Rhod Gilbert reveals he was nearly crushed by a log while stepping in for DIY SOS host Nick Knowles

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    He is taking over from Nick Knowles to host DIY SOS: The Big Build for a Children In Need special.

    And, Rhod Gilbert, 53, has revealed he was nearly crushed by a log while presenting the programme, and branded the experience ‘relentless, exhausting graft.’

    Discussing the hosting gig, the comedian admitted he had ‘big shoes to fill’ given that Nick, 59, has been at the helm of the BBC property makeover show for 20 years, and worried whether he’d be accepted.   

    Oh no! Rhod Gilbert, 53, has revealed he was nearly crushed by a log while presenting DIY SOS: The Big Build for a Children In Need special

    Oh no! Rhod Gilbert, 53, has revealed he was nearly crushed by a log while presenting DIY SOS: The Big Build for a Children In Need special

    Rhod told The Sun that while lifting heavy logs, one fell on his leg nearly crushing him, but insists he was most impacted by the stories shared by volunteers on site. 

    He said: ‘I was amazed at the number of volunteers and they were all there for a reason which I hadn’t really expected… They all had really moving stories about how they benefited from community support and wanted to put something back.

    ‘Once you’ve been around TV for a long time you can get very cynical about it. But this was absolute relentless, exhausting, graft. People doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. And then staying on when we missed the deadline.’

    The comedian admitted that he wasn’t expecting the experience to be as ‘draining’ as it was but explained that in addition to presenting, he acted as a counsellor and labourer too.  

    Big shoes! Discussing the hosting gig, the comedian admitted he had'big shoes to fill' given that Nick Knowles, 59, has been at the helm of the BBC property makeover show for 20 years

    Big shoes! Discussing the hosting gig, the comedian admitted he had ‘big shoes to fill’ given that Nick Knowles, 59, has been at the helm of the BBC property makeover show for 20 years

    Incredible: Rhod told The Sun that while lifting heavy logs, one fell on his leg nearly crushing him, but insists he was most impacted by the stories shared by volunteers on site

    Incredible: Rhod told The Sun that while lifting heavy logs, one fell on his leg nearly crushing him, but insists he was most impacted by the stories shared by volunteers on site

    On stepping into Nick Knowles’ shoes for the charity special, Rhod said: ‘I thought, “Oh, God, can I do this? He is synonymous with the show and definitely has big shoes to fill. Will I be accepted?” All you can do is try. 

    ‘When somebody’s been doing it for 20 years, he’s gonna be bl**dy good at it. You know, it takes a while to find your feet on these things. I didn’t have that. I have got one to try and do as good a job as I can.’

    Earlier this summer Nick was rumoured to be in trouble with the BBC after he appeared in a Shreddies commercial, threatening his 22-year tenure on the renovation show. 

    Doing it all: The comedian admitted that he wasn't expecting the experience to be as'draining' as it was but explained that in addition to presenting, he acted as a counsellor and labourer too

    Doing it all: The comedian admitted that he wasn’t expecting the experience to be as ‘draining’ as it was but explained that in addition to presenting, he acted as a counsellor and labourer too

    But, despite reportedly being in breach of strict advertising rules set by BBC bosses, the corporation then made a U-turn on their stance.

    Nick told The Sun: ‘I have always said that DIY SOS is more than just a presenting job for me, it’s part of me.

    ‘It has my heart and working for the BBC for over 22 years is something I have never taken for granted.

    ‘I will continue filming new episodes of DIY SOS over the coming months and will be back on your screens with the purple shirts next year.’

    MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment at the time. 

    Oh dear: Earlier this summer Nick was rumoured to be in trouble with the BBC after appearing in a Shreddies commercial, threatening his 22-year tenure on the renovation show (pictured)

    Oh dear: Earlier this summer Nick was rumoured to be in trouble with the BBC after appearing in a Shreddies commercial, threatening his 22-year tenure on the renovation show (pictured)  

    Nick played a jobbing builder in the advert – a move said to go against the BBC’s ban on TV talent trading-off their on-screen personas.

    But fans of the presenter, who once netted as much as £300,000 in one year from his BBC work, took to social media to defend the star.

    Some even branded the BBC as ‘inconsistent’ for coming down on Knowles while allowing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker to continue advertising Walkers crisps.

    DIY SOS: The Big Build, BBC Children In Need Special, airs on Tuesday on BBC1 at 9pm 

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