Your TV guide to The Repair Shop!
The BBC's hit TV show The Repair Shop is the crafty, upcycling, and restoration show we all need. While we wait for season 9 to air here's everything you need to know about the show including where it's filmed, where you can watch it, and even a Jay Blades fact file!
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Over the past few years, we’ve really got into upcycling here on Gathered. Whether it’s turning old items into something new, fixing what’s broken, or revamping loved objects with techniques like decoupage, we’re all for this new sustainable movement. Which is why we have been the biggest fans of The Repair Shop since it first aired in 2017. The show takes some incredibly talented specialists from around the country and puts them in a beautiful barn, armed and ready to fix the publics’ most sentimental treasures. The Repair Shop cast has mended everything from rocking horses to loved dollies and when they’re reunited with their owners we can’t help but get emotional! If you’re a fan of the show like us, or you want to know what all the fuss is about, then this is the guide for you. Keep on reading to discover all the essential info about The Repair Shop including where it’s filmed, how it works, and who fixes all the incredible treasures.
Watch The Repair Shop’s official trailer and fall in love like us…
Looking for even more crafty TV? Once you’ve learned all about The Repair Shop check out our guides to The Great British Sewing Bee, The Great Pottery Throwdown and Netflix’s Blown Away. We’ve also got a whole host of free daily craft patterns which will keep you entertained while you watch all the seasons of The Repair Shop!
Your Repair Shop FAQ
Where can I watch all seasons of The Repair Shop?
You can watch all seasons of The Repair Shop on BBC iPlayer for free! There’s been eight series of The Repair Shop so far (we can’t wait for season 9) with current extended episodes of series 5 showing on BBC One Wednesdays at 8 pm. There’s also plenty of specials throughout the year including The Repair Shop Christmas.
Where is The Repair Shop filmed?
The Repair Shop is filmed at the beautiful The Weald and Downland Living Museum in Chichester, UK. When The Repair Shop isn’t filming, this historic site is a living museum aiming to teach adults and children how ages gone past lived. Throughout the museum, you’ll find craft demonstrations aiming to show how people created, cooked, and functioned hundreds of years ago making it the perfect setting for The Repair Shop. The team build, fix, stitch and love objects back together in the museum’s Court Barn.
Who owns The Repair Shop?
The Repair Shop is owned by the production company Ricochet and the barn belongs to The Weald and Downland Living Museum. Contrary to popular belief Jay Blade does not The Repair Shop. It’s purely for TV but each of the specialists has their own individual workshops and businesses away from the show.
Do they pay for the repairs on The Repair Shop?
The TV show pays for all the repairs on The Repair Shop! Restorations can cost hundreds to thousands of pounds so everyone who gets on the show is very lucky. Rob Butterfield, head of factual at the show’s production company Ricochet, told the BBC: “We don’t charge for repairs. “If people wish to make a donation to charity we’re very happy with that, but it’s by no means necessary.”
How do The Repair Shop get paid?
Again, the wonderful production company pays The Repair Shop cast for their time, effort, and expertise. Every aspect of the show from the materials to labor to set is paid for by the TV company and we’re very grateful for that as it keeps this wholesome show on our screens.
How can I get on The Repair Shop?
Fancy going on The Repair Shop and getting your treasures fixed? To apply to be on The Repair Shop simply go to the BBC’s application page and fill out the form. Or you can email repair@ricochet.co.uk or write to the show at The Repair Shop, Ricochet, Pacific House, 126 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3TE. The only requirements for applying are to be over 18 and to have an object with a personal, societal or historical story. If it’s of historical significance to you or a loved one then The Repair Shop wants to hear from you.
