Only a few days left until JAY Blades’ new show away from The Repair Shop and its debut on a competing channel.
Jay, 54, a furniture restorer and television presenter, is best known as the foreman on the popular BBC series The Repair Shop.
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But Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple is a one-off Channel 4 show in which he works with Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench.
Despite having very different beginnings in life and career and a time gap of almost four decades, Dame Judy and Jay formed a close friendship when they first met three years ago.
It was announced that the one-off show will air on Channel 4 on Sunday 18 August at 9pm.
In it, the two take a quick tour through each other’s past and explore the people and places that have shaped their view of life.
Their travels take the screen legends to places like London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Ridley Road Market and the Old Vic Theatre, where secrets are uncovered and heartwarming stories revealed.
Jay said: “I would encourage anyone to reminisce with someone they care about. This show has given me memories and a friendship that I will cherish forever.”
Dame Judi added: “Sometimes, if you’re very lucky, you meet someone and realise you’re totally on the same wavelength.
“I really enjoyed filming this show with Jay. We shared memories of our past, even though we are so different, and discovered that we have the same sense of humor.
“I could have kept filming for days.”
However, this is not the first time Jay has worked with a British acting icon.
He worked with Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason on the BBC series David and Jay’s Touring Toolshed, which aired earlier this year.
Thankfully, fans of The Repair Shop need not despair, as he announced on his Instagram today that the BBC will return with a new season of The Repair Shop on August 14th.
The teaser image shows Jay alongside his co-stars and is captioned: “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.”
The experts at the repair shop
Premiering in 2017, The Repair Shop features family heirlooms being restored for their owners by numerous experts with a wide range of specializations. Jay Blades serves as foreman and a talented team works on the restoration process. Let’s take a look at some of them.
- Jay Blades: Foreman of the repair shop and furniture restorer
- Will Kirk: Carpenters, joiners and wood painters
- Steve Fletcher: Watch restorer
- Suzie Fletcher: Saddlers and leather craftsmen
- Dominic Chine: Metalworker and sign restorer
- Sonnaz Nooranvary: Upholstery restorer
- Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell: Stuffed animal restorers
- Kirsten Ramsay: Ceramic restorer
- Lucia Scalisi: Painting restorer
- Brenton West: Specialist in antique photography and silversmith
Dame Judi and Jay: An odd couple will air on Channel 4 on Sunday 18 August at 9pm.
