The barn welcomes the poet laureate, Simon Armitage, who’s hoping organ restorer David Burville can revive his treasured harmonium, the subject of one of his poems. For Simon, the instrument holds precious memories of his late father Peter, a creative man who encouraged Simon’s own artistic journey. The harmonium was originally in their local church in West Yorkshire where both father and son were choristers. Now Simon wants the harmonium restored to not only rekindle memories of his dad but also strike a more contemporary note. David sets to work so that when Simon returns to the barn with his band, the experts are treated to a nostalgic but modern performance.\n\nNext to arrive is Valerie from Pontefract with a pair of child’s leather clogs to test the craftsmanship of fellow Yorkshireman, cobbler Dean Westmoreland. The clogs belonged to Valerie’s sister Iris who, in 1946, was born at least six weeks premature. With her chances of survival slim, she was fed with a little dropper. Although she continued to have problems with her health and mobility, against all the odds Iris survived. When she was around four years old, their mother bought the little clogs to help Iris with her balance, but the little girl hated them so much that she threw them in the fire. Burned and no longer usable, the shoes sat on the mantelpiece for the next 40 years. After their mother died, Iris kept them on her own mantelpiece, having never got over the guilt of upsetting their mum. The tiny shoes carry so much weight that Dean has his work cut out bringing them back to life for Valerie.\n\nNext, seeking the sculptural skills of Kirsten Ramsay is Martin with a precious memento that chronicles an extraordinary life. As a 27-year-old ceramics and sculpture student in Czechoslovakia, Martin’s mother Vera befriended a fellow student sculptor called Milos Axman. The broken sculpture that Martin has brought to the barn was made by Axman in 1947 and depicts his mother as a young woman. Before her studies, at the beginning of the Second World War when the Germans took over Czechoslovakia, Vera had been sent to work in an ammunitions factory in Berlin. She had planned an escape with two male friends, but when caught crossing the border, her companions had been shot dead. Vera was tried in Nuremberg and given a life sentence but was freed from prison in 1945. The sculpture is an important repair for ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, aided by woodwork whizz Will Kirk, who turns his own artistic hand to sculpting a new oak base.\n\nThe final visitor is Kirsty with some precious metal for jeweller Richard Talman. Kirsty has brought along a silver charm bracelet that’s sadly lost most of its charm. The bracelet was gifted to her mum Linda by her dad in the early 1960s, and Kirsty has fun memories of playing dress up with her mum’s heels and make-up and the jangly bracelet. Having lost her mum recently, Kirsty is now keen for this sentimental piece to be restored to its glittering best so that her own daughter can remember her ‘Nana’.
Source: BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 15
First up in the workshop is a mandriola belonging to internationally celebrated folk musician Vin Garbutt. Vin’s son Tim and family friend Maggie are hoping Julyan Wallis ...
23-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 14
Kicking things off is a life-sized model horse used as a teaching aid at a riding school for disabled people. Instructor Ena and star pupil Ellen are hoping Hector, who is badly ...
21-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 13
Entering through the barn doors first are siblings Michelle and Paul along with their mum, Ann. They have an unfinished family project that needs the help of metalworker Dominic ...
15-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 12
First into the barn are Keith and his daughter Kirsty, who have brought a cleverly designed accessory that requires the skills of resident horologist Steve Fletcher. Keith&rsquo ...
07-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 11
First into the barn is Zelda, with her most precious possession, a ring bought by her father on a day out together when she was a teenager. But the ring looks nothing like it or ...
01-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 10
First through the workshop doors is Ben, with an unusual item needing a joint crusade to get it back on its feet. Silversmith Brenton West, woodworker Will Kirk and leather expe ...
24-03-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 9
It's the return of smoke and mirrors from times past as Camilla arrives with a groundbreaking form of Victorian entertainment she’d like to see back in action. Her revolvi ...
17-03-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 8
First through the workshop doors is Bev, bringing a local landmark that has lost its way. The dilapidated village sign from Broome in Norfolk was designed for the millennium by ...
10-03-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 7
Setting bear ladies Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch the first task – with strings attached – Jill Purves and her daughter Vickie, from Biggar in Scotland. Bulb ...
03-03-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 6
The early birds at the barn are sisters Lottie and Amy, with a unique record of their childhood, a book given to Lottie as a Christmas present in 1976 when she was three years o ...
17-02-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 13
Entering through the barn doors first are siblings Michelle and Paul along with their mum, Ann. They have an unfinished family project that needs the help of metalworker Dominic ...
15-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 11
First into the barn is Zelda, with her most precious possession, a ring bought by her father on a day out together when she was a teenager. But the ring looks nothing like it or ...
01-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 14
Kicking things off is a life-sized model horse used as a teaching aid at a riding school for disabled people. Instructor Ena and star pupil Ellen are hoping Hector, who is badly ...
21-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 4: Episode 2
Things are heating up in the Repair Shop forge as metalworker Dominic Chinea tackles one of the biggest challenges he’s ever faced: a dilapidated old weather vane that onc ...
07-10-2020
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 12
First into the barn are Keith and his daughter Kirsty, who have brought a cleverly designed accessory that requires the skills of resident horologist Steve Fletcher. Keith&rsquo ...
07-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 5 (extended Versions): Episode 15
Jay Blades and the team bring four treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.\n\nThe first visitor racing towards the workshop is Julian Ma, with an i ...
08-09-2021
BBC 2
A Royal Visit
As part of BBC 100 celebrations to mark the BBC’s centenary, this special episode of The Repair Shop sees Jay Blades and the expert team of Repair Shop craftspeople visit ...
03-05-2023
BBC 2
Series 11: Episode 34
An unusual necklace telling the story of love and loss is brought back to life in time for a wedding. And a camera dating back to the 1940s is given a new lease of life for a yo ...
26-02-2024
BBC 2
Series 4 (shortened Versions): Episode 5
Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.\n\nMetalworker Dominic Chinea uses all his expertise to make a dilapida ...
19-07-2023
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 3
Arriving first at the barn is Ian with some footwear that has proven essential to his life. He bought what he calls his ‘soldier boots’ 19 years ago and wears them a ...
27-01-2025
BBC 2