Latest news with #JayBlades
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jay Blades' doomed final TV appearance revealed - with axed Repair Shop host just weeks away from filming star-studded reality show before domestic violence arrest
Jay Blades was reportedly set to be the face of a major new reality show just weeks before he was arrested for domestic violence. The BBC presenter, 55, appeared in May to deny the coercive control of his estranged wife over a 20-month period. The television presenter is alleged to have left Lisa-Marie Zbozen in fear of violence on at least two occasions while in an intimate or family relationship. During the brief hearing, Judge James Burbidge KC refused a defence request to hear part of the hearing in private. Jay was charged with a single count of 'controlling and coercive behaviour' between January 1 2023 and September 12 2024. He has entered a plea of not guilty. The charge resulted in Jay being dropped from The Repair Shop 's live tour and the show's Christmas special. However, it's now been reported Blades was signed up to star in ITV's new big budget reality show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters. A TV insider told The Sun how he was considered a 'big win for bosses' but 'given the boot' once news of his charge was revealed. They said: 'Producers got lucky as they hadn't started filming or doing any promotion yet so were able to replace him with someone else. 'There were travel plans in place for the cast taking part in the show so it caused a lot of upset and disruption behind the scenes.' MailOnline has contacted ITV and representatives for Jay. Starting tonight, viewers will see Countdown's Rachel Riley, Amandaland's Lucy Punch and McFly's Dougie Poynter take part in Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters. Also joining them is Ade Adepitan, 52, Helen George, 40, Sir Lenny Henry, 66, and Ross Noble, 48. Before being charged, Jay was the lead star of The Repair Shop, having anchored the BBC daytime show since its launch in 2017. It even beat This Morning to scoop best Daytime TV Show at the National Television Awards in 2023. In 2022, a special one-off episode of The Repair Shop for the BBC's centenary saw Blades and the repair team visit the King, when he was still the Prince of Wales, at Dumfries House in Scotland. Blades was made an MBE by Charles in May 2022 for services to craft and in recognition of his work promoting heritage craft and restoration in the UK. He was later invited to the King's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in May last year. Blades is a trustee of the Heritage Crafts Association, a charity which aims to safeguard craft skills, of which the King is patron. And Blades appeared in a Channel 4 documentary last year about his friendship with actress Dame Judi Dench, called 'Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple'.
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jay Blades 'just weeks away from starring in new reality TV show' before arrest
Former BBC Repair Shop host Jay Blades is said to have signed up to a brand new ITV reality show but was dropped when news of his arrest emerged weeks before filming started Axed BBC star Jay Blades was reportedly set to appear on a brand new reality TV show before his arrest came to light. The former Repair Shop host pleaded not guilty following being charged with engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards his estranged wife last year. Blades, who rose to fame on the hit BBC show, was arrested on May 3. It was the same day his wife Lisa Zbozen publicly announced her split from the presenter after 18 months of marriage. He was said to have signed up to new ITV show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters before his arrest. However, the show was reportedly thrown into chaos after allegations emerged with bosses taking swift action to remove Blades. 'Attracting a popular BBC star to be in the new ITV series was a big win for bosses," a source told the Sun. 'But as soon as Jay Blades was arrested in March 2024, they knew they had to make a quick decision about the future of the show. 'He was given the boot. Producers got lucky as they hadn't started filming or doing any promotion yet so were able to replace him with someone else." They added travel plans had been put in place for those taking part, so his exit caused "upset and disruption" behind the scenes. Blades became a household name when he began hosting The Repair Shop in 2017 when the show first aired on BBC Two. In October 2022 the dad-of-three was the lead presenter for a special edition of the BBC series featuring the newly crowned King Charles. He then worked on a 15-part restoration series with Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason. David and Jay's Touring Toolshed aired at the start of last year and was a hit with viewers. However, recent episodes were pulled from the BBC schedule and catch-up programmes. Blades was due to head to the Bahamas alongside the likes of Sir Lenny Henry and Call the Midwife 's Helen George to overcome their fear of sharks