DIY SOS to be 'rested' next year to save money, BBC says
The long-running programme will be replaced by a "more cost-effective" spin-off show revisiting past projects.
By BBC News
DIY SOS to be rested by BBC next year amid savings drive
The BBC has confirmed that DIY SOS will be “rested” in 2027 as the corporation looks to reduce costs.
The long-running home renovation programme will be replaced by a new spin-off made by South Shore, the independent production company behind the main series.
DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life, which is currently a working title, will revisit families and renovation projects featured in previous programmes.
A BBC spokesperson said the decision had been taken “in light of the BBC’s savings challenges”. The new programme will expand the DIY SOS brand “in a more cost-effective way”, the broadcaster said.
The BBC stressed that the original programme had not been permanently axed. Its current series remains on air, with episodes available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The annual DIY SOS instalment for Children in Need has also been rested, according to reports.
The decision comes as the BBC works towards saving £500 million over three years. Other programmes affected by recent cuts include Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live At The Apollo.
DIY SOS first appeared on television in 1999 and has featured large-scale renovation projects involving families and communities across the UK.
In 2015, presenter Nick Knowles worked with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and hundreds of volunteers on a project transforming a derelict street in Manchester into homes for military veterans.
The new spin-off is expected to air next year, while the BBC’s latest series of DIY SOS continues.