Nick Knowles has spoken out on his breach of BBC commercial guidelines.
Last year, the TV star was dropped from a special edition of his hit BBC show of 23 years DIY SOS after starring in an advert for cereal brand Shreddies, which went against the broadcaster's advertising rules.
Speaking about the incident, Nick admitted that while he regrets the 'confusion' he caused with the ad, he took the job to make money during the pandemic.
Back on screens: Nick Knowles has spoken out on his breach of BBC commercial guidelines for the first time. The star was dropped from a special edition of his hit BBC show DIY SOS last year after starring in an advert for cereal brand Shreddies
Nick was replaced by comic Rhod Gilbert for the Children In Need special of DIY SOS at the height of the drama but is returning to present a new series of the home makeover programme, which will air on the BBC next week.
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.
Nick told The Sun of his decision to star in the ad: 'You know, you've gotta earn and there was a period during the pandemic where shows just weren't being made. That work wasn't there and I've got to provide for my family and an opportunity came up.
'Obviously what I regret is the confusion that arose around it. I certainly would not have chosen to have upset the BBC or upset the programme in any way.'
Rules: Speaking about the incident, Nick admitted that while he regrets the 'confusion' he caused with the ad, he took the job to make money during the pandemic (pictured on DIY SOS)
Nick added that DIY SOS is 'more important that just a job for me. I live and breathe it and have done for 23 years. It's really, really important to me. 'I'm just glad we were all able to sit down and work a way through it.'
The BBC star confirmed in May 2021 that he wouldn't be sacked from DIY SOS over the ad with the corporation making 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.
Issues: 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
'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.'
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 at the time.
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.
One Twitter user said: 'This is ridiculous. What's the difference between Gary Lineker selling Walkers Crisps? Very inconsistent policy?'
Defence: 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 at the time