BBC has shot itself in the foot with latest axe and the public won't forget

BBC has shot itself in the foot with latest axe and the public won't forget The corporation has made a huge mistake with its latest cost-cutting exercise. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments OPINION By Fran Winston , Showbiz Reporter 12:00, Tue, Oct 20, 2026 DIY SOS has fallen victim to the BBC cuts (Image: BBC) At a time when polling and media research suggest trust in and favourability towards the BBC are at an all-time low, you would think the corporation would be determined to keep audiences happy. Instead, it has axed a much-loved, long-running show – and it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many licence fee payers. The public have been vocal online since the broadcaster announced that the Nick Knowles- hosted DIY SOS is to be “rested” after 27 years . The reason given was “savings challenges”, with the decision also meaning there will be no Big Build for Children in Need this year. The BBC said in a statement: "In light of savings challenges we have taken the decision to rest DIY SOS in 2027 and commission a new spin-off show instead from producers South Shore." Yet I fail to see how cutting such an incredibly popular and altruistic programme will save the corporation much money - or face. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT In almost three decades on air, DIY SOS has helped some of the UK’s most vulnerable families and communities. At one point, the team built a £1million children’s cancer unit in just 12 days. The show is free of scandal and has consistently made a positive difference, which is precisely why it has been so successful. Viewers regularly comment that they are left in tears by the moving stories it tells. Get reviews, gossip and upcoming show releases plus selected offers and competition I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . And when it comes to the cost, many viewers will know that local and national suppliers routinely donate building materials, from roof tiles and radiators to timber and paving. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Local tradespeople, contractors and specialist firms also frequently volunteer their time and expertise to help complete projects against punishing deadlines. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Nick Knowles has hosted DIY SOS sincde 1999 (Image: BBC) Strictly fans issue same complaint as they slam couple's 'rude' response to result Strictly star forced to leave BBC show immediately as they issue emotional statement These contributions are made possible by the goodwill the programme inspires, with the BBC ’s strict commercial rules preventing straightforward product endorsements and heavy-handed advertising. The show relies on a combination of BBC funding, corporate donations, community support and volunteer labour, meaning families do not pay for the work and a significant proportion of the resources involved comes from outside the BBC itself, making the corporation’s cost-cutting excuse even more bewildering. While many beloved shows have already faced the chop, axing an established format sold in 151 territories, including Australia, Canada, Italy, Taiwan, Romania and Kuwait, seems like shooting yourself in the foot. The BBC has also licensed the format to Ireland, creating another potential revenue stream. When DIY SOS launched in 1999, few could have predicted its success. It began as a low-budget, half-hour studio format in which viewers voted on which homeowners should receive help fixing botched or unfinished DIY projects. In 2010, it was transformed into the much bigger, hour-long DIY SOS: The Big Build, shifting the focus to life-changing projects for families facing severe illness, disability and bereavement. It was a move that turned the programme into the kind of emotionally charged, charitable television audiences love. Viewers feel that by watching, they are vicariously also doing some good, enjoying the reflected glory of the show's extraordinary acts of kindness. But axing it does not just affect the viewers who have complained in droves. It also affects the families and communities who desperately need the help it provides. This is not simply the cancellation of a television show. It is the removal of a valuable resource from vulnerable people in the name of penny-pinching. And it is not a decision the public will forget in a hurry. BBC Nick Knowles Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments