DIY SOS is an emotional programme at the best of times, but the most recent outing for Nick Knowles and his crew of tradespeople took things to an even higher level. The long-running BBC show told the story of the Chapman family, from Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire, on Tuesday night (June 14).
Presenter Nick introduced viewers to Chapman patriarch Peter who at the same time as caring for his wife and daughter, had been attempting to build an extension to make their house more suitable for their needs. It was revealed that just two weeks before filming began, the Chapmans lost another daughter too.
While caring 24/7 for his wife and Sarah and daughter Suzanne, who are at different stages of a long-term genetic disorder called myotonic dystrophy, the 60-year-old former car mechanic and hospital porter was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Sadly, Peter's mother also died a few years ago, so he and Sarah, 55, took in his 64-year-old autistic brother Steve, who works part-time at a local launderette and also assists with care, the Manchester Evening News reports.
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As the health of daughter Suzanne, 35, who has the mental age of 12, and wife Sarah continued to deteriorate and Steve’s needs expanded, Peter struggled to finish work on the house and find the hours in the day to care for all his family. Then just before the DIY SOS team moved in to help, Sarah and Peter's daughter Margaret, 31, who had the same condition as her mum and older sister, sadly passed away.
In order to make more space for specialist equipment and their wheelchairs, Peter set about building an extension to adapt the house to meet everyone's needs - but time and money ran out before it was finished. "As time went on, we realised it was going to get worse. And it did," Peter said during the emotional episode.
But that's where the DIY SOS team stepped in and began fixing the things that Peter had tried to do himself. However, they encountered unexpected problems in the form of Storm Dennis which put the Big Build into jeopardy.
But it takes more than that to halt Nick and team and they managed to completely transform Peter and Sarah's home. At the end, Sarah told Nick that she wished Margaret could have seen the transformation, adding: "I don’t think that thank you is going to cover it."
And as ever, the show left viewers in tears. @Lady_Rachelle72 tweeted: "#DIYSOS Hearing the families story at the beginning of the show had me in tears.. i'm now sobbing.. this family deserve it so much!! Great work team!! In fact, incredible work!!!"
@Audge3000 commented: "I have tears streaming down my face right now #DIYSOS."
@FairwaysAndFood commented: "Well @MrNickKnowles and the @DIYSOS team, you have me in tears again. There are some beautiful people in this world and this program reminds me that with every episode. Gorgeous house for a wonderful family that deserve ever help with their challenging life. #DIYSOS."
