Award-winning BBC show returning to screens this summer with landmark new episodes
AN award-winning BBC show is returning to screens this summer with landmark new episodes.
The Repair Shop has become a firm favourite among BBC viewers since it first debuted in 2017.
And now they will be delighted to know the show is returning to BBC One in a week’s time.
The four new episodes will include two special programmes; one to mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival to the UK, while the other will celebrate the birth of the NHS.
The brand-new series of the BAFTA-winning show kicks off by welcoming Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE to the barn. He hopes organ restorer David Burville can revive his treasured harmonium, the subject of one of his poems.
For Simon, the instrument holds precious memories of his late father Peter, a creative man who encouraged Simon’s own artistic journey.
Amongst the other treasures through the barn doors is an early
sculpture steeped in history by an eminent Czech artist, a pair of child’s leather clogs and a silver charm bracelet that’s sadly lost most of its charm.
Episode two sees a seized-up ventriloquist’s dummy that’s over a hundred years old being revamped by expert team Kirsten Ramsay, David Burville and the Teddy Bear Ladies, whilst a revived brass cornet brings back precious memories.
Also, undergoing a triumphant transformation is a Roman-style leather chair, restored by upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and a one-off, handmade notebook recording information gathered whilst birdwatching, a natural fit for book restorer Chris Shaw.
The third programme marks the 75 th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush to the UK with the experts fixing four items that celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants – a British passport that tells a special tale of a father’s heritage, a suitcase known as a Grip, filled with memories of a journey of opportunity and adventure, and a precious clock that represents building a life in a new land.
The barn’s final visitor of the day is Patrick Vernon OBE who led
the successful campaign for 22nd June to be recognised annually as Windrush Day.
He brings a radiogram that once belonged to his late friend Eddie Noble, a Second World War British-Jamaican veteran who settled in the UK following his service in the RAF.
This series will end with a special celebration of the 75 th birthday of the NHS, featuring former Children’s Laureate and acclaimed author Michael Rosen with a patient diary that was kept by NHS nurses whilst he was in a 40-day induced coma with Covid at the start of the Pandemic.
The modern spiral notebook is Michael’s only record of this time when family members were unable to visit. Along with the
notebook, Michael has brought the many letters, drawings and notes that his young fans sent to him whilst he was in hospital. Currently being stored in a messy bundle, Chris Shaw gets to work to create a more fitting tribute for the thoughtful artwork leaving the usually eloquent Michael momentarily lost for words.
Presenter Jay Blades, said: “We cannot wait to share these four new peak episodes with you! We were honoured to welcome Poet Laureate Simon Armitage to the barn, and our two specials for Windrush and the NHS are also incredible. Meeting Patrick Vernon OBE who has done so much to commemorate an important part of black British history has been a personal high.
“And it was so moving for us to repair acclaimed author Michael Rosen’s important document of his time in hospital during Covid. Generally, the stories and repairs in these four programmes are incredible and as ever we’re super proud of the team.”
The Repair Shop returns on Wednesday, June 7 at 8pm on BBC One.