Fans of The Repair Shop were left confused after noticing that a fan favorite was conspicuously missing from the latest promotional material for the upcoming series.
The comments section was swarming with fans of the show, all asking the same question: “Where’s Steve?” Referring to the much-admired watchmaker Steve Fletcher, who was absent from recent commercials for the new series.
The 61-year-old master watchmaker has been an integral part of the BBC family since 2017, delighting guests and viewers alike with his extraordinary talent for restoring valuable timepieces every week.
Despite the anticipation for the new episodes, which will air next week on August 14, fans were disappointed to discover that the watch expert, who works from his barn in West Sussex, appears to be missing from the cast for the upcoming season.
When her followers saw the last update from the show’s official Instagram account, they clamored for news, reports the Express.
The show’s official site posted pictures showing host Jay Blades with his amazing team of craftsmen. However, one key figure seemed to be missing and fans noticed. The show’s announcement read: “More repairs. More stories. More memories restored.”
“The all-new #therepairshop launches on BBC One and iPlayer on August 14th.” While many expressed their excitement at the upcoming launch of the new series, others were far more concerned about Steve’s absence.
One comment read: “I’m currently getting episodes on YouTube but I’ll watch them whenever I can. I love this show. And where’s Steve?” Another replied: “I love this show. Steve is missing from the photo!” A third Repair Shop fan asked: “Where the hell is Steve?”
A fourth even tagged Steve himself and asked for an update, writing: “Where’s @stevefletcher. Watches?” along with a crying emoji. It’s clear that Steve offers a first-class service, having gained a degree from a college course at the British Horological Institute in 1973. His expertise in all things watch is clearly unparalleled.
In 2020, his son Fred joined his workshop as an apprentice, preparing to one day take over the family business. He did this while also studying science and engineering in college.
It wasn’t until 2022 that Fred, the watchmaker’s son, appeared alongside him as a skilled watch restorer in The Repair Shop, and the two teamed up to repair the greatest watch ever made. But since neither of them are seen in the first poster, it’s a mystery whether or not they will appear.
The new series of The Repair Shop returns to BBC One and iPlayer on August 14
