Jay Blades gets choked up as he gives rare family insight
The Repair Shop star Jay Blades gave an emotional insight into his family life during today’s instalment of ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. The BBC favourite opened up about his mental health struggles and the importance of family during a live interview with host Alan Titchmarsh.
Alan asked Jay about his mental health difficulties in 2015, when he suddenly “disappeared”, and what brought him back. Jay explained that, in part, he had been brought back by the “love he received”.
Jay went on to talk about a family in Wolverhampton that had supported him in his darkest hour. “They are still supporting me to this day,” he explained.
“Gerald Bailey is classified as my brother. He said to me…” she began, before trailing off as he became visibly choked up.
“Sorry about that,” he added. “He said to me seven years ago that he’s going to look after me and support me until I’m back on my feet.”
As he became overcome with emotion once more, Alan interjected: “People helping people. That’s what you’ve always done, and now you’ve found someone to help you.”
Jay went on to explain that he was so grateful for Gerald’s family for coming into his life, and that he even refers to his parents as “Mum and Dad”.
He revealed he would go to see the family every Saturday, and that even now, his “second mum” checks in on him on a weekly basis.
Alan pointed out that Jay comes across as so “breezy and confident” on TV and that it might therefore “surprise” fans to know he needed that kind of reassurance.
“I think we all have that at some point in our lives. But if the right people are around you, you will get that support,” Jay reflected.
He discussed growing up in Hackney, explaining that showing any vulnerability made him “a victim”.
Jay also reflected on how crying in Gerald’s car a few careers ago was “the first time I remember crying in front of a man”.
“I broke down completely and he just said, ‘Right, I’m going to look after you’.”
The Repair Shop star described it as “being reborn at 45” having grown up as a “tough guy from Hackney”, and once again expressed his eternal gratitude for Gerald’s kindness.
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs from 9.30 on ITV and ITVX.
