The BBC's hit show The Repair Shop returns this week with longer episodes in a primetime slot, following a team of craftspeople in Sussex who restore cherished but damaged items for members of the public. The show, narrated by Bill Patterson, has become a surprising success since its quiet debut in 2017 on BBC2, drawing 5.5 million viewers for its Christmas special last December.
Presenter Jay Blades, a 50-year-old furniture restorer, attributes the show's popularity to its positive tone. 'We show people being kind and helpful, looking after each other,' he says. 'It’s about a group of talented craftsmen and women who come together to create lasting memories for people who might otherwise have lost those memories.'
The new series features several poignant moments. In one episode, Nick McCullen from Southampton breaks down when he brings in his late father's Royal Navy rigging kit, and is moved to tears again after seeing the repair work by leather specialist Suzie Fletcher. Another episode sees Geoff Clark from Sunderland bring in a broken jukebox that reminds him of his wife Marie, who died from a brain tumour seven years ago.
The most emotional story involves Tony and Jenny, a married couple who bring in a Georgian bucket used for collecting peat in Ireland. It was a wedding present from Tony's cousin 40 years ago, but is now in a perilous state. Tony, who has motor neurone disease, says, 'I’d like it repaired so I can give the restored version to Jenny as a memento before I pass on.'
The experts themselves are not immune to the emotions. Suzie Fletcher broke down last year when restoring a rocking horse whose owner had lost her husband to cancer, as Suzie had also lost her husband to the same disease. 'I felt like I’d been hit by a sledgehammer when I discovered Paul Yates had written his name and the date beneath the saddle,' she recalls.
