The Repair Shop's Suzie Fletcher recalls family's 'worry' after husband's tragic death
The programme's leather and saddle specialist has previously opened up about the heartbreaking death of her husband prior to joining The Repair Shop.
The Repair Shop remains a BBC One favourite with Jay Blades and his team aiming to bring joy to fresh faces visiting the workshop. Suzie and Steve Fletcher are set to appear on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh to discuss their journeys.
Suzie, who has offered plenty of behind the scenes insight, became part of the programme at the beginning of series two and has thrived ever since, though her initial period proved challenging. She lost her spouse in 2013, five years prior to her debut on the programme, describing it as among the most shocking experiences she had ever faced.
Suzie initially encountered her husband in Colorado after relocating to America to work as a master saddler in Illinois.
She had originally planned to remain in America for just two years, yet ended up living there for 22 years before returning to Britain. Her husband died after fighting cancer, having received his diagnosis whilst they were residing together in America.
Speaking on the Relatively podcast, she explained: "My family were great, but I was very aware that they didn't need to be overly worried and I did have a really good support group in my friends in the States as well.
"I suppose I tried to protect them from too much information, particularly because my mother was still alive and she would worry desperately if she felt like I wasn't going to be able to cope.
"To be perfectly honest, when we got that diagnosis, I knew that my focus was to provide my husband with everything that he wanted, no matter how impossible it seemed. If he wanted to fly to the moon, I'd try and make that happen."
She chronicled the heart-wrenching final days of her late husband Rob in her 2023 memoir, The Sun Over The Mountains.
Despite his death leaving her shattered, she used The Repair Shop as a means to progress in her life.
She detailed how the show had assisted her through numerous bleak days and it was partly what motivated her to join the programme.
She stated: "Every time [Steve] called he looked to be having such a good time I jokingly said, 'If they need anyone to do leather I'm your gal.'
"I really was joking but after several phone calls and a lot of reassurance from Steve I agreed to give it a go and joined the team.
"I'm so happy I did as this is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever been involved with. It's also helped me through some very dark days."
During one episode of The Repair Shop, Suzie became emotional while filming as she remembered her husband's death. She was mending a rocking horse when she discovered a name written on it.
Suzie explained: "I too, lost my husband to cancer. It seems so insignificant, someone's name that they wrote."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BBC AXES critically-acclaimed drama after just ONE series - despite Oscar-nominated creator's plans for even more episodes
BBC bosses have reportedly axed the critically acclaimed drama This Town after just one series. The show, created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, 66, was generally well-received by critics and viewers alike, and won praise for its portrayal of the 1980s, its music, and compelling storytelling. Set against the backdrop of Birmingham and Coventry, the series featured music from legendary local bands including UB40 and The Specials. It followed an extended family and four young people drawn into the explosive and iconic music scene of the early '80s. Steven had hoped This Town would follow in the footsteps of Peaky Blinders and become his next big hit. When the first series aired in March last year, he made no secret of wanting to continue the story, saying: 'I certainly have enough ideas for more episodes going forward. He added at the time: 'I hope we are with these characters for a long time to come', however, the BBC has decided not to renew the series. A BBC spokesman told The Sun: 'We're hugely grateful to Steven Knight and the cast and crew for bringing This Town to life — in no small part due to Steven's passion for the West Midlands. 'We look forward to working with him on new projects in the future, and we're in talks about what's next.' Despite winning the Royal Television Society Award for Limited Series and Single Drama earlier this year, the show lost over a million viewers during its six-week run – pulling in more than 3.2 million for its premiere but failing to maintain those figures. According to The Sun, a BBC insider confirmed that the decision to axe the show was not due to Steven's busy schedule – which includes the ten-part World War Two epic Roads To Freedom. Nor was it due to the availability of the star-studded cast, which included Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery. Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment. However, it's not all bad news for Steven, as he's just been signed to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed earlier this week. The British screenwriter – best known for creating the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy - said penning a 007 script has always been on his 'bucket list'. The latest Bond film is currently in development and is to be directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon MGM Studios overseeing the project after longtime producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control. Meanwhile, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to produce the movie via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films, respectively, while Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer. Speaking about his involvement in the film, Steven told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: 'It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it - I can't wait to get started. 'I'm hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that's the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.' However, Steven failed to give any indication about who will replace Daniel Craig in the titular role. The actor, 57, stepped down from the iconic spy role after 2021's No Time To Die, having starred in five of the films over a 15-year period. Several actors have been tipped to step into his shoes, with stars including Taron Egerton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, and Theo James thrown into the mix. When pressed on who could be the new Bond, he responded: 'That is a very, very good question, and one I can't give you the answer to'. The last outing for James Bond was 2021's No Time to Die, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga on the writing team. Speaking of the selection process for the latest film, Steven shared: 'I was invited to a meeting with [producer] Amy Pascal, didn't know what it was about, and very quickly discovered what it was about and became very, very excited and hopeful. 