Where is The Repair Shop cast now? Here's what they're doing in 2026

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The Repair Shop has been one of the BBC's most beloved factual programmes since launching in 2017. Each episode follows professional craftspeople who restore family heirlooms of sentimental value for their owners. With presenter Jay Blades gone and the barn carrying on without him, fans are asking: where is the Repair Shop cast now, and what have they been up to?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

- Key takeaways

- Repair Shop cast today

- 1. Jay Blades — presenter and furniture restorer

- 2. Will Kirk — wood restorer and co-foreman

- 3. Dominic Chinea — metalwork expert and co-foreman

- 4. Steve Fletcher — horologist

- 5. Suzie Fletcher — leather and saddlery expert

- 6. Kirsten Ramsay — ceramics conservator

- 7. Lucia Scalisi — painting conservator

- 8. Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch — the "Teddy Bear Ladies"

- 9. Sonnaz Nooranvary — upholstery expert

- FAQs

Key takeaways

- Jay Blades stepped down from presenting in 2024 and is now awaiting trial on serious criminal charges — with a court date set for September 2027.

- Will Kirk and Dominic Chinea have taken over as co-foremen of the barn since Blades' departure.

- Lucia Scalisi remains active on the show and was honoured as an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in 2025.

- Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch — the "Teddy Bear Ladies" — are still restoring on screen and co-wrote a children's book together.

- Suzie Fletcher joined the show after her husband passed away from cancer in 2013; no current cast member has died of the disease.

Repair Shop cast today

Expert | Specialism | Status (2026) |

Jay Blades | Furniture restoration / Presenter | Left show 2024; awaiting trial |

Will Kirk | Wood restoration / Carpentry | Co-foreman; still on show |

Dominic Chinea | Metalwork | Co-foreman; still on show |

Steve Fletcher | Horology (clocks & watches) | Still on show |

Suzie Fletcher | Leather & saddlery | Still on show |

Kirsten Ramsay | Ceramics conservation | Still on show |

Lucia Scalisi | Painting conservation | Still on show; Britons Lost Masterpieces |

Julie Tatchell | Soft toy & doll restoration | Still on show; children's author |

Amanda Middleditch | Soft toy & doll restoration | Still on show; children's author |

Sonnaz Nooranvary | Upholstery | Still on show |

1. Jay Blades — presenter and furniture restorer

- Full name: Jason Blades

- Role: Presenter and foreman (2017–2024)

- Nationality: British

Furniture restorer Jay Blades acted as the foreman of The Repair Shop until 2024. Since then, regular experts Will Kirk and Dominic Chinea act as co-foremen.

Blades was removed from BBC programming after being charged with controlling and coercive behaviour in September 2024. In August 2025, West Mercia Police confirmed that he had been charged with two counts of rape. Blades pleaded not guilty to both rape charges at Shrewsbury Crown Court, appearing via video link. He has been granted bail while awaiting a September 2027 trial. He denies all charges.

The show won a BAFTA in 2023 for a royal special edition featuring King Charles. Blades had also appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, The Great Celebrity Bake Off, and Strictly Come Dancing, and was honoured with an MBE in 2021.

2. Will Kirk — wood restorer and co-foreman

- Full name: William Kirk

- Role: Furniture restorer and carpenter; co-foreman (2024–present)

- Nationality: British

Since Jay Blades' departure in 2024, Will Kirk has stepped up as one of the show's two co-foremen alongside Dominic Chinea. While Jay mainly presented the show, Will is a carpenter and expert in wood restoration. He has also appeared on other BBC programmes, including the 2021 season of Celebrity MasterChef.

The antique furniture restorer shared news at the end of 2025 that filming on the beloved BBC series had wrapped, posting a sunset photograph of the famous Repair Shop barn. When not on screen, Will is at home with his wife, Polly Snowdon, and their young children.

3. Dominic Chinea — metalwork expert and co-foreman

- Full name: Dominic Chinea

- Role: Metalwork expert; co-foreman (2024–present)

- Nationality: British

Since 2024, Dominic Chinea and Will Kirk act as co-foremen of The Repair Shop, sharing presenting duties following Jay Blades' exit. Chinea has been a fixture in the barn since the early series, specialising in metal restoration — from rusting Victorian lamps to intricate mechanical objects.

The Repair Shop returned to BBC One at 8pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026, with Chinea and Kirk continuing to anchor the show through its latest series.

4. Steve Fletcher — horologist

- Full name: Steven Fletcher

- Role: Clock and watch restoration (horology)

- Nationality: British

Steve Fletcher is The Repair Shop's horologist, working on clocks and watches. His skills have been passed down through his family from his grandfather, who opened The Clock Workshop in Oxford back in 1910.

After studying the trade, Steven went on to begin his own business fixing watches, and has been doing so for over 45 years. He remains one of the show's most familiar faces, with a recurring partnership with Will Kirk — Steve repairs clocks while Kirk restores the wooden cases they sit in.

