The Repair Shop's Jay Blades pleads not guilty to two rape charges

Former Repair Shop host Jay Blades has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
The 55-year-old dad of three appeared in court via videolink today (September 10) after he was charged with two counts of rape on August 5th, 2025. This marks his second appearance on this matter after he did not issue a plea at his first hearing. He previously appeared via video link at Telford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday August 13 where he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. The hearing lasted six minutes and he thanked the judge after he was granted conditional bail.

Blades is also facing a trial for unrelated charges of controlling and coercive behaviour against his estranged wife Lisa Zbozen. He denied the charges at a hearing in October 2024 and appeared at Worcester Crown Court earlier this month - a new trial date for those charges has not yet been set.

The alleged behaviour is said to have taken place between 1 January 2023 and 12 September 2024.

Reports claimed Ms Zbozen "feared, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against her".

At his hearing pertaining to those charges on October 11th, 2024, the judge removed a bail condition that required Blades to wear an electronic tag - which had not yet been fitted - due to "failings" by the company responsible for the technology.

The judge said at the time: "You have denied responsibility for the crime alleged against you and the prosecution propose to try you. I remove the tagging of your exclusion zone but you are still subject to the exclusion zone."

The BBC star was dropped from The Repair Shop Tour after allegations were raised against him and has not been on screens since.

Prior to the charges against him Blades was a regular face on screens having first found fame preseting The Repair Shop when ti debuted in 2017.

He was awarded an MBE for services to craft in 2022 while King Charles appeared on The Repair Shop that same year.

He had also presented several Channel 5 documentaries as well as a BBC programme about his struggle to learn to read in his 50s.