Judi Dench and Jay Blades explain origin of their unlikely friendship

What Did You Miss Out On?

In the Channel 4 documentary Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple, viewers are taken on a journey exploring the unlikely friendship between acting legend Dame Judi Dench, 89, and The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades, who is 54. It's a rare situation where two individuals from different generations and backgrounds have formed a close bond, making for an intriguing and heartwarming story.

The film followed Dench and Blades as they engaged in a cultural swap, sharing their important life experiences and visiting significant locations together. They also addressed the key question of how their friendship began.

Exploring What, How, And Why

Jay Blades brought his friend Judi Dench on an adventure in the TV show The Odd Couple on Channel 4.

Blades and Dench talked about how unique their friendship is right at the beginning of the documentary. Blades mentioned in voiceover, "It's a bit strange - why is Jay Blades, who repairs furniture on TV, now spending time with Britain's favorite actor, Dame Judi Dench?"

Then Dench continued the story, saying: "Since the day we met at The Repair Shop three years back, we have formed an inseparable bond as the closest of friends."

The famous actor made an appearance on a unique episode of The Repair Shop that was filmed at the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2022. She had previously given a broken pocket watch to her late husband Michael on their first anniversary.

Check out: Judi Dench makes an appearance on The Repair Shop.

The skilled group of people who fix things on the show were successful in repairing the clock, and this made Dench very emotional. She expressed that the restoration exceeded her expectations. Since then, Dench and the repair team have stayed in contact.

Blades talked about his friendship with Dench, saying they come from very different backgrounds. He mentioned that they don't have much in common due to their unique paths that have led them to come together.

In the blog post, Dench was being her usual playful self when talking about her new friend. She joked that he is very tall and that she's surprised they can even hear each other because of his height. She also playfully teased him, saying he was born around 1970, which she found amusing.

What Went Down On Dame Judi & Jay?

Actress Judi Dench was given the opportunity to assist on a market stall with the support of Jay Blades on Channel 4.

In the documentary, Dench and Blades found themselves in unfamiliar situations as they visited significant places in each other's lives. Blades brought Dench to Ridley Road Market in Hackney, where she tried selling plantains from a stand. Dench, on the other hand, urged Blades to recite a Shakespearean soliloquy at The Old Vic theater in the West End.

The pair's charming connection was evident throughout the documentary, creating a wonderful blend of different ages. It's safe to say that there were probably few viewers who didn't shed a tear while watching.

Watch Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple online on Channel 4.

Jay Blades is currently on a break from The Repair Shop on the BBC, as reported by Digital Spy.

The top Judi Dench films as she suggests possible retirement from the silver screen (Yahoo Entertainment)

Jay Blades from The Repair Shop describes the projects of a woman from Wales as some of the most difficult he has ever seen on the television show. (Source: Wales Online)