Jay Blades bailed after court appearance on rape charges
Blades, 55, who presented The Repair Shop, is accused of twice raping a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He appeared at Telford magistrates' court by video on Wednesday, speaking to confirm his name and age. He was granted conditional bail before an appearance at Shrewsbury crown court on September 10.
Last year Blades denied a separate charge of controlling and coercive behaviour against his estranged wife, Lisa Zbozen, between January 1, 2023, and September 12 last year. That trial date is yet to be fixed.
Blades presented The Repair Shop for seven series but withdrew last year. After the charge, the BBC said that it would pull all episodes featuring him from its schedule.
Appointed MBE in 2021, Blades also stepped down from his role as a buildings craft ambassador at the King's Foundation. Blades, who left school aged 15 without qualifications and spent his youth working in factories as a labourer, joined the charity in 2020 when it was known as the Prince's Foundation. He praised the King's vision of 'creating harmonious sustainable communities' and 'championing a sustainable approach to how we live our lives'.
He has also stepped down as Buckinghamshire New University's first chancellor.
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Daily Mail
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
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