Dominic Chinea, the beloved metalwork expert from the hit BBC programme The Repair Shop, has candidly revealed his professional life has descended into 'chaos' as he balances multiple major projects.
A Multitude of Projects
In a recent update shared on his YouTube channel, the celebrated craftsman confessed that the sheer volume of work has created a whirlwind of activity. A significant part of this mayhem stems from filming a brand-new, and currently secret, television series for UKTV.
Dominic acknowledged the progress on his workshop but teased that details are under wraps for the upcoming show. He stated, "As you can see behind me there's been a lot of progress with the workshop. And you know what I'm going to say, you're going to have to wait for the TV show, UK TV, to see a lot of that stuff."
He did, however, offer a glimmer of hope for his personal ventures, adding, "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 projects and actually getting stuck into stuff."
Ambitious Personal Venture: A WWI Engine Car
The primary personal project consuming Dominic's time is an incredibly ambitious endeavour: constructing a racing car powered by a World War One aircraft engine. He is documenting this complex build on his YouTube channel, offering fans a glimpse into the monumental task.
This isn't the first time he has hinted at his new television work. Earlier this year, he shared some cryptic details on the same platform, expressing his excitement. "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," he revealed.
"It's an awesome project and we're just getting started on it, and it's so exciting already. It's going really well. I can't wait to be able to share more with you - and we're going to be driving around in a Defender, if I can get it fixed."
Life-Changing Move and New Mechanical Challenges
Dominic's professional chaos coincides with a significant personal change. The expert, who has been a fixture on The Repair Shop since 2017, recently made a life-altering decision to relocate from Kent to Cornwall.
He described the move as "completely life-changing", adding, "I'm never moving again. It was stressful, but it's like having that workshop and having that at home has been a dream for so long." He remains grateful for the opportunity but admitted the property is still a work in progress, humorously noting he is still "shovelling cow poo" from where his tools are stored.
In a related automotive update, Dominic surprised fans by purchasing a new Land Rover Defender, a TD5 110 long bed pickup from around 2000-2001. True to form for the restorer, it has immediately become a project. "It is in the workshop on axle stands with the bonnet open because it's broken," he shared. "I was not expecting it to be a project."
Despite the chaos, Dominic's passion for his craft and his exciting new ventures, both public and personal, continue to endear him to his many fans.
