The Repair Shop host in shock as guest takes apart restored item
The Repair Shop is back on BBC One and new expert Rebecca Bissonnet is excited to be working on Abid's coat worn by his great-grandfather, Sultan Mohammad Shah. Rebecca joined the show for the 13th season earlier this year and viewers have been keen to find out more about her.
Rebecca is an expert embroiderer who completed her apprenticeship at the Royal School of Needlework. She graduated with a Master's of Art in Textile Conservation in 2004.
For 11 years she worked as a freelancer before securing a permanent role as a Textile Treatment Supervisor at Historic Royal Palaces. She now leads a team of conservators who look after the state beds and throne canopies at Hampton Court and Kensington Palace.
As well as teaching local needlework classes, she also creates her own pieces to sell at craft fairs. Following years of honing her craft, she delivers talks on her time at the Royal School of Needlework.
She was even part of the embroidery team who worked on Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and now the Princess of Wales’, wedding dress. She is based in Alton, Hampshire.
Describing her work, she said: "A keen embroiderer and qualified textile conservator with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
"I'm creative, inventive and passionate with over 20 years of textile conservation experience. I have a wealth of information to draw upon to provide you with the best treatment options for your textiles."
Wanting to get stuck into some more "hands-on" work, she set up her own business.
She said: "A couple of years ago I went self-employed and set up my own business. A year into my business I got my first studio - after twenty years! I was pretty happy."
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The Repair Shop got in touch with her personally as they were on the hunt for a textiles expert to join the team.
Rebecca explained: "They had found my details through my website and I actually missed the call because I had just popped next door to the village shop to buy cherry cake.
"I rang back and had a good chat followed by a Zoom call and that was it!," the Daily Mail reports.
She revealed her favourite fix so far was actually her first, which was an "incredible" green velvet and gold brocade ceremonial robe.
The Repair Shop airs on BBC One at 8pm on Wednesdays