5. Suzie Fletcher — leather and saddlery expert

- Full name: Suzie Fletcher

- Role: Leather restoration and saddlery

- Nationality: British

Suzie Fletcher is The Repair Shop's resident leather expert and saddle-maker, with decades of experience in her field. Her brother Steve convinced her to join the show following the death of her husband — a decision which she has said helped her through some "very dark days."

Suzie had lived in Colorado for more than two decades, working as a master saddler. Her American husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight months before his death in 2013. She returned to the UK and joined the Repair Shop team, where she has remained ever since.

6. Kirsten Ramsay — ceramics conservator

- Full name: Kirsten Ramsay

- Role: Ceramics conservation

- Nationality: British

As the resident ceramic expert, Kirsten can repair even the most fragile of cracks. She learned her craft at West Dean College and later worked at the conservation department at the British Museum in London.

Ramsay has appeared across all major series of The Repair Shop and remains one of its most dependable experts. She is listed among the show's core starring cast on Wikipedia.

7. Lucia Scalisi — painting conservator

- Full name: Lucia Scalisi

- Role: Painting conservation

- Nationality: British

Lucia Scalisi is The Repair Shop's resident painting conservator, formally trained with over 30 years' experience in both museum and private sectors. She began her career at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1984 and worked for 11 years as a Senior Conservator of Paintings at the V&A before opening a Conservation Studio in private practice in London.

In 2025, she was honoured as an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, a historic London guild. In addition to The Repair Shop, Lucia also appears on Britons Lost Masterpieces, another BBC series dedicated to uncovering and restoring forgotten works.

8. Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch — the "Teddy Bear Ladies"

- Roles: Soft toy and doll restoration

- Nationality: British

Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell are the show's soft toy and doll restorers, known affectionately as the "Bear Ladies." The Repair Shop ran a 2025 season in which Amanda and Julie joined the team to help families mend special objects.

The pair have made an exciting career move beyond the show, revealing they have written a children's book together — Bartie Bristle — published by Walker Books. The book, co-authored with Julie Tatchell, is titled Bartie Bristle and Other Stories: Tales from the Teddy Bear Ladies. The duo are professional collaborators with a close working friendship — they are not publicly known to be a romantic couple.

9. Sonnaz Nooranvary — upholstery expert

- Full name: Sonnaz Nooranvary

- Role: Upholstery restoration

- Nationality: British

Sonnaz Nooranvary is The Repair Shop's upholstery restorer and expert. She has been a regular cast member across multiple series, bringing specialist skills in fabric and furniture upholstery to the barn. She is listed among the show's core starring cast alongside Will Kirk, Steve Fletcher, Dominic Chinea, and Suzie Fletcher.

FAQs

Who has left The Repair Shop?

Jay Blades began hosting The Repair Shop in 2017 and stepped down from presenting last year. The BBC subsequently ceased broadcasting episodes featuring him and made changes to the programme's format. No other core cast members have officially left the show, though some earlier contributors — such as vintage electronics and musical box specialists — appeared only in early series.

What happened to Jay Blades after leaving The Repair Shop?

Jay Blades pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape at Shrewsbury Crown Court. He has been granted bail while awaiting a September 2027 trial. The host is also awaiting trial on a separate charge of alleged controlling and coercive behaviour toward his estranged wife; he pleaded not guilty to that charge at a hearing last October. He denies all charges.

Are Julie and Amanda from The Repair Shop a couple?

Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch are close professional partners and long-time friends, widely known as the "Teddy Bear Ladies." Amanda is reputed to work alongside her partner Julie Tatchell, and together they revive old toys through their careful repair work. Neither has publicly confirmed a romantic relationship. The pair most recently collaborated on a children's book, Bartie Bristle, published by Walker Books.

What happened to Lucia from The Repair Shop?

Lucia Scalisi has not left The Repair Shop. Lucia Scalisi continues to provide her expert knowledge and skills to restore paintings on the BBC restoration programme. In 2025, she received the honour of Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, adding to a career that spans the V&A, international conservation projects, and television.

Has a Repair Shop cast member died of cancer?

No current or former core cast member of The Repair Shop has died of cancer. As of 2025, no cast member of The Repair Shop has died of cancer. The closest connection is Suzie Fletcher: expert Suzie Fletcher lost her husband to cancer, and has spoken openly about how the show is helping her to "repair my heart." A guest who appeared in the Christmas special, a young boy named Ben, had also died of cancer before the episode aired — but he was never a cast member.

Who presents The Repair Shop now that Jay Blades has left?

Since 2024, regular experts Will Kirk and Dominic Chinea act as co-foremen of The Repair Shop, sharing the frontman role left vacant by Jay Blades. Roman Kemp also made a cameo on the show's Christmas special following Jay Blades' exit. The BBC has not appointed a single permanent presenter to replace Blades.

Tuko.co.ke also shared details about the BBC Match of the Day presenters and pundits for the 2026/27 season, featuring a historic three-way rotation among Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan as lead presenters. This marks a significant milestone in the show's 62-year history, as it welcomes the first women to permanently hold presenting roles and showcases renowned football figures like Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney as key pundits.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.