The Repair Shop is set to return to our screens tonight.
The hit BBC programme is hosted by Jay Blades and follows the TV personality and his team as they restore heirlooms and treasured family pieces. Tonight's edition will be the first episode of season 10 and will see the TV stars restore a one-of-a-kind clock, an iconic pedal car, a very unusual ceramic canine and a devoted football fan’s lucky mascot.
Away from the world of restoration, Jay has endured a rollercoaster journey on his road to becoming one of UK television's most beloved personalities. When Jay left school, he initially worked as a labourer and in factories before studying Criminology at Buckinghamshire New University.
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He met his now ex-wife Jade at university and they set up a charity to train disadvantaged young people in furniture restoration. During that time, Jay briefly mentored Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who was then aged just 14.
Sadly, Jay's charity lost funding and soon after his marriage broke down. He told the Daily Star: "I was homeless. You heard me right – yes, homeless. Everything fell down for me. My marriage broke up, my business broke up. I left my ex-wife the house and everything like that."
Jay has rebuilt his life and he now enjoys a happy family life with his fiancée Lisa Marie Bozen. The 52-year-old took to Instagram late last year to reveal he had proposed and the ring was designed by co-star Richard Talman.
Jay has also opened up on his struggle with dyslexia, which was undiagnosed at school and left him with the reading age of an 11-year-old when he was an adult. The TV star documented his journey to improve his reading ability for BBC documentary, Learning to Read.
As OK! reports, viewers of the documentary were given an insight into Jay's home in Wolverhampton, where he lives with Lisa.
The exterior of the home features a bright white front door with a black frame. The two windows also have matching paintwork and the gorgeous home also boasts a well kept front garden.
Viewers were also given an insight into Jay's kitchen during a scene where Lisa was helping Jay with his reading work, as the pair stood in the centre of the room in front of a large cooker. The room is painted white and has gorgeous patterned tiles across the floor.
At the end of the show, Jay was delighted with his progress and vowed to continue reading. Lisa was gushing with pride during the programme's final scene as she said the reading journey has helped their relationship.
She added: "We've learnt how to help each other find that middle ground between work Jay and home Jay. The best thing is that now he's reading, it's like a weight has been taken off of him. I'm very proud."
Jay and Lisa are sitting in a cosy living area in the final scene. The happy couple are each sat on a comfortable chair and a record collection is stood against the exposed brick wall.
The Repair Shop airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer
Jay Blades: Learning To Read at 51 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
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