'And then a process is followed where you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you've got it. 'So I found out a while ago, but it was announced last night, which is great.' He added that it was a 'high pressure' job, before noting: 'you've just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can'. It comes after Taron Egerton responded to speculation that he could be the next James Bond after Daniel Craig 's exit. Many A-list names have been thrown into the ring during the months of speculation about who will play 007 next following Amazon's takeover of the franchise. Rocketman star Taron, 35, has been rumoured to be in the running to be Bond as far back as 2019, with Sir Roger Moore 's son Geoffrey even backing him for the role. However, Taron has now dashed fans' hopes as he poured cold water on the idea, insisting he is too 'messy' to play the suave secret agent. 'I don't think I'm a good choice for it, I think I'm too messy for that,' he told Collider. 'I really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig's tenure, but I think I wouldn't be good at it. 'I think there's so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it, I think it would be wasted on me, probably.' Taron also acknowledged that taking on the Bond mantel is quite an undertaking and insisted nobody has actually approached him about the role. But he didn't rule out taking on another major commercial project as he revealed he wouldn't turn down a different opportunity, though he remained coy about what that might be.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Alex Jones says she feels like she has ‘grown up' with One Show viewers
Jones, 48, who started out in children's TV, joined the BBC weekday chat show in August 2010 and hosted major events including royal weddings, Sport Relief and Eurovision. She has also interviewed a number of Hollywood stars including Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore, Jackie Chan and Stephen Graham. Marking a decade and a half on the programme, Jones said: 'I feel incredibly proud to have been on the iconic sofa for all these years. It certainly doesn't feel like 15 years, and it still feels fresh, as the show keeps evolving. I feel like we keep coming back better and better. 'I started as a young girl and I feel like I've grown up with our viewers. They have seen me through all my big life moments like getting engaged and married, to having children. Our viewers are like extended family by now. 'I'll be here as long as they'll have me. I have loved the last 15 years and love presenting the show and I think we're just getting stronger and stronger, from stories to guests and presenters.' Reflecting on her career on the show, she recounted the impact the pandemic had, adding that viewers kept her 'sane'. She said: 'I think that our connection with our audience is stronger than it's ever been. I think that relationship was cemented during the pandemic. 'It was a big turning point for the show. We became a lifeline for some of our viewers and they trusted us to reflect on the bizarre situation we as collectively found ourselves, but also balance that with stories that distract from the news. 'We were the light at the end of sometimes a very dark news bulletin. The viewers kept me sane as much as I did them.' Jones has worked alongside broadcasters including Vernon Kay, Clara Amfo, Lauren Laverne and Roman Kemp. She added: 'What a lucky girl I am! I have Roman now, and Vernon and JB, as well as Clara and Lauren, and they couldn't be a lovelier bunch. I think the beauty about this line-up is that it lets the show drive forward, because each one of those brilliant broadcasters, they all bring something very different.' 'It's really nice to have this brilliant team of lovely, seasoned, brilliant broadcasters.' She also co-hosted alongside former footballer Jermaine Jenas, before he was removed from the presenting team after alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Jones also joined the Strictly Come Dancing cast in 2011, making it into the semi-finals and finishing in fifth place with professional dancer James Jordan.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tis but a stamp: Royal Mail set celebrates Monty Python favourite scenes
The main collection of six stamps celebrates characters from Monty Python's Flying Circus, the BBC TV series which ran from 1969 to 1974 with sketches so popular, generations of fans can still recite all the lines. The stamps showcase highlights including the Spanish Inquisition, the Ministry Of Silly Walks, the Lumberjack Song, the Dead Parrot Sketch, Nudge Nudge, and Spam. The Spam sketch is one of the TV favourites celebrated in the stamp set (Royal Mail/PA) Formed in 1969, Monty Python was one of the UK's best-known comedy troupes, made up of comics Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam. Presented in a miniature sheet, and in honour of 50 years of the cult 1975 film, Monty Python And The Holy Grail, a further four stamps celebrate the film. Scenes featured on the stamps include The Black Knight's defiant ''Tis but a scratch!', King Arthur and his knights receiving their divine quest, and Sir Robin's encounter with the Three-Headed Giant: 'You're lucky, you're not next to him!' Sir Michael said, with a reference to a character from Monty Python's Flying Circus: 'Very glad to share a stamp with the nude organist!'. The three-headed giant meets Sir Robin in the film Monty Python And The Holy Grail (Royal Mail/PA) David Gold, Royal Mail's director of external affairs and policy, said: 'Monty Python has left an indelible mark on global comedy, all while remaining unmistakably British at its core. 'From their groundbreaking television debut to a string of iconic films, this stamp collection honours a body of work that has shaped the comedic landscape for nearly six decades.' The group followed their TV work by making a series of films including 1979's Life Of Brian, the story of a man who was mistaken for Jesus; and 1983's The Meaning Of Life. Idle, 82, created the medieval musical Spamalot, which earned a Tony award for best musical after its Broadway run. Chapman died of tonsil cancer in 1989 aged 48, while Jones died from a rare form of dementia in 2020, aged 77. The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order from August 7 and go on general sale from August 14.
