Described as an "antidote to throwaway culture", presenters on The Repair Shop put a spotlight on the often-hidden treasures people have in their homes.
Much like its sister show, The Bidding Room (opens in new tab), the owners of the items come into the workshop - where The Repair shop is filmed (opens in new tab) - with their pieces ready for the team to view. This makes it a must-watch for restoration fans as the panel of experts from across the country lend their skills to the antiques and transform them from broken relics into new, exciting pieces of family history.
If you're an antiques whizz, you might even recognise some familiar faces on the show as both the presenters and the experts are at the top of their game. So whether you're looking for details on Jay Blades (opens in new tab) or Suzie Fletcher (opens in new tab) - we've got you covered.
DON'T MISS: When is King Charles on The Repair Shop? (opens in new tab)
The Repair Shop cast: Who are the presenters?
The Repair Shop is mainly hosted by Jay Blades (opens in new tab), a furniture restorer who has also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef. He has his own furniture design and restoration company called Jay & Co.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning in 2019, Jay told hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, “I oversee someone bringing in an item and also the making and repairing of the item and then someone coming to pick it up so the reveal as well. And just making sure that everyone has the right tools they need, ordering them and so on.”
Jay does have three children, though. A daughter, Zola, from his marriage to ex-wife Jade and two other children from previous relationships. The dad-of-three gave his fans an update on his personal life in December 2021, when Jay Blades announced his engagement (opens in new tab) to long-term girlfriend Lisa.
However, there are a whole host of resident craftspeople on The Repair Shop who help with the restorations and present the show.
- Suzie Fletcher, leather expert
- Stephen Fletcher, watch and clock repairs
- William Kirk, carpenter
- Dominic Chinea, metalworker
- Kirsten Ramsay, ceramics expert
- Amanda Middleditch, teddy bear repairs
- Julie Tatchell, teddy bear repairs
- Lucia Scalisi, painting conservator
- Brenton West, silversmith
Are Jay Blades and Will Kirk related?
No, Jay Blades and Will Kirk are not related. There is a fifteen year age gap between the two men, who both appear on The Repair Shop.
While Jay mainly presents the show, William is a carpenter and an expert in wood restoration. Will has also appeared on other BBC programmes including the 2021 season of Celebrity Masterchef (opens in new tab) - but was the first in his cohort to leave the show.
Who narrates the Repair Shop?
The narrator for The Repair Shop is Bill Paterson, a Scottish actor and commentator.
Bill has has appeared in many television shows and films from as early as 1984, such as Sea of Souls and Miss Potter. Most recently he appeared on the BBC’s hit show Fleabag, playing the father of the protagonist (Phoebe Waller-Bridge).
Robert Pugh was the voiceover for series two to four and is a Welsh actor, known most famously for his role as Craster in HBO’s Game of Thrones. He has also played roles in Doctor Who, Midsommer Murders and Doctor Foster.
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