Repair Shop star Jay Blades convinced that north-south divide can be repaired
Repair Shop star Jay Blades is on a mission to fix the divide between the South and the rest of Britain by reminding people to celebrate what is special about cities further north.
A new TV series fronted by the furniture restorer, who lives in Ironbridge, Shropshire, is shining a light on the history of the West Midlands. And Jay says that our cities outside of London deserve a better reputation, adding that their importance won’t be forgotten “on my watch”.
The 53-year-old says: “There is a North/South divide, but look what the North, and the Midlands, have done. Birmingham used to be known as the workshop of the world thanks to its industrial contribution. The Wenlock Olympic Games was the forerunner for our modern Olympic Games. We’ve for gotten about things like that, but not on my watch. I’m hoping this show shines a light on these places, and says, ‘Look what was started here, look what was generated here that we still benefit from in today’s society’.”
Hackney-born Jay, who fronted Channel 5 series East End Through Time this year, travelled the West Midlands for follow-up The Midlands Through Time, investigating the history of the region. In the first three episodes, he explores the story of the Staffordshire Hoard – £3.3million Anglo-Saxon treasure which was unearthed in a farmer’s field near Lichfield, Staffs, in 2009.
A gold Anglo-Saxon helmet from Staffs Hoard (Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)He discovers how the Black Country dialect is peppered with Anglo-Saxon words – such as wammel, from hwaemelecn, meaning mongrel dog – that have otherwise been lost in modern English. And he hears about 18th century Lichfield physician Erasmus Darwin, whose notion of the survival of the fittest made it into grandson Charles’s theory of evolution.
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The presenter at the NTA TV awards with his wife Lisa (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)Jay says: “I met some people in the Midlands who didn’t know those stories, and when they learned them they were really proud. One of the lessons I have learned along the way is to never underestimate the past, because our past has everything to do with our future. There are so many stories of strong communities in history, and while people are going through loads of difficulties at the moment – rising prices, all kinds of uncertainties – the one thing that is certain is you’re still a member of a community.”
And he has high hopes for how the programme will unite the country, adding: “I don’t think there will be a divide after this show, it will bring the Midlands back.”
Memorabilia from Wenlock Olympian Society is displayed inside Much Wenlock Town Museum (Getty Images)Jay recently turned author, releasing his book, Life Lessons: Wisdom and Wit from Life’s Ups and Downs. And he reveals there is one lesson in particular that helps him keep the peace with his wife Lisa, who he wed last year. He says: “We men always want to solve a problem. What works for me and my wife is this – when discussion gets heated, I say, ‘Do you want affection, or a solution?’ It’s really worked for us.”
Jay Blades: The Midlands Through Time airs on C5 on Wednesday at 9pm
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