Repair Shop’s Jay Blades on befriending the King: ‘I’ve had a few sleepovers at his’

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Jay Blades has no shame in shedding a tear or two. He finds himself getting emotional in front of millions of viewers every Wednesday night as he hosts BBC One's popular show, The Repair Shop. The program specializes in reviving sentimental family heirlooms, and Blades enjoys being a part of this heartfelt experience. During a break in filming, Jay shares with me that he had another tearful encounter with an unknown woman just the day before. Jay, who is known for his laid-back style, dressed in his recognizable flat cap, a white shirt, black suspenders, and smart pants, tells me that the lady he met approached him as he left his hotel. She struck up a conversation with him, and as they spoke, she took hold of his hand and shared with him her personal motto: "When something is broken, it can be replaced with something of greater value, something that celebrates what caused it to break in the first place." Jay Blades may be a TV personality, but he has a kind and empathetic nature that is evident in his interactions with people on and off the screen.

He takes a deep breath and admits, "My life isn't perfect right now and I'm going through some pretty tough stuff." It seems that his situation is more serious than he lets on. A few days after our conversation, Blades informs his 194,000 followers on Instagram that he's taking a break from social media after his uncle was killed by a neighbor in a dispute over a shared alleyway. Shortly after, Blades' wife of 18 months, Lisa Zbozen, publicly announces their separation. Although he doesn't share any details about his personal life, Blades shares that his talk with the woman on the street moved him to tears and he hugged her, offering words of comfort in return. He even kissed her hand and tipped his hat to her in a gentlemanly gesture before walking away.

For most folks, this meeting would seem like a bizarre dream. Yet, with Blades, it seems to occur routinely. The Repair Shop has a way of inspiring such feelings in everyone. From elderly individuals bringing in rickety rocking horses to someone fixing their beloved childhood teddy bear, even the King himself showing up with a broken clock, everyone is moved to tears. The beauty of it all is a true example of TV enchantment. Currently in its 13th season, the 14th is being filmed as we speak.

Not only were vintage items repaired on the restoration series, but even Blades himself required some fixing. He grew up in Hackney with his younger sibling Justin under the care of his mother, Barbara. His dad, Trevor, who he only mentions in his autobiography as "The Man Who Contributed Towards My Birth," was rarely around. According to Blades, his father came by once to steal his mother's savings, which led the family to move into a refuge.

When Blades started working on The Repair Shop in 2017, he had already overcome many challenges in his life, including the absence of his father, dealing with racist teachers and classmates, experiencing police brutality, struggling with dyslexia, becoming homeless, going through a tough mental health crisis, and even attempting suicide. However, his charity Out of the Dark, which aimed to teach young people how to upcycle old furniture, lost its funding, which left him feeling lost. Unfortunately, things got worse as his marriage to Jade, the mother of his daughter Zola, fell apart, and he found himself without a place to stay, couch-surfing at a few friends' houses. After going through a difficult time, he slowly started to rebuild his life by becoming a furniture restorer and starting a new charity called Street Dreams that helped disadvantaged young people. Luckily, his talent and hard work caught the attention of BBC producers who saw him in a short film, and he was eventually cast in The Repair Shop.

Blades said that the show was crucial to his survival and he believes that it can also help others. The show celebrates the idea that we are all fragile and vulnerable, and this message can be a lifesaver. Blades points out that men, in particular, often find it hard to share their emotions because of the cultural norm that being vulnerable equals being weak. Growing up in Hackney, where toughness was essential in such a harsh environment, Blades used to buy into this notion as well, but now recognizes vulnerability as a strength. He thinks that the high suicide rate among British men, leading causes of mortality in men under 50, is a consequence of suppressing feelings. Men must realize that by sharing emotions, it serves as an outlet for those who struggle in silence.

The speaker may appear comfortable shedding tears presently, but this was a characteristic he didn't have until much later in his life. At the age of 45, in the year 2015, he encountered his first experience of crying in front of another man. This occurred during a trying time when he was struggling with his emotional state and had been living in his car outside a McDonald's for a whole week until he was rescued by an acquaintance.

