What did you miss?
Viewers of The Repair Shop called the emotional revelation the “TV moment of the year” when a little boy got back the cat toy that had saved him countless hospital stays.
12-year-old Colin was born with numerous serious illnesses and his adoptive family took in his beloved cat Jess, who had comforted him through many difficult times but was in need of some affection of her own.
As always, the experts did a spectacular job – but Colin’s overjoyed reaction when he saw his new-looking Jess was one of the most touching the show has ever seen.
What, how and why?
Viewers of The Repair Shop knew they were in for a tear-jerker this week when the episode began with Lesley Anderson and her daughter Nicola bringing in the worn-out cat Jess, belonging to 12-year-old Colin, who had been adopted by her family as a baby.
Colin spent the first few months of his life in hospital with numerous serious health problems, including a tracheotomy and a stoma.
During his hospital stays, Colin was helped by his beloved, cuddly cat, who had also undergone a tracheostomy and stoma to provide comfort but had definitely seen better days.
Experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell did an incredible job with Jess’ makeover, but they didn’t expect the reaction from Colin, who burst into tears of joy and sobbed with his family before cuddling Jess and rubbing his nose in her fur. Middleditch and Tatchell were in tears themselves, as were fans of the show.
One emotional viewer commented to X: “I am devastated. God bless Colin,” and another agreed: “Oh God bless him, the smallest things can mean so much to us. What an emotional moment that was.”
Another viewer wrote: “One day I will be able to watch an episode of @TheRepairShop without crying like a big baby. Today is not that day though.” When someone asked if they were talking about Colin and his cat, they replied: “Yup, I challenge anyone not to shed a tear at this moment.”
In fact, some people were in tears before Jess was even repaired, with one person admitting: “First time I cried before #TheRepairShop transformation. I’ve just heard Lesley Anderson’s story about her son Colin and his stuffed toy Jess. What an amazing woman. So much love for her boy.”
Someone else added: “Oh Colin and Jess, bless you, there isn’t a dry eye in this house. Two heart surgeries, many health complications, Jess the cat next to him is a comfort. Priceless.”
One viewer commented: “His reaction is one of the TV moments of the year. Well done everyone,” and someone else wrote: “All together now… crying. Sweet little boy and amazing family.”
What else happened at the repair shop?
This emotional episode was even more moving than last week’s, when Madeleine Willis, Andy Cox and their children Freya and Aiden dropped off an old bed frame that had been converted into a garden bench but was badly rotted.
They explained that it was the couple’s first bed together and that they had brought Aiden there as a baby after he sadly lost his twin sister and was given only a five percent chance of survival.
Despite all the adversities, Aiden had managed to get home from the hospital, and when the couple later had their sister Freya, she was born in bed.
When it became too worn out to sleep in, it was used as a vegetable patch in the garden and later converted into a garden bench. Madeleine admitted that she considered it part of her family.
It was restored to its original splendor, moving the family to tears as Madeleine explained: “There is just so much of our family here.”
She added: “It reminds me of when the children were babies and played together in bed. That was our safe place.”
“The Repair Shop” airs Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC One.
