Art on paper conservator Angelina Bakalarou announced her engagement during a recent episode of The Repair Shop, prompting an outpouring of support from viewers and colleagues.
Engagement revealed on air
While waiting for the next client to enter the barn, upholstery specialist Sonnaz Nooranvary asked how she was doing. Angelina lifted her hand to show her ring and said, "I'm engaged!" Sonnaz congratulated her, saying she was "delighted," and exclaimed, "Look at that ring!"
The ring appeared to be a gold band with a red gem at its centre, as shown in a detailed view on the programme.
Viewers congratulate the couple
When the episode originally aired last autumn, fans of the show took to social media to share their best wishes. One viewer hoped Angelina and her partner would enjoy "many blissful years together," while another called the news "marvellous." A third remarked on how well suited the couple appeared.
Angelina has been with her partner, Simone, since at least 2015, when he first appeared on her Instagram. The pair have shared photos from trips to Doha and Sardinia.
Angelina's journey on the show
Angelina first appeared in the barn in 2023, though she was already friends with fellow expert Will Kirk. She has been part of the programme since its early days and posted a photo with colleagues after her debut episode.
She explained that a member of the production team contacted her by email, leading to interviews and discussions before she joined the show, describing the experience as "surreal."
Asked about the most challenging item she has repaired, Angelina said: "Well, everything, I would say that everything has been challenging, or has had its own challenges, because not one item is the same. You can never assume that it is going to be the same thing that happened to you, even one time before. So, one of the most challenging, I would say, was the helmet because it was a 3D object. I had never done a 3D object before in my life. So that was like a massive thing where I had to think outside the box and think of different approaches to how to fix something that fits on someone's head. So that was quite challenging."
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
