BBC The Repair Shop viewers demand show is taken off air after Jay Blades rape charges
The Repair Shop returned to its usual slot on BBC One on Tuesday evening at 8pm, but viewers were quick to demand that it be taken off air. Earlier today, former host Jay Blades, who stepped down from the show over a year ago, was charged with two counts of rape, with the presenter set to appear in court in August.
Even though he did not feature in the new episode, social media users were shocked to see that the programme had even been broadcast at all, and demanded that it be pulled. One wrote on X: "Surely you must take the Repair shop off now if the presenter is accused of physical rape," and another asked: "Will the BBC be pulling repeats of The Repair Shop now?"
A third wrote: "Could never see the point of him being in the Repair Shop he never restored anything but worn a new leather apron the show is better without him now." The contents of the episode went ahead as normal and followed the team as they restored a silver statuette that survived a shipwreck, a traditional Iranian baby hammock, a concrete portrait and a flight case once owned by rock legend Trevor Bolder. It comes after Jay Blades appeared in court hours after unrelated rape charges.
The TV presenter also appeared in court today via video link on a controlling or coercive behaviour charge, which he denies, after being charged with two counts of rape. He initially stepped back from his role as presenter on the BAFTA Award-winning programme last year following the murder of his uncle. At the time, he wrote on Instagram: "I've just been to my uncle's funeral, he was murdered a few weeks ago. Really, super nice guy, shouldn't have happened to him, but it really affected me.
"So what I'm intending on doing is this... I'm coming off social media for a bit, and I'll be back in a bit. Going to go and get some therapy and just chill out." Shortly afterwards in May 2024, it was reported that Blades was taking a break from TV following the breakdown of his marriage and his uncle's shock murder, with the BBC show claiming that they would simply be "carrying on without him".
A source explained to The Sun at the time: "Jay has taken a step back and is having a break from filming The Repair Shop. His uncle's murder in March and the breakdown of his marriage means he has decided to take some time out. The Repair Shop is carrying on without him for now and the other repairers are hard at work. People who worked with Jay said they were shocked to hear his marriage to Lisa has ended. It was not well known at all among the people who work on the show."
Blades last appeared on The Repair Shop in episodes of the show's 13th series, having appeared in episode 11 just under a year ago. The BBC is yet to confirm whether Blades will return to the show.
While Blades was previously the show's foreman, that role is now shared between experts Will Kirk and Dominic Chinea. The Mirror has reached out to the BBC for comment.
In a statement on Tuesday, police also confirmed separate charges of rape. The force said: 'Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape. He is due to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court on 13 August 2025.'
Prior to that, West Mercia Police confirmed charges against the 55-year-old presenter, who stepped back from hosting The Repair Shop last year, and said that a magistrates' court date is set for Wednesday 13 August.
"Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape," a spokesperson for the force told The Mirror. "He is due to appear at Telford magistrates' court on 13 August 2025."
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