The Repair Shop 2024 sees Jay Blades and his trusty crew of craft experts back for a thirteenth season.
The BAFTA-award-winning programme has become a weeknight favourite around the country as we watch members of the public bring in their sentimental items, often with a special and unique backstory behind them, that need major restoration work.
Along with presenter Jay, each of the experts specialises in different items and materials and all help transform the public’s treasures to their former glory. This series we will see the team bring a fire station painting back to its former glory, as well as restoring a Roald Dahl gate, a World War II code-breaking cookbook, and a pair of cowboy boots connected to Elton John.
Here's everything you need to know about The Repair Shop 2024...
The Repair Shop 2024 release date
The Repair Shop 2024 returned with season 13 on Wednesday, April 10. The next episode airs on Wednesday, November 13 at 8 pm on BBC One.
The next episode will see Bill Paterson take a look back at favourite restorations related to the Second World War, including a doll believed to have been made by a woman who joined the Land Army at the age of 18. Other items include a metal bookend given to a soldier when he was in the SAS, and a battered and beaten writing case given to a woman sent to work at Bletchley Park, the top-secret home of Britain's wartime codebreakers.
You can also catch up on any missed episodes on BBC iPlayer.
The Repair Shop 2024 episode guide
Wednesday, April 10
A tiny pair of cowboy boots bring some rock ’n’ roll to the Workshop of Dreams in week one. "It’s incredible to be back – we always miss it when we have a break," says shoemaker Dean Westmoreland, 34, who’s been the barn’s resident cobbler since 2021 and discovers a fascinating music connection involving legendary artistes Elton John and Rod Stewart while restoring the treasured footwear to their former glory. "I always think it’s a shame that shoes can’t talk – think of the stories they could tell. Luckily, these cowboy boots have a rich history, a great story that’s being passed down the generations of a family. It’s a privilege to hear it on this show."
Wednesday, April 17
The second episode sees the team tackle a miner's lamp that saved its owner's life, a mysterious rug-covered armchair, and an antique music machine that has not played in years.
Wednesday, April 24
Experts restore the garden gate of the home that belonged to Roald Dahl's mother, a homemade model of a prawn trawler, a silver-framed mirror from Iraq that has been passed through a family for generations and a child's Irish dancing dress from the 1950s.
Wednesday, May 1
Experts restore a gold-plated model of the Lotus Espirit made for the premiere of The Spy Who Loved Me, a set of military bagpipes, a pair of Jazz musician statues and a locket found in a field while metal detecting.
Wednesday, May 8 - no episode
Wednesday, May 15
Experts restore a notebook containing codebreaking secrets from the Second World War, a 250-year-old fire pump, a healing bowl from Zanzibar gifted by the daughter of a Sultan and a large woven puppet head of Macha, the horse goddess, worn during performances of ancient Irish folklore.
Wednesday, May 22 - no episode
Wednesday, May 29
Jay Blades hosts as Leigh brings in a 40-year-old armchair that he bought with the love of his life back in 1986 just three years before his partner Greg died during the AIDS crisis. Sian from Northampton brings in a silver bangle given to her by her parents when she graduated from university in 1998 that fell under the wheels of a taxi. Jon from Swansea presents the remains of a small wooden carousel to skilled engineer David Burville in hopes he can repair the model made by his father in the 1950s. Catherine from Northern Ireland is hoping instrument expert Pete Woods can restore her late brother Seamus' homemade bodhran drum.
Wednesday, June 5 - no episode
Wednesday, June 12
Tim Gunn meets Sharon from Swindon who brings in a BMX bike belonging to her husband Dave who can no longer ride due to a Chiari Malformation. Barbara and Stefan from Holloway Fire Station bring in a painting depicting a fire with three bold yellow-helmeted firefighters in the foreground that needs some attention after years of being hung outside and Ceri from Cardiff asks for help restoring an authentic gown that once belonged to drag performer Danny La Rue. Brother Nick and Chris from Suffolk bring a dynamometer into the barn with hope that horologist Steven Fletcher can get it working again.
Wednesday, June 19 - no episode due to football
Tuesday, June 25
Suzie Fletcher takes on the repair of a special sporran, worn by the owner's grandfather throughout the First World War as part of his uniform as a Seaforth highlander. Dominic Chinea gets to work on an ingenious artist's tool from the 1920s and toy repairers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell give some TLC to a baby seal that is no longer very furry.
