Julian Perryman: The Builder Behind DIY SOS and His Story in 2026

Introduction

Julian Perryman is a British builder and television personality best known for appearing on the BBC programme DIY SOS. Many viewers know him simply as Jules. He became a familiar member of the building team through his practical skills and friendly relationship with the other tradespeople.

But television tells only part of his story.

He started working in construction at a young age. Years later, he became a company director in Devon while continuing to work within the building industry.

His absence from some recent DIY SOS episodes has also raised questions. Has he left the programme? Is he still building? What is he doing now?

Here is what the verified information tells us.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Julian Thomas Perryman
Known As	Jules Perryman
Birth Month	July 1970
Age	56 years (October 2026)
Nationality	British
Profession	Builder and television personality
Famous For	BBC’s DIY SOS
Main Industry	Construction
Company	JT Perryman & Co Limited
Company Founded	7 October 2010
Business Location	Devon, England
Known Colleagues	Nick Knowles, Chris Frediani
Net Worth	Not publicly verified
Recent Media Appearance	Fix Radio, September 2026

A Builder Long Before Television

Every builder has a starting point. His came early.

According to his public professional background, Julian Perryman began working in construction at around 16 years old, helping his father build houses.

That gave him early experience of actual building work.

He learned about construction through practical jobs rather than through television. Housebuilding introduced him to the demands of working on-site, where preparation and experience matter.

Over time, his work became closely associated with general building and groundworks.

These are demanding jobs.

Groundworks often involve preparing a site before the visible building begins. The work can include excavation, foundations and other early construction tasks, depending on the project.

For Julian, building became a long-term profession.

His early education has not been described in enough reliable public sources to identify the schools or qualifications he completed.

What is documented is his early start in the trade and the career that followed.

How His Television Career Began

Most people recognise Jules from DIY SOS.

The BBC programme first aired in 1999. Its earlier episodes focused on helping homeowners deal with failed renovation work and difficult home-improvement problems.

The programme changed in 2010.

Under the title DIY SOS: The Big Build, it began taking on larger projects. Local builders, suppliers and volunteers worked together to improve homes for families facing serious difficulties.

Julian Perryman became one of the familiar tradespeople associated with these building projects.

He worked alongside presenter Nick Knowles and other members of the construction team.

His role was practical.

He helped with building work while the programme followed the progress of each project.

Viewers also saw conversations, jokes and occasional disagreements between tradespeople as deadlines approached.

This gave the programme a natural atmosphere. Real building work could be tiring, and the team had to handle problems as they appeared.

His experience made him a recognisable part of the show’s construction crew.

The Projects That Made Him Recognisable

Working on DIY SOS meant taking part in projects where ordinary families needed major improvements to their homes.

Some properties required repairs. Others needed larger changes to accommodate difficult living circumstances.

Julian Perryman appeared in several documented episodes.

BBC programme records identify him in projects including Littlehampton in 2010, Swansea in 2014 and the Isle of Sheppey in 2017.

These appearances connected him with a television programme known for bringing tradespeople and local communities together.

The work could be tough.

A large renovation needs different trades to complete their jobs in the right order. Builders may need to deal with unexpected problems while other workers prepare for the next stage.

That pressure was part of the show’s appeal.

People could watch the property change, understand the work involved and see how much effort went into completing a project.

For many viewers, Jules became one of the familiar faces helping make those changes happen.

Working With Nick Knowles and the Team

Nick Knowles has been closely associated with DIY SOS since the programme began.

He presents the projects and introduces the families receiving help. Meanwhile, experienced tradespeople carry out much of the construction work.

Julian worked alongside professionals including plasterer Chris Frediani.

Their working relationship became familiar to regular viewers.

Different building trades have different responsibilities. A builder may handle structural or general construction tasks, while plasterers prepare and finish wall surfaces.

On a demanding renovation, these jobs must fit together.

Julian Perryman brought his own construction background to the programme.

His appearances showed the day-to-day side of the trade, including physical work, deadlines and the conversations that happen between people working on the same site.

