Jay Blades, Host of BBC’s ‘The Repair Shop,’ Charged With 2 Counts of Rape

The British television presenter, 55, is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 13.

Jay Blades launches Craftworks to salute the best in British craft at Shoreditch Town Hall in London on May 10, 2023. Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

Jason “Jay” Blades, a British furniture restorer and television presenter who rose to fame in 2017 as host of the hit BBC series “The Repair Shop,” is facing allegations of rape, UK officials have confirmed.

John Fox, a communications officer for the West Mercia Police, told The Epoch Times via email on Aug. 5 that Blades, 55, has been charged with two counts of rape.

“He is due to appear at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 13,” Fox added.

The Epoch Times reached out to a representative of Blades for comment regarding the allegations and received no response by publication time.

On Tuesday, Blades virtually appeared before a Worcester Crown Court judge for a pretrial review hearing stemming from a separate case involving his estranged wife, influencer and personal trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen, online records indicate.

In September 2024, the television host was charged with allegedly engaging in controlling and coercive behavior toward Zbozen following an investigation launched by local authorities after they were called on May 3 of that year, the BBC reported.

Just one day earlier, Zbozen had revealed on Instagram that her marriage to Blades, whom she wed in November 2022, had ended.

In April 2024, Blades announced that he was taking a break from social media due to challenges in his personal life, including the loss of his uncle, Richard Brathwaite, who was stabbed to death outside his home in Wembley, London, the previous month.

Blades subsequently stepped away from his hosting duties with “The Repair Shop,” which centers on a group of restoration experts who help repair treasured family possessions and heirlooms. The BBC series, which premiered in 2017, has been on the air for 14 seasons. The show earned a BAFTA TV Award in 2023 for an episode that featured special guest King Charles III.

A spokesperson for the BBC declined to share a statement at this time.

During an interview with The Independent, published on May 4, 2024, Blades opened up about his mental health struggles.

“This morning, I asked my assistant to find me a counsellor, because there’s stuff that I’ve got going on in my head and I need to speak to someone,” he told the publication. “I don’t mind sharing that with anybody, because as far as I’m concerned, if you need help, you need to get it.”

Last year, Blades—who pleaded not guilty to the 2024 charge—resigned from his involvement with several UK charities, including his position as co-chair and trustee of Heritage Crafts.

He also stepped away from his roles as ambassador with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust and The King’s Foundation—formerly known as The Prince’s Foundation—an educational charity established in 1990 by the king when he was Prince of Wales.

On Sept. 13, 2024, Buckinghamshire New University also announced that Blades had resigned as chancellor. “We thank Jay for his loyal service to the university and will be making no further comment,” the England-based university wrote in an online statement.

Blades, also known for appearing on the television shows “Mister Maker at Home” and “Gods of Snooker,” was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2021. An MBE is awarded to people who have made a meaningful contribution to their field.