The Repair Shop star Suzie Fletcher has revealed that show bosses have “cut quite a lot” from the hit show.
Suzie, a leather worker and saddler, appears regularly in the popular BBC series.
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In an exclusive interview with The Sun’s TV Mag, the 62-year-old star spoke about filming the popular show.
She revealed: “They cut out quite a lot because I lose control quite often.
“Tears are streaming down my face. I get so easily carried away by other people’s emotions. But I don’t try to hide it anymore because that’s just the way I am – I accept it.”
Restoring objects that often have high emotional value is not a big challenge – but the team at The Repair Shop takes this responsibility seriously.
Read more about The Repair Shop
Suzie said: “We get The challenge to solve the impossible, but we fail and we will never do it by knocking on wood.”
She added: “Personally, I’m still very, very nervous because every time it’s the first time I work with that person.
“It’s very nerve-wracking waiting to see how they’re going to react to what I’ve done.”
Among the other familiar faces appearing in The Court The barn in West Sussex is home to Suzie’s brother Steven, who can restore clocks, and people like carpenter Will Kirk.
The popular series returns to viewers’ screens on August 14th.
In the latest installment, Suzie is entrusted by sisters Kelly and Dawn Langley with the task of repairing a valuable family item.
It is the prestigious taxi sticker that her late father John received when he passed the knowledge test required of all London taxi drivers.
John, who died in 2011, was a taxi driver for 38 years and his valuable badge is now falling apart.
Suzie, who completed her first apprenticeship as a saddler in Hackney at the age of 16, added: “We love it when two family members come to the barn because they inspire each other and all these beautiful stories come out of it.”
“Black cab drivers have phenomenal skills and by the end I really felt like I knew their father.”
Suzie does not underestimate the emotions associated with objects from the past, as her father had his own carpentry business.
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
She explained: “We were just clearing out the house after Mum and Dad died and Steve and I went into Dad’s workshop and it was full of cobwebs, like Miss Havisham’s house in Dickens’ Great Expectations.”
“Time had stood still. Dad’s tools were lying on his workbench where he had last left them. It was very, very emotional.
“Now when I pick up one of his tools, I think of Dad.”
The Repair Shop returns on August 14th at 8pm on BBC One.
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