One of The Repair Shop's most cherished experts has revealed that his personal and professional life has descended into chaos as he balances multiple ambitious projects simultaneously. Dominic Chinea, who became a household name after joining the BBC's beloved restoration programme in 2017, confessed that filming for his mysterious new television show has left him working in organised chaos.
From Kent to Cornwall: A Life-Changing Move
The television personality recently made a dramatic lifestyle change, relocating from Kent to Cornwall in what he describes as a completely life-altering decision. Dominic revealed the stress and rewards of his cross-country move, which sees him now living approximately seven hours away from his previous connections.
"It is completely life-changing. It really is. I'm never moving again," Dominic confessed in a recent YouTube update. "It was stressful, but it's like having that workshop and having that at home has been a dream for so long."
The metalwork expert now owns a property with a substantial barn that he's converting into his dream workshop, a significant upgrade from his previous arrangement where he rented workspace. "Previously, I rented my old workshop, and every month, I was giving a lot of money to a landlord to rent the space," he explained. "Now it's my space, and whatever I do to it, it's mine."
Secret TV Project and Ambitious Personal Endeavours
While Dominic remains tight-lipped about the specifics of his new UKTV programme, he shared his excitement about the project in a YouTube video with his followers. The star described it as "an awesome project" that's already exceeding expectations despite the chaotic filming schedule.
"The reason for getting that - which is secret information, so keep it between yourselves - is that I'm working on a new TV show. I'm really excited about it," Dominic revealed. "It's going really well. I can't wait to be able to share more with you."
Simultaneously, the restoration expert is undertaking an extraordinarily ambitious personal project: repurposing a World War One aircraft engine to construct a fully functional race car. He's been documenting this complex endeavour on his YouTube channel, where he regularly updates fans on his progress.
Embracing the Chaos
Despite the significant headway in both his television work and personal projects, Dominic admits that organisation remains a challenge. His workshop situation reflects the temporary chaos, with the expert still dealing with practical issues like shovelling cow manure from areas where his tools are stored.
"As you can see behind me there's been a lot of progress with the workshop," Dominic noted in a recent video update. "But I'm still very much working in chaos, the TV show is coming to an end which means I've got a tiny bit more time to spend here working on my own project."
The conclusion of filming for his secret television project will provide some welcome relief, allowing him to dedicate more attention to his workshop development and the extraordinary aircraft engine conversion.
Fans have flooded the restoration expert with support following his honest revelations about the challenges of his relocation and multiple commitments. Many took to social media to express their admiration, with one supporter writing: "You are an amazing man Dom, there's no getting away from that. I wish you every success for the future."
The Repair Shop continues to air on BBC One on Wednesdays at 8pm, with episodes available for streaming on iPlayer. Viewers can follow Dominic's additional restoration adventures and workshop progress through his YouTube channel.