His Appearance on The Retreat

Building programmes were not his only television appearances.

In September 2016, Julian Perryman appeared on the BBC Two programme The Retreat.

The programme followed Nick Knowles and other participants during a wellbeing and detox experience on Koh Phangan, Thailand.

It was a different kind of television project.

Instead of following a house renovation, viewers watched participants take part in activities connected with their personal routines and wellbeing.

BBC programme listings confirm his involvement.

The appearance gave audiences an opportunity to see him outside his usual construction setting.

His Construction Company in Devon

Television recognition did not replace his business connection.

Julian Perryman is an active director of JT Perryman & Co Limited, a private company registered in England.

Official Companies House records confirm that the business was incorporated on 7 October 2010.

Its registered office is in Chudleigh, Devon.

The company’s registered business category is other building completion and finishing.

Here are the confirmed company details:

Business Detail	Information
Registered Name	JT Perryman & Co Limited
Company Number	07399969
Incorporation Date	7 October 2010
Company Type	Private Limited Company
Registered Office Area	Chudleigh, Devon
Business Activity	Building completion and finishing
Director	Julian Thomas Perryman
Registered Status	Active

Companies House also identifies him as a person with significant control, holding at least 75% of the company’s shares.

That is a confirmed ownership detail.

It does not reveal how much money he personally earns from the business.

The company’s records show its formal position. They do not provide a full picture of every building project he currently undertakes.

Helping Young People Learn Building Skills

Julian’s work has also included supporting people interested in construction careers.

In 2017, he took part in a SkillBuild event at South Devon College.

The event introduced school pupils to practical building trades.

Julian and Chris Frediani helped young people try plastering-related work.

More than 200 pupils attended, according to construction company Willmott Dixon.

Students had opportunities to learn about different trades, including carpentry, bricklaying, roofing and decorating.

This was useful experience for young people.

Reading about a trade is one thing. Trying a practical task can give someone a better idea of the skills involved.

Julian Perryman also worked with students on a DIY SOS project documented by Solihull College.

That project gave learners experience of tasks such as plasterboarding, preparation work and skimming.

His involvement connected professional television construction with real learning opportunities.

Charity and Community Work

His construction experience has also been used on community projects.

One example involves the Meadowside Charity in Newton Abbot, Devon.

In 2022, local reporting described Julian helping with building-related improvements connected to the organisation.

The charity supports people with care needs and their families.

In 2023, he helped open Meadowside Coronation Hall alongside BBC Spotlight presenter Janine Jansen.

The project involved developing facilities intended to support carers and the wider community.

He has also worked with construction-products company Geocel.

Their collaboration included building-product demonstrations and campaigns associated with the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity.

The charity provides support to construction workers and their families during difficult periods.

These projects form another documented part of Julian’s professional history.

Why Has He Been Missing From DIY SOS?

This is a question many viewers have asked.

Julian Perryman has been absent from some recent DIY SOS projects and team photographs.

His absence became especially noticeable during certain special editions of the programme.

People began asking whether he had left.

Nick Knowles addressed the matter publicly, explaining that Julian was taking time to be with his family.

The explanation was reported again in March 2025 when a new series was being discussed.

But there is an important difference between taking time away and permanently leaving a programme.

No verified public announcement establishes that he was dismissed from the show.

There is also no confirmed statement identifying a permanent retirement from television.

For now, his reduced television appearances should not be treated as proof of a permanent departure.

His exact future involvement remains unconfirmed.

What Is He Doing in 2026?

Julian Perryman still has a documented connection with the British construction industry.

Official company records continue to identify him as an active director of JT Perryman & Co Limited.

The company filed accounts covering the year ending November 2025 in March 2026.

He has also continued appearing in construction-related media.

In January 2026, he participated in a Fix Radio discussion about groundworkers and their experiences in the industry.

Another appearance followed later that year.

On 27 September 2026, Julian joined Chris Frediani and Tom Davis on Fix Radio’s The Plastering Show.