in the ground-breaking new show premiering this week. Ross Noble, Countdown's Rachel Riley, McFly's Dougie Poynter, Amandaland's Lucy Punch and TV presenter Ade Adepitan also took part in the series that marks 50 years since the release of iconic film Jaws. They were taught to dive by an instructor with missing limbs and challenged to confront their greatest fear and flown to the island on Bimini in the Bahamas, home to around 10 different species of shark. Weeks after the series was announced, Blades was arrested and charged. He appeared at Worcester Crown Court in October where he spoke to confirm his identity and entered his not guilty plea. The trial begins on August 26 and is expected to last two weeks. The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Axed TV host Jay Blades was weeks away from starring on new reality series before domestic violence arrest
TV HOST Jay Blades was weeks from starring on a daring new reality TV series when blindsided bosses axed him over his domestic violence arrest. The Repair Shop presenter, 55, was preparing to star in ITV's Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, which starts tonight. 1 But the show was thrown into chaos after allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour against his wife Lisa Zbozen, which he denies. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Attracting a popular BBC star to be in the new ITV series was a big win for bosses. 'But as soon as Jay Blades was arrested in March 2024, they knew they had to make a quick decision about the future of the show. 'He was given the boot. 'Producers got lucky as they hadn't started filming or doing any promotion yet so were able to replace him with someone else. 'There were travel plans in place for the cast taking part in the show so it caused a lot of upset and disruption behind the scenes.' Blades is accused of causing Lisa, 43, to fear violence would be used against her on at least two occasions. The trial begins on August 26.
Scottish Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Axed TV host Jay Blades was weeks away from starring on new reality series before domestic violence arrest
Blades is accused of causing wife Lisa to fear violence would be used against her on at least two occasions BLADES DROPPED Axed TV host Jay Blades was weeks away from starring on new reality series before domestic violence arrest TV HOST Jay Blades was weeks from starring on a daring new reality TV series when blindsided bosses axed him over his domestic violence arrest. The Repair Shop presenter, 55, was preparing to star in ITV's Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, which starts tonight. Advertisement 1 Jay Blades was weeks from starring on a daring new reality TV series when blindsided bosses axed him over his domestic violence arrest Credit: PA But the show was thrown into chaos after allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour against his wife Lisa Zbozen, which he denies. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Attracting a popular BBC star to be in the new ITV series was a big win for bosses. 'But as soon as Jay Blades was arrested in March 2024, they knew they had to make a quick decision about the future of the show. 'He was given the boot. Advertisement 'Producers got lucky as they hadn't started filming or doing any promotion yet so were able to replace him with someone else. 'There were travel plans in place for the cast taking part in the show so it caused a lot of upset and disruption behind the scenes.' Blades is accused of causing Lisa, 43, to fear violence would be used against her on at least two occasions. He pleaded not guilty at Worcester crown court to controlling or coercive behaviour towards his estranged wife. Advertisement The trial begins on August 26.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Trial of TV presenter Jay Blades delayed
The trial of BBC presenter Jay Blades, who is accused of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards his wife, has been delayed. The 55-year-old, who fronted primetime show The Repair Shop, was due to stand trial at Worcester Crown Court next month. Judge James Burbidge KC, the Recorder of Worcester, granted a defence application to vacate the trial date. He fixed a new date for August 26 with an estimate of two weeks. A pre-trial review will take place on August 1. Blades, from Claverley in Shropshire, did not attend the brief hearing but was told he needed to appear in person for the pre-trial review. He was released on conditional bail. The TV star had previously denied one charge of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards Lisa-Marie Zbozen. The charge alleges that controlling and coercive behaviour took place in an intimate or family relationship between January 1 2023 and September 12 last year. The charge against Blades alleges that his behaviour had a 'serious effect' on his partner, 'namely that it caused her to fear on at least two occasions that violence would be used against her'. Ms Zbozen announced that the couple's relationship was over in an Instagram post on May 2.
