For more than two decades, DIY SOS has brought hope and transformation to countless families — but behind the joy and celebrations, some of the show’s most touching stories have been marked by heartbreaking loss. From a father who battled motor neurone disease to a teenager who died before his episode even aired, these are the real people whose courage moved Britain.
In 2023, viewers mourned the death of Jason Liversidge, who had appeared on DIY SOS in 2015 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His wife, Liz, announced that he had died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. She wrote that he was “the best husband and father we could ask for” and that he would “remain alive forever in our hearts and minds.” Jason was just 47.
Another story that broke the nation’s heart was that of Simon Dobbin, who was brutally attacked in 2015 on his way home from a Cambridge United match. Left unable to walk or talk, Simon’s home was transformed by Nick Knowles and his team in 2017 to support his care. He passed away three years later, aged 48. The football club paid tribute with the message: “Sweet dreams, Simon. Forever a U.”
In 2022, tragedy struck the Chapman family when their youngest daughter, Margaret, died just two weeks before filming began. Suffering from the same genetic condition as her parents and sister, her passing cast a deep shadow over the episode. Nick Knowles, holding back tears, said the team would continue their mission in her memory.
Meanwhile, Ben Wernham, a devoted father from Gloucestershire, died peacefully in his sleep in 2024 at just 41. Paralysed after a holiday accident in Cyprus, Ben’s story inspired a massive community effort and one of the most memorable DIY SOS transformations. His daughters said: “We knew his life would be harder than most, but we didn’t think he’d go this soon.”
Finally, there was Oliver Hudson, the teenage boy with severe learning disabilities who passed away shortly after filming but before his episode was aired in 2017. His story, alongside his adoptive father Darren, who was battling a spinal condition, was later rebroadcast as a tribute — showing how much the show had changed their lives.
Through every loss, DIY SOS has continued to shine a light on resilience, love, and the power of community — a legacy that lives on in every home the team has touched.
