects in the pipeline and it’s such a showbiz parachute – I’ve never talked about anything I haven’t actually shot and there’s enough of that coming out soon to be going on with – but rest assured I’m keeping busy and there are a few more surprises in store. I like to take risks with my career and live a life less ordinary!’
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