Jay Blades confirms there will be another series of The Repair Shop
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Jay Blades rose to prominence on The Repair Shop and the BBC show has only grown in popularity over recent years. He recalled his experiences with drinking alcohol during his younger years and admitted a particular beverage would “beat me up”.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Jay revealed the experience forced him to leave drinking alone.
The 51-year-old, who released his memoir Making It in July, recently spoke out about his earlier years growing up in London.
Jay said: “I started drinking Babycham, moved up to Cherry B, then Thunderbird wine – which was extremely strong and it beat me up.
“I’d be sitting down and feeling absolutely fine, then stand up and my legs wouldn’t correspond with what my brain was telling me I was doing. I’d just fall over.”
He continued to The Guardian: “Once you’re playing with something that gets the better of you, you need to leave it to one side. To me, it was a rude awakening.”
The Repair Shop star was born in Hackney in east London and raised by his single mother.
He had little contact with his father and later discovered as an adult that he had 25 half brothers and sisters.
Jay explained in his autobiography that he had fond memories of being raised on a council estate and playing with friends from various backgrounds and cultures.
However, things changed when he started attending his local comprehensive.
“I had this beautiful childhood growing up on a council estate,” Jay explained to Express.co.uk.
“People say it’s bad and this and that. But for me, I had the best time.”
He continued: “Going to secondary school changed a lot of things for me. I quickly realised that there are racist people in this world.
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“I never experienced racism in a council estate. It just wasn’t a thing that I ever came across.”
Despite the bullying and racism he experienced, Jay admitted he holds no hard feelings towards them.
Jay said: “I don’t hold any animosity to the people who were racist to me, the teachers and so forth. Because all of those people have got me to where I am now.
“I’m a more rounded person and I believe that for me right now it’s all about how can we make this place a better world.”
Jay left school with no qualifications but secured a place at university when he was 30-years-old.
It was here that the presenter discovered he had dyslexia and had the reading ability of an 11-year-old.
Jay has fronted The Repair Shop since the show’s inception in 2017.
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
BBC’s In Children airs tonight on BBC One at 7pm.
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