Blades is now very open about his mental health. As proof, he informed me that he is seeking therapy for the first time in six years. He asked his assistant to find him a counselor this morning because he has things going on in his head and needs to talk to someone. He is not shy about sharing this with others because he thinks that if you need help, you should seek it. If his car was broken down, he would go to a mechanic or call the AA. He doesn't know how to fix it, and the same applies to emotional difficulties.

After a few days, Blades revealed on his Instagram that he is planning to attend therapy after the demise of his uncle. He stated that it had a significant impact on him and he is feeling somewhat disturbed. He adds that during unexpected events, it's necessary to calm down and reevaluate things.

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He shared with me that he requires additional support in dealing with the demands of his busy schedule. He refers to it as "insane" and requires assistance in coping with the pressures. This is especially true for 2022, where he had only been able to spend 22 days in his home in Ironbridge, Shropshire. He resides near his furniture restoration business, Jay & Co. This year, he has already tackled five different series, and described it as a "quite intense" experience. Among these are an untitled series with Judi Dench, The Repair Shop series 14, West End Through Time, and a program that explores the history of country houses. He also mentioned a fifth series, which he entrusted to my discretion, and instructed me not to reveal its details to anyone.

In addition to the filming activities, Blades published his popular book, Making It, in 2021. Moreover, in September last year, he unveiled Life Lessons, a book that includes advice and wise sayings, and he is expected to talk about it at the Hay Festival later this month.

In the past, individuals would avoid walking near me on the street, but presently they request to take pictures with me.

The blog part resounds with the liveliness of a bouncing tiger – similar to Blades. Within the section regarding the significance of learning, he expresses, "Stay vigilant! Utilize your intellect!" Additionally, he frequently exclaims "Nonsense!" whenever he successfully makes a point while conversing. "I'm enthusiastic," he remarks presently, "but occasionally I become a little worn-out."

In the first chapter, called "Roots", the author talks about what he learned growing up in Hackney in the 70s and 80s. Some people who watch "Repair Shop" and grew up in comfortable, wealthy neighborhoods might not believe that the police would hurt a Black person just because of their skin color. But unfortunately, that's what really happened. The author remembers being forced into a van with a bunch of police who wanted to hurt him. They were mean, but they were also smart. They would put wet towels on him so people couldn't see the bruises and then they would hit him with a stick. He would curl up on the floor of the van and get hit over and over again. It wasn't just him, it happened to all of his friends too. Later in the chapter, he talks about how the police, his dad who wasn't around, and teachers who let him down tried to hold him back. But instead of giving up, he used their negativity to fuel him.

He is struggling to cope with his newfound fame following the racism he experienced during his upbringing. He recalls how people used to react to him by crossing the street, holding onto their handbags, and locking their car doors upon seeing him. However, now people are eager to take selfies with him, which he finds to be a strange and unusual situation.

When Blades visits Hackney these days, he feels let down. He thinks that gentrification is a necessary process, but he does not like that it creates a divide between different groups of people. Blades believes that the construction of exclusive entrances for social housing, dubbed “poor doors,” is contributing to this problem. Gentrification has brought an influx of wealth to the area, but there is still a significant amount of poverty, which Blades finds perplexing. He believes that the wealth and poverty are separated, which means that there is no sense of community in the area.

Even though he went through difficult times in Hackney fifty years ago, he still appreciates the strong feeling of togetherness that existed at that time. "We were all in the same boat and we shared a common experience of poverty. Despite that, we looked out for each other. If someone had a snack, they would share it among nine people if they were hanging out on the streets. Sadly, things have changed a lot now."

He feels upset about the amount of food banks that are necessary in Hackney, some of which he has helped to establish. During the opening of a food bank in the area, he encountered a heated argument about his profession. He shares, "During the event, a woman approached me and made a derogatory remark about my race and how I spoke because I work for the BBC." Before he could respond, a man jumped up and defended him. "He explained that for the first time on television, there is a Black man who is not associated with sports, comedy or music. I'm in charge of a workshop in The Repair Shop and I'm a 6ft 3in Black guy with a gold tooth. This is unprecedented on the BBC and on the screen in general."

