Will Kirk, the beloved furniture restorer from BBC's hit series The Repair Shop, has shared a surprising secret about the show's early days. While the cast now share a bond closer than family, their first dinner together was filled with uncomfortable silences.
From Awkward Silence to Family Ties
Speaking on The MarshyCast with Paul Marsh, Kirk reflected on the "very special" connection viewers see on screen. He confirmed that the genuine friendship is no act, but admitted the journey wasn't always smooth. The inaugural cast dinner during series one was a particularly stilted affair.
"I remember the first night that we all went out for a meal," Kirk recalled. "We sat around the dinner table and introduced each other and there was just lots of silence. It was like, 'who puts all these random people round a table?'"
The Challenge of Cameras and Collaboration
Kirk explained that the initial adjustment was especially "tricky" and "daunting" for many experts on the show. A significant number were used to working in solitude on their intricate crafts, not in a bustling barn workshop surrounded by people and television cameras.
"A lot of people here kind of work on their own, and that's their whole life," he said. "So it was quite a tricky thing for them to get into." However, he emphasised that everyone soon warmed to the unique environment.
A Barn That Became a Home
Eight years on, the dynamic has transformed completely. Kirk, who has two young children with wife Polly, revealed he now spends more waking hours at the famous barn than at his own home. His colleagues have effectively become his surrogate family.
"I kind of see people more here than my own actual family at home," he confessed. "People become like your auntie and your uncle, and your grandfather, and your brother and your sister - it is like a very large family." He credited the production company, Ricochet, for fostering this unique atmosphere.
The festive season will see this family welcome some extraordinary guests. The Repair Shop at Christmas, airing on Boxing Day from 7.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer, will feature special appearances from Hollywood icon Dame Helen Mirren, comedy star Rob Brydon, and cherished author Julia Donaldson.
