Nick Knowles admits breaking down in tears in service station car parks after filming emotional DIY SOS scenes

NICK Knowles has admitted breaking down in tears in service station car parks after filming emotional scenes on DIY SOS.

The 58-year-old says he tries his best to avoid crying on camera - but is often overcome with emotion on his way home.

He told ITV's Lorraine today: "When it comes to that moment, I get off-screen, because I don’t think the end of the show those moments are about me. 

"They’re about the fortitude of the people I’m talking to and about the giving of the 300 people it takes to volunteer their time throughout 100 companies that give their material.

"So, when we get to those moments where it’s emotional, a lot of TV presenters will sort of horn in on the moment because this is your opportunity for emotion.

"I tend to get out the way so that people who are volunteering and the people whose lives are being changed can have that moment together.

"I don’t think you need a TV presenter in there at that point, but yeah I quite often have a little cry.

"We’ll finish the programme and get like 50 miles down the motorway and pull into a service station over in one corner of the carpark and have a little cry on our own."

The BBC’s latest Big Build special kicked off tonight with host Nick travelling to County Down, Northern Ireland.

He's there to help out Mandy McCreight whose ill health left isolated in her bedroom. 

Nick's team transformed the home she shares with her husband and two kids to be wheelchair accessible.