People called me a gold digger because I dated Nick Knowles, says Katie Dadzie
MY first experience of love – or at least a serious crush – happened at school when I was fifteen.
After falling in love with an Emo boy last year, I thought I had truly found The One.
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His dark hair and stubble made him look like he belonged in a band, which was ideal since the walls of my bedroom were plastered with boy band posters.
There was something ‘mature’ about him and it helped that all the other girls thought he was beautiful.
Eventually, our mundane MSN chat – which largely consisted of whining about our parents and discussing Fall Out Boy – petered out and I realized we weren’t that compatible.
Falling in love with teenagers is one thing, but when it comes to feeling loved and safe, those are feelings I only really experienced in my thirties, after I met my partner Nick. [Knowles, 62, DIY SOS presenter].
READ MORE ABOUT KATIE DADZIE
We are connected to each other in 2021 through our children [Katie is Mum to Savannah, 10, and Alex, six, while Nick has four children, aged 10 to 28]later we had our first date in a cafe in Maidenhead.
As a shy person, I was surprised when our conversation flowed and discussed everything from my family to my work.
We dated for two years while living apart – Nick in Cheltenham and me in Windsor – before moving in together once my children became comfortable with him.
Nick is a big personality who likes to talk, but I learned that there is ‘TV Nick’ and ‘Home Nick’.
When he is home, he is thoughtful, buys flowers and makes endless cups of tea.
He also makes a great slow-cooked massaman curry with beef – his love language is cooking.
During our relationship, Nick’s boundaries fell.
Initially, he was worried about starting a new relationship because he is in the public eye.
One of the hardest things we’ve had to deal with as a couple has been hurtful comments, including nasty Instagram posts calling me a gold digger and others pointing out that I had gained weight.
There have also been racist comments saying I looked like I was drenched in creosote wood stain.
As someone who suffers from anxiety, this has really affected my self-confidence.
I said to myself, “Look how horrible I look.”
This invasiveness made me doubt our relationship.
In my first few years together, I thought, “I don’t want to do this anymore,” and I stopped doing things, refusing to put myself in the unfair position of being torn apart just because I was dating Nick.
So we’ve had our ups and downs, and sometimes I needed space.
Yet we always came back together.
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At the end of the day, we both love each other.
That’s why it was so easy to say yes when Nick asked me to marry him last year while we were in New Orleans.
Even though I had dropped hints, it was still a surprise when he presented me with a ring – made by Haribo Tangfastics!
We haven’t set a wedding date yet, but I’ve been busy picking out dresses.
It was wonderful to see a smiling Nick competing on Strictly Come Dancing, especially knowing how hard he worked.
At first he was terrified, afraid he wouldn’t remember the dances, but he did.
How ‘robust’ Nick Knowles became Britain’s most controversial heartthrob
Nick Knowles, 62, may not be your typical heartthrob, but the DIY SOS star has certainly found his way into the hearts of many women. Despite his workaholic behavior and his struggles with flat furniture, Nick’s love life is nothing short of eventful.
He first tied the knot with Gillian, mother of his two eldest children, Tuesday, 26, and Charlie, 27. After their divorce, he had a son with beautician Paula Beckett-Vass. In 2000, he dated TV presenter Suzi Perry and later married Jessica Moor, with whom he shares son Edwin. Despite claiming he was done dating in 2018, he is now engaged to lingerie company owner Katie Dadzi, 33.
Relationship guru Annabelle Knight revealed Nick’s surprising appeal: his charm, confidence and rugged good looks.
She told Fabulous: “With his dad’s body and divorces, he’s no David Beckham.
“But Nick is seen as attractive for several reasons: he has charm, confidence and rugged looks, all important factors.
“Nick has a natural charm and humor, which can be very attractive.
“His appearance on I’m A Celeb showed his ability to connect with people, and with his work on shows like DIY SOS, where he helps transform people’s lives, he highlights his compassionate side, something that most people find attractive.”
He has also become healthier and is losing 3 pounds a week [before getting injured and then becoming the third celebrity to be voted off]. I wasn’t worried about the Strict Curse, and it didn’t even occur to him.
He was there to learn, and when he came home exhausted, all he wanted was for it to be us.
When it comes to relationships, I want to know that I am supported.
Yes, I like being cooked for me, but I also like knowing that Nick has my back; that makes me feel safe.
Yet there is no debate as to which of the two of us is the most needy. I message and call first, but I think that’s because I’m thoughtful.
Nowadays I can deal with trolls better. I block strangers and Nick is always empathetic when I’m upset about it.
When you meet someone who is on TV, you have to consider your preconceptions about what that person will be like.
That’s exactly what I did – and I’m all the better for it.
I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and for the first time I feel loved.
- Katie runs Boaboawear.com. Follow @Katie.dadzie on Instagram
- Words by Anna Clarke
