Dame Helen Mirren has hailed the emotional and 'fantastic' restoration of a Second World War-era cello, which was deliberately and brutally broken by Nazis, in a heartwarming segment for the BBC's The Repair Shop Christmas special.
A Cello with a Harrowing Past
The instrument belongs to Denville Hall, a north London care home for retired professionals from the entertainment industry, which the acclaimed actress actively supports. The cello was bequeathed to the home by theatre director Martin Landau.
Landau's story is one of survival and loss. As a 14-year-old Jewish child, he fled Germany on the Kindertransport, the organised rescue effort that evacuated children from Nazi territories. "The one thing he wanted to bring with him was his cello," Dame Helen explained. "But before he got on the train, the Nazis broke the cello, cruelly, deliberately, monstrously."
As a result of this violent act, the cello had remained silent and unplayable for more than 80 years.
The Journey to Restoration
Dame Helen, 80, expressed her desire to see the instrument brought back to life so it could be played alongside the piano at Denville Hall, performing Christmas songs and entertaining elderly residents. She turned to the experts at The Repair Shop for help.
In a preview clip shown on The One Show, the cello's severe damage was clear, with visible cracks across its body and its neck completely detached. Expert restorer Becky Houghton took on the delicate project, describing the instrument as "beautiful" but expressing sadness that it had been "brutalised in this fashion".
The moment of revelation was captured on camera. As a green cloak was lifted from the restored cello, Dame Helen gasped, said "Hello," and smiled in clear delight. She praised the repair as "wondrous" and congratulated Houghton, saying, "Becky, that's fantastic, many, many, many congratulations."
A Festive Special with More Treasures
The Christmas edition of the popular BBC programme will also feature other special guests. Children's author Julia Donaldson, 77, will appear with actor Rob Brydon seeking to repair a cherished toy farmhouse given to her by her grandmother.
This farmhouse holds fond childhood memories for Donaldson and her sister and even served as inspiration for the settings in some of her beloved books. Brydon, who stars in the film adaptation of Donaldson's The Scarecrows' Wedding airing this Christmas on the BBC, joins her in the workshop.
The Repair Shop Christmas Special will air on Boxing Day at 7.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer. The show has also put out a call for festive-themed items in need of repair for next year's special, with applications to be made via the BBC website.
