The Repair Shop Host Jay Blades Charged with Rape, Court Appearance Scheduled

Jay Blades, the 55-year-old former host of the popular BBC show The Repair Shop, has been charged with two counts of rape and is due to appear in court in August 2025. Despite the charges, the BBC continued airing The Repair Shop, which Blades stepped down from in 2024, with episodes featuring other expert restorers. Blades, who was awarded an MBE in 2021 for his services to craft and charity work, has also faced separate allegations of controlling and coercive behavior, which he denies. The Repair Shop has been a hit since its 2017 launch, moving from daytime to primetime and winning awards including a BAFTA for a royal special. Viewers expressed shock and demanded the show be pulled from the schedule following the rape charges, although the BBC maintained the broadcast of episodes without Blades' involvement. Blades’ career includes appearances on various other TV programs, and his rise from a challenging upbringing to TV stardom has been widely noted.