8 things The Repair Shop has taught me

Furniture restorer Jay Blades, 51, tells TV Times what he’s learnt from hosting TV’s most heart-warming show…

- TESS LAMACRAFT

THE REPAIR SHOP

MONDAY-FRIDAY / BBC1 / 4.30PM / FACTUAL

1 IT’S OK TO CRY

‘It’s always emotional in the repair barn. Some of the objects that are brought in are more joyous and fun, while others have an emotional pull that just hits you like, “Wham!” It takes my breath away when people express their emotion so openly and I feel so honoured to be there because it’s such a personal thing for them.

‘I don’t cry at the best of times, let alone in front of five to seven million people, so I think it’s incredibly brave for people to come to us and let those emotions out. We always have a big box of tissues on hand!’

2 THESE AREN’T JUST OBJECTS

‘I find each and every story behind the objects that people bring in beautiful. I don’t classify the objects brought in as “items” any more – they’re all more like “family members”.

‘All the stories move me but often the ones that really stay with me are those where men have shown emotion towards their wives who are no longer with them. I will always remember the jukebox [in episode two, series six] that audio expert Mark Stuckey helped to fix for Geoff, who had lost his wife. It had even provided entertainment at their wedding reception. And the little transistor radio that meant so much to widower Albert [episode one, series four].’

3 DIY HELPS WELL-BEING