Written by Fran Withers and Ian Edwards Six years ago on 27th March 2017, a brand new and very different show made it’s debut on the BBC - The Repair Shop. The show is produced by Ricochet, and it had a low-key start - a three week run as an afternoon show on BBC2. It was swiftly recommissioned and by series 4, in 2019, it had switched to BBC1. A Christmas special attracted 5.5 million viewers, which prompted schedulers to give further series a peak-time slot. The show was devised by Ricochet’s creative director, Katy Thorogood, after she had a chair restored that was owned by her late mother. At that time Jay was approached to appear on BBC’s Money for Nothing, and then invited to present The Repair Shop. The idea for The Repair Shop was simple - experts skilled in various crafts pool their talents and resources to restore heirlooms and treasured antiques to prove that anything can be restored to its former glory. As Jay says “I knew from early on that it was going to be something really special. Bringing so many different craftspeople together in the same building is an unusual concept, but a refreshing change.” The show is filmed in the Court Barn at the Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton, West Sussex. The Repair Shop also uses the adjacent buildings, which are called The Wagon Shed and Stables and is where Dom normally does metal work. The very first episode saw Steve and Jay tackle a timepiece with huge sentimental value for its owner Jane Fanner. Her late father, who was completely blind, made the clock himself, but it hadn’t ticked or chimed since his death. Will Kirk tested his carpentry skills on a 50-year-old wooden flying fish that may have been carved by a descendent of one the mutineers from HMS Bounty. Accordion expert Roger Thomas wrestled with an 80-year-old instrument that was played in the bomb shelters of London during the Blitz. The general concept of the show has not changed at all in the six years since it started; incredible stories of pieces of history that have been given a future, along with powerful owner stories which make the show moving and bring the repairs to life. As Jay says in the forward of ‘The Repair Shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams’ book “No matter how damaged, there is always a way to brings the things you love back to life .. There are the compelling stories attached to each item which range from romantic and sentimental to downright terrifying. Well worn objects can be a symbol of courage, a memorial to an ancestor or a reminder of a way of life that few know .. History teaches us how lessons from the past can arm us for the tomorrow .. Everyone has a story to tell. For those who can link their family history to a symbolic object, we at The Repair Shop can play a role in its retelling. We feel privileged at becoming part of that history” It is a multi-award winning show, and the viewing figures show an average audience figure of 6 million people, around one-tenth of the U.K. population. Some astonishing fact and figures11 regular experts featured 58 guest experts featured (and counting!) 12 series aired to date (totalling 262 episodes, excluding extended/re-edited versions) 329 overall episodes aired to date (inc extended versions) As of 27th March 2023. Episodes aired by BBC only, excluding re-runs on Quest etc.
Other BBC episode airings 60 minute versions - 30 episodes aired In 2019 and 2020 a series of extended and re-edited versions of series 4 episodes were shown in prime time. Each episode has an additional, previously unaired, repair item added to them, for a total of 4 repair items per episode. 30 episodes aired in total; episodes 23 and 27 of a stated total of 32 were listed but have never been aired) These initially ran on BBC Two at 7pm in a one hour time slot, with those episode receiving repeat runs on BBC One at 8pm. This was following the show receiving a move to BBC One, beginning with 2019 Christmas special which was aired half-way during series 5. Series 5 extended versions - 20 episodes aired In 2021 and early 2022 a series extended and re-edited versions of series 5 episodes were shown in prime time, on Wednesday evenings at 8pm on BBC One. Unlike the series 4 '60 minute versions', these episodes consisted of repairs selected from the series 5 run, all of which had previously been aired. 20 episodes aired in total in this one hour time slot. These episodes featured repairs previously aired as part of series 5 in the weekday daytime slot, the first half of that series also having first aired on BBC Two. As such these prime time airings were many viewers first chance to see the repairs featured. Fixing Britain - 15 episodes aired Aired in July 2020 on BBC One in the weekday daytime slot. It consisted of 15 episodes featuring 3 repairs each. Fixing Britain was created during the first period of COVID lockdowns, when new content could not be shot for any TV programme. These episode consisted of 3 repair items selected from across the 6 series aired up to that point, each episode being linked by a theme. Unlink the main series which is narrated by Bill Paterson (series 1 and series 5 to present) and Robert Pugh (series 2 to 4), this series was narrated by presenter Jay Blades, adding a more personal touch due to his direct involvement with the series. Other BBC airings Series 2 45 minute versions In 2019, due to its growing popularity, series 2 received extended versions with a 44 minute duration instead of the original 29 minutes. They were re-edited with some previously unseen footage added. Series 3 and 4 shortened versions These 2 series have received re-edited cut-down versions with a shorter 29 minute runtime instead of their original 44 minute duration. Note these are NOT counted within the episode total, as they a shorter re-runs of previously shown episodes, with no previously unseen content. Reference sources:
Royal Television Society article by Roz Lawes -June 2020 The Repair Shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams - publisher (c) BBC Books 2020 BBC website The Repair Shop episode page The Repair Shop Guide
1 Comment
|
Ian EdwardsAdmin for the Facebook fan groups The Repair Shop - Friendly Fans, and Detectorists Series dedicated to the BBC Four comedy Detectorists. Archives
March 2023
Categories |