Jay Blades Fact File
The Repair Shop just wouldn’t be the same without cheeky chappy and host Jay Blades. His energy and kindness puts both the crew and visitors at ease and we love his passion for restoration. He has an emotional and inspirational back story, experiencing both racism and homelessness in his lifetime but he’s overcame everything that’s been thrown at him and is now one of the UK’s most beloved presenters. Jay Blades was awarded an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours, for services to craft which was very well deserved we think! Here’s a little Jay Blade fact file so you can get to know The Repair Shop’s host a little better.
Age: 51
From: Hackney but currently based in Wolverhampton
Profession: Furniture restorer and presenter
Family: Jay’s partner is Christine Goodman and he has three children
Meet The Repair Shop cast 2021
Will Kirk
Will Kirk is one of the youngest specialists at The Repair Shop and has achieved a lot in his 36 years. He fell in love with furniture restoration after spending his childhood watching his grandfather work in his workshop. After studying both graphic design at the University of the Arts and antique furniture restoration and conservation at London Metropolitan University, Will went on to restore furniture for different dealers around the country before being invited onto The Repair Shop.
Steve Fletcher
Steve Fletcher is the show’s talented clock-repairer (technical name – horologist!) and has been in the business for over 46 years. 57-year-old Steve has continued his family’s legacy of horology, being the third generation of Fletcher to run and own The Clock Workshop in Oxfordshire. A proud father of five, Steve’s knowledge, and experience are invaluable in The Repair Shop and he works on some of the most technical projects brought in. And the most asked question, is Steve married to Suzie? No! Steve is Suzie’s little brother.
Suzie Fletcher
Suzie Fletcher is The Repair Shop’s saddle maker and restorer specializing in leather. She comes from a craft-loving family with a sewist mother and clock-repairer father but found her passion among the horses. After spending 22 years in the USA as a top saddle maker, she returned to the UK and was encouraged by her brother to join The Repair Shop crew!
Kirsten Ramsay
Specializing in ceramic conservation and restoration, Kirsten Ramsay never fails to wow us with her attention to detail and incredible painting skills. 46-year-old Kirsten started her career by getting her British Antiques Dealer Association post-graduate diploma from West Dean College and so after started work at the conservation department at the British Museum in London. Kirsten now has her own successful business, Kirsten Ramsay Ceramic Conservation and Restoration, which restores Oriental and European ceramics.
Dominic Chinea
The beardiest member of The Repair Shop and all-around nice guy Dominic Chinea, is a set designer and restoration expert. Much like Will, he studied graphic design at university before finding his passion in car restoration. Before starring on The Repair Shop Dom worked at Rankin Studios as a production designer and as a set decorator. He’s credited on many famous pop videos including Rita Ora’s Facemelt, Iggy Azalea’s Slo and Azealia Banks’ Liquorice.
Amanda Middleditch & Julie Tatchell
Next up in The Repair Shop cast is the very sweetly named ‘Teddy Bear Ladies’! Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell are vintage bear restorers, who began working together in 2006 after meeting in Julie’s craft studio. Their teddy bear shop in Beaulieu in the New Forest is home to all sorts of cuddly creatures and it was this that lead them to be invited onto the show. They’ve fixed all manner of sentimental bears and dolls which make both us and their owners well up with happiness.
58-year-old Brenton West is The Repair Shop’s resident silversmith. Originally from Oxfordshire, Brenton joined the show in 2017 after he was asked to repair a wooden camera. He has both a degree in silversmithing from the Medway College of Design and a degree in photography specializing in 19th Century photography and equipment. With over 40 years of experience in silversmithing, Brenton now fixes everything from broken camera equipment to delicate jewellery on The Repair Shop.
Authors
Phoebe has worked for Gathered, and our sister magazine Mollie Makes, for 3 years. She manages our Arts & Crafts section and specialises in social media and content strategy. She has a background in all things marketing, a flair for Pinterest and a knack for finding the next big craft trend. Previously she worked as Digital Campaign Executive for Fat Media. You may recognise her name from Mollie Makes Social Media magazine, where she shared her expertise and top tips on becoming social media savvy.
