Fans of The Repair Shop were all left asking the same question during the latest episode of the BBC hit show on Wednesday evening: Where is Jay Blades?
The long-time presenter, who has been at the helm of the show for seven years, was notably absent following his recent axing after being charged with the physical and emotional abuse of his wife, Lisa Zbozen, over a 20-month period. He has pled not guilty and denied engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards his wife.
Viewers took to Twitter in droves to express their confusion. One user asked: "How have they made episodes without Jay Blades already? Or has he been edited out?"
Others echoed similar sentiments, asking: "What's happened to Jay Blades on #TheRepairShop?" and "No sign of Jay Blades again." One fan even speculated: "It's possible he has been airbrushed out."
While some viewers were left wondering about his absence, others were more than happy to see Jay gone. One user tweeted, "The new #TheRepairShop with Jay cut out is actually better.
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"Because we get more Will and Dom! What's not to like? @BBC. Much better now!"
In light of the charges against Jay Blades, broadcasters have begun removing him from their schedules. Jay, best known for hosting The Repair Shop, has already been axed from the upcoming Christmas special of the show. Creators of the programme are reportedly considering Dominic Chinea and furniture restorer Will Kirk as potential replacements for Jay.
Other shows featuring Jay have also been scrapped. Channel 4 confirmed that The Odd Couple, a travel series he was set to star in with Dame Judi Dench, will not get a sequel.
Channel 5 also cancelled a documentary Jay was filming, titled A Country House Through Time, which was set to explore the history of stately homes.
A source told The Sun: "Everything is up in the air following Blades getting charged, but TV chiefs didn’t want to be seen to act slowly... Until court proceedings have run their course, everything is getting put on hold, and alternative plans are being considered. But The Repair Shop is likely to continue as it’s hugely popular and the feeling is that the show is bigger than any individual."
During the episode, The Repair Shop expert Dominic Chinea was left in awe when Lynda Brook and her daughter Jemma brought in a Braille typewriter for restoration.
Dominic remarked: "This machine really changed thousands of people's lives." Jemma, who is partially sighted and will eventually lose her vision, emotionally explained: "I wanted to still be able to read because I'm a total book nerd."
After its restoration, Jemma was thrilled, exclaiming: "It looks brand new!" The team even added Braille engravings of Jemma and Lynda’s names on the case.