The episode discussed working with different trades, reliability on building sites and the problems that can occur between professionals.

That appearance provides a recent public example of his continued connection with the trade.

It does not confirm how many construction projects he is personally working on in 2026.

Still, it shows that his professional story did not end with his earlier television appearances.

What Happens to DIY SOS in 2027?

There is another recent update.

On 17 October 2026, the BBC confirmed that DIY SOS would be rested during 2027 because of financial pressures.

The broadcaster also announced a new spin-off with the working title DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life.

The planned programme will revisit earlier renovation projects and the people involved.

The BBC has not described the original series as permanently cancelled.

This decision concerns the programme itself.

It does not confirm Julian Perryman’s personal departure or guarantee his participation in the spin-off.

As of 26 October 2026, no verified announcement establishes a specific new appearance for Jules in the planned programme.

Age and Personal Background

Official records provide a clear answer about his age.

Companies House lists Julian Thomas Perryman’s birth month and year as July 1970.

That makes him 56 years old in October 2026.

His exact birthday is not provided in that public record.

His professional background is strongly connected with Devon, England.

The region is also associated with his registered building business.

There is much less reliable public information about his childhood home, school history and private family background.

Those details should not be guessed.

Wife, Children and Family Life

Julian Perryman has generally kept much of his private life away from public attention.

His family attracted renewed interest when Nick Knowles explained his absence from DIY SOS.

However, that public explanation did not describe his personal family circumstances.

Older entertainment material contains claims about his wife and children, but recent independent confirmation of his marital status and family details is limited.

It would be misleading to present those claims as fully established.

His family members’ private details are not necessary to understand his construction career or television work.

For now, the clearest public information concerns his profession and documented media appearances.

Net Worth and Earnings

People also search for Julian Perryman’s net worth.

There is no reliable public figure for his personal wealth.

His career has included construction, television work and commercial partnerships.

But those professional activities do not establish his personal income.

His company’s accounts are separate from his personal finances.

A registered business may have assets, expenses and revenue without those amounts representing the director’s own wealth.

So any exact net worth estimate would require stronger financial evidence.

His television salary has not been independently verified either.

What Makes His Career Interesting?

Julian Perryman’s career has followed an unusual route.

He began working in construction during his teenage years. Later, his practical experience brought him onto British television.

Many viewers came to know him through house renovations. Yet construction remained the main thread of his working life.

His official company records, training events and recent industry interviews tell that story.

Television made him recognisable.

The building trade gave him his profession.

And while viewers continue asking about his DIY SOS future, his documented work outside the programme deserves attention too.

Final Thought

Julian Perryman became a familiar television personality through years of practical building experience.

His work on DIY SOS introduced him to audiences across Britain, while his company and community involvement kept him connected with construction beyond the screen.

Some questions remain unanswered, especially about his family life and future television appearances.

But the confirmed facts tell a clear story.

Jules Perryman is a British builder whose career began long before television and whose connection with the building industry was still publicly documented in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Jules Perryman?

Jules Perryman is a British builder and television personality. He is best known for appearing on the BBC home-renovation programme DIY SOS.

2. How old is he in 2026?

He is 56 years old as of October 2026. Official Companies House records list his birth month as July 1970.

3. Why did he stop appearing on DIY SOS?

Nick Knowles explained that he was taking time to spend with his family. A permanent departure has not been officially confirmed.

4. Is he still working as a builder?

His building company remains active in official records. He also appeared in construction-related radio programmes during 2026, although his daily work schedule is not publicly confirmed.

5. Where is his building business based?

JT Perryman & Co Limited is registered in Chudleigh, Devon, England.

6. Is Julian Perryman married?

Recent reliable public information does not clearly establish his current marital status. He keeps much of his family life private.

7. What is his net worth?

His personal net worth has not been publicly verified. Any precise figure without reliable financial evidence would be speculative.

8. Will he return to DIY SOS?

No confirmed return date has been announced. The BBC has also stated that the main programme will be rested in 2027 while a retrospective spin-off is developed.

Central IDea