Latest news with #RepairShop
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- 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.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- 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.
Edinburgh Live
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Repair Shop guest stunned as she's emotionally reunited with 'mad' childhood toy
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A guest on The Repair Shop was left exclaiming 'oh my God' as she saw a cherished toy from her childhood restored. In a repeat episode of the BBC One show aired last night (Sunday 13), Vanessa brought in her beloved toy lion, Leo, which she'd had since she was a child. The enormous toy needed some TLC after years of play and was entrusted to The Repair Shop experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, also known as The Teddy Bear Ladies. "He came from a department store, my mum wanted to buy me a tortoise to climb over, I was probably eight months to a year old, and she went into a shop with my nan and just fell in love with this lion," Vanessa explained. She went on: "She didn't realise the size of it so she then tried to fit him in a Austin 11, I think my mum had to climb in the back holding on to him and they couldn't put the boot down or anything like that." (Image: BBC) Vanessa recalled the "fits of giggles" that occurred every time her grandmother and mother retold the story. "The shock for my dad and grandad was that the price was my dad's weekly wage," Vanessa added, shocking the experts. Vanessa then shared her fond memories of her childhood with Leo, climbing on him and cuddling him, before he was passed down to her own children. She sadly revealed that she lost her "loving" and "special" mum ten years ago, and Leo became a symbol of the love she shared with her. (Image: BBC) "My mum was my best friend, and I realised I didn't have any recent photos with her just on my own... but I feel that Leo is my photo," she said. Over the years, Leo had lost fur in certain areas, with matted fabric and had sunk down. When asked what her mum would think of her bringing Leo to The Repair Shop, Vanessa replied: "She'd be laughing, and knowing that story got out there that her mad purchase has bought so much happiness and so much love, we've loved him, my kids have loved him, and hopefully a next generation will love him." After they were able to work their magic and restore Leo with new stuffing and fabric, Vanessa was left delighted. (Image: BBC) "It was really weird, when I left Leo here it was like leaving a best friend in a sense," she said. "I can't describe it, I didn't expect to get those feelings at all." Upon seeing him, she said: "Oh my God! His hair! He's so big, I remember holding him like this. It's like how I remember holding him when I was little, he looks brand new!" "My mum would have been so pleased to have seen that," she emotionally added. "You've provided a legacy for hopefully I might get grandchildren and I can have the same photo of my grandchild next to Leo." The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Repair Shop expert emotional as guest breaks down in tears over item
The Repair Shop expert was left speechless as a guest broke down in tears over a precious item Brenton West was left full of emotion on The Repair Shop after a guest brought in a headless SAS statue with an incredible backstory. On Wednesday's (July 9) episode, the show paid tribute to the "favourite fixes" completed by the experts, focusing on World War II items specifically. A man named Ian McPherson walked into The Repair Shop carrying a memento that spoke volumes about extraordinary courage. He handed the SAS statue missing its head - a keepsake his father had received to mark the 50th anniversary of the SAS - to Brenton and Dominic Chinea. Ian shared that he inherited the statue from his father who passed away in 2002, but sadly, the head got knocked off during some home decorating. Delving deeper into his father's history, Ian revealed: "He joined the Army as soon as he could in the second world war. Then he joined the SAS when it was formed. "The special forces, they do a lot of fighting behind enemy lines. In my dad's case, he was over in Greece quite a lot." Ian explained: "He tried to liberate the Greeks and while he was there, he got wounded." In an astonishing twist, Ian recounted how his father was found and rescued by the Greek resistance, reports the Express. "He had three bullets in his leg and they actually cut his leg off on a kitchen table," Ian said. A shocked Brenton replied: "They cut his leg off?" Ian then recounted the life-saving decision made when his father was losing blood at an alarming rate, a story met with Brenton's respectful silence. He further described his father as "very modest", never speaking of the incident. To which Brenton noted: "You find that with true heroes. They don't often talk about it." "Everybody said he was a great guy, which is why this means a lot," Ian shared, becoming emotional: "I'm getting upset." Upon returning to The Repair Shop, Ian was greeted with the restored statue courtesy of Brenton's craftsmanship. Astonished by the work, Ian exclaimed: "Woah." The sight of the statue, now "back to his old self", brought a smile to Ian's face and tears to his eyes, which he dabbed away with a handkerchief. "I don't think I could ask for better," Ian gratefully acknowledged. "You've fair done me proud and my dad too." The Repair Shop will air this evening on BBC One at 9pm and is available to stream over on iPlayer.
Edinburgh Live
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC The Repair Shop star admits 'I'm worried' over 'one of a kind' restoration
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Repair Shop star admitted, "I'm worried", over a "one of a kind" restoration on Wednesday (July 9). In the latest episode of Favourite Fixes, broadcast on BBC One, Vanessa Budd entered the barn with a World War II keepsake for toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch to examine. Vanessa presented her mother Zoe's Land Army doll, Jill, which she suspected was handcrafted after her mum joined the civilian group at the age of 18. "We think she made this doll within the first couple of years because this is the Land Army hat. But she joined the Timber Corps in 1942," Vanessa detailed. "I think of her not just as a doll, but a symbol of what so many women did during the Second World War," reports the Express. (Image: BBC) Vanessa was eager for the specialists to refurbish the doll's attire and was curious about what they might discover beneath the clothes, having never been permitted to undress the doll in her youth. "I'm a little bit worried about her wobbly head, but you can see the wartime sort of hairstyle, can't you? Yeah, it's very sweet," Amanda remarked upon initial inspection, with Julie concurring: "It'll be an honour then. We'll be the first people to have looked [underneath the clothes]." Julie then proceeded to carefully undo the doll's blazer, trousers, and shoes, which had been securely sewn onto the body. "We've definitely never worked on one of these before. Until we've removed all these clothes, we don't actually know what work we've got to do," she admitted. (Image: BBC) Once the clothes were off, Amanda could better examine the doll's condition, whilst Julie tackled the "time-consuming" task of mending the garment's tears. "It was so important to keep this original jumper," Julie remarked. "It's not something that we would have been able to replace. It's definitely a one of a kind, and I think for that reason I was able to persevere with all this darning." Amanda then proceeded to remove each of the doll's ringlet curls, meticulously crafting each lock before reattaching them individually. "It's been a complete adventure, amazing," she expressed as they approached the end of the restoration. (Image: BBC) Vanessa was then left utterly gobsmacked upon viewing her mum's refurbished doll, which ready for service once more. "Oh, she's lovely! She's absolutely gorgeous. My mum would have been so proud. I just wish she was here today cause she would have been 100 this year. What a birthday present," she exclaimed. Reflecting on the unique challenge of the project, Amanda shared: "It's been like an exploration of trying to get into the mindset of your mum making it because it's not like anything we've seen before." Wrapping up, the expert said: "She's a really fitting tribute to that era." The Repair Shop is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
