TV host Nick Knowles reveals he needed counselling as his marriage crumbled after wife Jessica was diagnosed with cancer and suffered a miscarriage

  • The 54-year-old said he suffered dark times in a year of hell as he split from Jess 
  • Jess, who he wed in 2012, suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with cancer
  • Nick is now tackling mental health issues is a BBC series Mind Over Marathon 
  •  And he has revealed he used counsellors to help him through his tough times

TV presenter Nick Knowles revealed he turned to counselling when his marriage fell apart.

The 54-year-old said he suffered dark times in a year of hell, which ended with the DIY SOS host splitting up with his wife Jessica.

As their relationship hit the rocks, Jess also suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with cancer.

Nick is now tackling mental health issues is a BBC series Mind Over Marathon. And he has revealed how he used counsellors to help him through his own tough times.

Former flames: Jessica and Nick (pictured at Chelsea Flower Show, May 2016) married in Rome in 2012 but they made their separation public in January last year

Former flames: Jessica and Nick (pictured at Chelsea Flower Show, May 2016) married in Rome in 2012 but they made their separation public in January last year

Happier times: The couple, who share a 26-year age gap, announced their initial separation in January yet he confirmed last month that they were giving things another go

Happier times: The couple, who share a 26-year age gap, announced their initial separation in January yet he confirmed last month that they were giving things another go

He told the Daily Mirror: 'I think everyone needs support. It is hard to go through traumatic difficulties without needing it. 

'I did really go through it emotionally last year. My wife Jess was really, really unwell. She suffered some really traumatic experiences last year and we were already going through difficulties in our marriage anyway so all of those things are hugely difficult but I always had people to talk to, people who are close to me.

'When I actually come under extreme stress or difficulty, I spend time with my older brother John who has had some counselling training. 

'So anytime that I have been in super stressful situations, I'll go and be with him and he's very intuitive and knows how I am feeling.'

The couple married in Rome in 2012 but they made their separation public in January last year.

Their split was muddied by his fling with Gemma Oaten and Jessica's shock cancer diagnosis earlier this year but last month he insisted they were happily working on their marriage again and are ensuring their two-year-old son remains their priority. 

They rekindled their romance briefly in November as they tried to make their marriage work - with Nick even moving personal items back into her home.

But it wasn't meant to be as it fizzled out within a number of weeks. 

Putting her troubles behind her: The 28-year-old estranged wife of Nick, who shares two-year-old son Eddie with the presenter,  was in high spirits

Putting her troubles behind her: The 28-year-old estranged wife of Nick, who shares two-year-old son Eddie with the presenter, was in high spirits

Their split was muddied by his fling with Gemma Oaten and Jessica's shock cancer diagnosis earlier this year but last month he insisted they were happily working on their marriage again and are ensuring their two-year-old son remains their priority

Their split was muddied by his fling with Gemma Oaten and Jessica's shock cancer diagnosis earlier this year but last month he insisted they were happily working on their marriage again and are ensuring their two-year-old son remains their priority

Nick has teamed up with Princes Harry and William and Kate Middleton to front the new documentary Mind Over Marathon.

The show features 10 amateur runners who live with different mental health issues, as they trained for this year's London Marathon.

Nick is presenting the series and is leading a team of running experts, nutritionists and psychiatrists who will help the runners achieve their goal. 

The royals made an appearance in the documentary at a training day. 

 As their relationship hit the rocks, Jess also suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with cancer. They are pictured here in 2014

 As their relationship hit the rocks, Jess also suffered a miscarriage and was diagnosed with cancer. They are pictured here in 2014

The runners took part in the 2017 London Marathon with Heads Together, the campaign led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which is the official Charity of the Year for this year’s event.

Last week Prince William used FaceTime to speak to Lady Gaga from as part of the campaign to raise awareness about mental health.

And Nick praised the role of the royals for helping to raise awareness about mental health.