Wednesday, July 3
Cobbler Dean Westmoreland is presented with a 70-year-old pair of roller skates that belonged to owner Angela's mum until her death in 2019. After years of use, the skates are looking a bit worse for ware but Angela is hoping their restoration will give her father Colin the lift he's been needing. Electronics whizz Mark Stuckey attempts to repair a 1960s radiogram record player brought in by sisters Fredericka and Louisa.
Wednesday, July 24
Cobbler Dean Westmoreland is presented with a 70-year-old pair of roller skates that belonged to owner Angela's mum until her death in 2019. After years of use, the skates are looking a bit worse for ware but Angela is hoping their restoration will give her father Colin the lift he's been needing. Also, Electronics whizz Mark Stuckey attempts to repair a 1960s radiogram record player brought in by sisters Fredericka and Louisa.
Wednesday, August 14
The team repair an iconic toy that has given up the ghost. Elsewhere in the barn, there are restoration jobs on a dilapidated bench, which began life as a family bed, and a handmade guitar that links a son with his inspirational father. On Suzie Fletcher’s list is the substantial repair of a taxi badge given to black cab drivers upon completing ‘The Knowledge’ memory test of London’s street routes.
Wednesday, August 21
Sebastian arrives in Edinburgh with an item dating back to the 1930s. The tabletop dictaphone is a remarkable piece of equipment that allowed Sebastian's godfather, author William Gerhardie, to dictate his writing to a secretary, who would type the words for print. If audio expert Mark Stuckey can get it working, it'll be the first time anybody has heard the contents of these recordings for over 80 years. A barber set and a Hungarian fruit bowl are also on the jobs list.
Wednesday, August 28
Jeweller Richard Talman meets mother-daughter duo Halina and Lesley who bring him a broken silver ring given to Halina's mother in Warsaw in World War Two as a thank-you for risking her life to pass food to families imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto. Leather expert Suzie Fletcher meets Gordon and his sons James and Ross who bring in a pair of curling stones that were used in Gordon's father's team victory in the Grand Match of 1979. Tracey brings in a wooden chef figurine from her childhood that has been fire-damaged in an unfortunate accident in hopes that woodworker Will Kirk can restore it to its former glory and Angelina Bakalarou is tasked with repairing a vintage film poster of Bollywood film Sholay.
Wednesday, September 18
Experts tackle drag queen Bailey Bubbles' first-ever pair of high heels, a camera from Vietnam given to a soldier in the French Army, a wooden toucan mobile passed through generations and a leather suitcase used to store documents.
Wednesday, September 25
Dominic repairs a dolls pram once used to smuggle money in the rebellion during the British rule in Dublin in 1916 and Kirsten meets Nicky who brings in a figurine that her late husband made while he was serving in the Army.
Wednesday, October 2
The experts attempt to restore a 53-year-old teddy bear, a silver bowling jack from 1956, a Dutch clock believed to date back to the 17th century and a dhol drum that is no longer playable.
Wednesday, October 9
Experts restore a set of piano-shaped DJ decks, an 18th-century orrery that is missing a planet, a hat box that has travelled the world, and a 1930s doll.
Wednesday, October 16
Pete Woods is tasked with repairing an out of tune and worn-looking glockenspiel that was played as part of the Batley Variety Club house band and Chris Shaw rejuvenates a children's book from 1943 and woodworker Will Kirk repairs a wooden toucan that has been in Peter and Laura's family for generations.
Wednesday, October 23
Sonnaz Nooranvary meets broadcaster Sally Magnusson who is hoping she can restore the original Mastermind chair which she inherited from her late father Magnus Magnusson who used to host the quiz show.
Wednesday, October 30
Narrator Bill Paterson reminisces on four favourite fixes related to childhood including a toy rabbit that once belonged to author Dick King-Smith, a miniature house from a model village of Cleethorpes, a pair of sturdy suede shoes passed from a mother to her daughter upon her death and an Indian dancing doll.
Wednesday, November 6
Bill Paterson narrates a look back at favourite restorations related to music, including an original marching drum belonging to a Scottish brass band that started in 1883, a bugle belonging to the charity Blind Veterans UK, an electric guitar that's snapped in two and a music stand.
Wednesday, November 13
Bill Paterson narrates a look back at favourite restorations related to the Second World War, including a doll believed to have been made by a woman who joined the Land Army at the age of 18. Other items include a metal bookend given to a soldier when he was in the SAS, and a battered and beaten writing case given to a woman sent to work at Bletchley Park, the top-secret home of Britain's wartime codebreakers.
What's new for The Repair Shop 2024?
This new series is packed full of heartwarming restorations as always, but the BBC has promised that our latest visit to the repair barn will see one of the biggest fixes in the show's history, as the experts attempt to save an armchair that tells a poignant story from the 1980's AIDS crisis.