Blades reclines in his seat and senses a sudden surge of excitement. "Being a Black individual in a predominantly white domain, I'm shattering stereotypes," he remarks. "Only lately have more Black people appeared on TV showcasing their gardening or crafting skills, and I'm proud to have been influential in that trend. When I was younger, TV broadcasts were highly discriminatory, and many Black people preferred not to tune in to the BBC due to the severe lack of Black representation. Nowadays, members of my community have expressed that they solely watch the channel because I feature on it."

It is very important to him to break down the idea that all Black people have the same experiences that are shown in the media. He wants to show that Black men are not all violent, aggressive, or just good at sports. Recently, his daughter took him to see a play called For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide..., which sheds light on the vulnerability of Black men. He was extremely impressed by the powerful messages in the play and took off his flat cap as a sign of respect. I realized that I had never seen his actual head before because he shaves it after being told that having Black hair was intimidating when he worked as a chauffeur many years ago. He believes that the play shows how stereotypes can influence people's behavior and that he is fortunate to have seen it in the UK, as the country is sometimes slow to catch up on certain things.

Blades demonstrates how he has challenged negative stereotypes by standing up and using his camera to show a framed photo of himself and the King on his dressing room wall. He explains that he comes from a council estate while the young man beside him is from the royal estate. It's surreal for him to think that he can say he's cool with the King, meaning they get along well. In fact, they developed a friendship after Charles made an appearance on a special episode of The Repair Shop in 2022. Their chemistry was evident on camera, and some viewers were shocked by how much Blades touched the royal, patting him on the arm and shoulder. However, Blades brushes off these concerns, arguing that there were plenty of royal security personnel present who could have stopped him from touching the King, but they didn't. Ultimately, Blades sees the King as just another human being who shares his warmth and affection.

Now, he's beaming and shaking his head. "Who would've thought, spreading my wings in Hackney, I would be saying, 'You know what? Me and him get along. When we cross paths, we share a chuckle and we chat. It's all good.'" He narrates a few anecdotes about his encounters with Charles, such as the time he introduced his mother to the prince and she complimented him as being "very handsome." "His face lit up with a broad grin, and he turned to me and replied, 'This is undoubtedly your mother because only you and she would make comments like that.' Bingo." He smiles. "We've seen each other several times. I've even spent a few nights at his place in Scotland."

When he's not working on furniture, running food banks, or spending time with royalty, Blades is still on a quest to improve his reading skills. He has dyslexia, which means that when he was younger, words would appear to him like tiny ants crawling across the page. However, it wasn't until he went to university at the age of 30 that he was diagnosed with this condition. His teachers found that he could only read at the level of an 11-year-old. And in 2022, Blades decided to share his experiences in a powerful BBC documentary called Learning to Read at 51. He wanted to show his vulnerability and honesty to the world. In the film, Blades talks about his struggle to read, from being unable to understand the letter he received about his MBE award to achieving his goal of reading a bedtime story to his daughter Zola before she turned 16. (Blades has two other kids, Levi, 32, and Dior, 28, from previous relationships.)

When Making It was released in 2021, Blades shared with an interviewer that although he's heard his memoir, he's excited to physically read it. It would be the first book he'd pick up. Ian Gittins served as Blades' ghostwriter for both of his books. During the writing process, Blades would chat away on the phone with Gittins for extended periods. He admits to being quite the talker and could yak for ages. He chuckles and jokes, saying, "I could chat endlessly, my dear. You'll get sick of me!"

He has already had a memorable experience, and now he's leaving for filming at The Repair Shop. Done.

You can catch 'The Repair Shop' on BBC every Wednesday evening, and make sure you pick up a copy of Blades' new book 'Life Lessons' that is available now. If you're a fan of Hay Festival, you'll be happy to know that it's taking place from 23 May to 2 June. Blades will be chatting with Sarfraz Manzoor on 30 May at 2.30pm during the festival.