But, that's not all - there is also a new face joining the repair Shop team, as textiles conservator Rebecca Bissonnet, who has worked on restoring priceless items including Queen Elizabeth II's coronation dress, will join the team to repair precious clothing.
"I’m such a fan of The Repair Shop and was nervous for weeks before walking into the barn. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to work there!" says Rebecca, who spent seven years working on tapestries and furnishings at the Historic Royal Palaces before setting up her own textile business.
Her first on-screen repair sees her fixing a 70-year-old lace collar and cuffs on a red Irish dancing dress. "It was a fiddly fix but seeing the joy it brought the owner was special,’ smiles Rebecca. ‘The barn really is the best place to work."
The Repair Shop 2024 interview with expert shoemaker Dean Westmoreland
Here, in an exclusive interview, Bradford-born dad-of-two Dean tells us more about his challenge in the first episode and why he loves being a cobbler…
Sounds like your repair rocks, Dean!
"It was right up my street. A lady called Diane brings a pair of tiny cowboy boots into the barn that were brought for her son by her brother, Roger Pope, a talented drummer and session musician. He was in various bands back in the day and had Elton John and Rod Stewart as his support acts."
His support acts? Wow!
"I know, what an incredible story to come from a tiny pair of boots! Roger was touring in America with his rock band, Hookfoot, in 1971, when he bought them for his nephew, whom he adored. Sadly, they’re Diane’s last link to her brother as Roger died of throat cancer in 2013."
Is it true that the night after Roger died, Elton John dedicated a song to him while performing in Las Vegas?
"Yes, which is such an accolade and shows how well-regarded he was by Elton. He was obviously a talented, lovely man and I could see by the way Diane spoke about him how much the boots meant to her. I felt a weight on my shoulders, wondering if my repair would do them justice."
You’ve been repairing and making shoes for 17 years, so why the nerves for this project?
"I’ve worked on cowboy boots before, but not a pair this small! The main challenge was getting my hands into them so I could do the intricate work. The soles were brittle and I had to unpick the stitching, replace the sole and bring the worn leather back to life by massaging polish into it with my fingers. I’ve always used my fingers to make leather supple – I need to feel the leather and you don’t over-apply polish like you do with a cloth."
Diane promised not to cry at the reveal. Was she pleased with the finished boots?
"I didn’t make her cry, it was the boots! Hopefully, they were happy tears. Reveals are always nerve-wracking and it’s such a relief when people like what you’ve done."
You clearly love what you do, Dean…
"Shoes tell a story. Every pair is unique to the person wearing them and everyone goes through different things in life, don’t they? It’s that story that fascinates me when a pair comes in for repair."
How did you become a shoemaker?
"I’d always liked decent footwear and enjoyed buying and polishing shoes as a kid. You should have seen the shine on my football boots – I think I looked forward to cleaning them more than playing the match! I worked in a shoe repair shop, which was just a job, but the more I learned, the more I realised I had to learn about the craft. I won a national shoe repair competition, then trained as an apprentice shoemaker and opened my own shop in 2017 in Yorkshire."
And how did you come to join The Repair Shop team?
"That was thanks to [the show’s metalwork expert] Dominic Chinea! Dom posted on Instagram that his Red Wing boots were ruined and he was thinking of throwing them away, so I messaged him saying, ‘Don’t! Send them to me’. I mended them and, a few weeks later, I got a phone call from production asking me to repair some running spikes on the show. I thought it was a prank call! I never thought I’d end up on the telly."
The Repair Shop won the Daytime category gong at the 2023 National Television Awards. Did you go?
"Yes, it was my first awards show and I felt like a fish out of water surrounded by people on TV! I talked to Louis Theroux, who said he was a fan of the show, and I met Ant and Dec, so my kids were happy!"
Is there a trailer for The Repair Shop 2024?
No, sadly there isn't a trailer yet, but if one is released by the BBC we will add it to his guide.
And if that's not enough from The Repair Shop, you can now watch The Repair Shop Australia in the UK...
Viewers in Oz have been enjoying an Australian version of The Repair Shop since 2022, and British fans are now able to watch the action, too, as the first series got its UK premiere on Quest on Wednesday, April 3.
The Repair Shop Australia is filmed in Sydney and is hosted by builder Dean Ipaviz, who leads a team of six repairers.
"I was a fan of the UK show first and foremost, so when the opportunity came around I leaped at it," says Dean, who hopes viewers here will enjoy the deep-dive into Antipodean history. "There’s a bit more Australiana in our items, with the stories tied to immigration and pieces that have built Australia."
