The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades and comedy legend David Jason share their passion for creating and fixing things in a heart-warming new series
David Jason’s TV alter ego Del Boy is well-known for doing dodgy deals with his brother and business partner Rodney, but in Sir David’s latest return to the screen he’s partnered up with the “not-so-dodgy” Jay Blades.
In the new series entitled David and Jay’s Touring Toolshed, the unlikely pair hit the road to help members of the public, professional makers and enthusiasts take their crafts to the next level. They park up at the UK’s air shows, steam rallies, county fairs and vintage festivals to meet some of the country’s most talented crafters, makers and tinkerers, as well as people who could just use a little help!
Here the pair tell us why this new show means so much to them…
Why did you want to make a show about tinkering?
David: I think it’s really great to be able to encourage people of all ages to try their hands at different skills and pastimes as we are hearing so much more about being mindful and having different hobbies to help with our mental health.
Jay: There are so many people across the land that tinker, and some of them go to expert levels, but everybody starts at the bottom and we just want to show them that you can learn from an expert who will be able to take you right up to where you need to go. That’s why I wanted to do it – to get the nation making again!
What made you want to team up with each other?
David: I met Jay after I made a surprise video for the Strictly Come Dancing team to play to him after he had jived to the theme tune from Only Fools and Horses. He was so blown away that we organised to meet up and we got on like a house on fire. We said it would be great if we could find a project to work on together and the rest, as they say, is history. Or, I would like to think, the future.
Jay: David is a comedy legend! He’s a TV legend! Who would not want to work with Sir David Jason? That is a dream come true. Imagine watching him as you’re growing up and then imagine you’re able to work with him. Are you kidding me? That’s a no brainer. Anybody would want to do that. And he doesn’t just work with anybody, he chooses his partners wisely.
Tell us about a memorable “problem project”
David: A couple of projects involved aircraft which I was particularly interested in, especially the guys who dismantled old planes at the end of their flying life and turned the parts, large and small, into pieces of furniture or ornaments
Jay: I think one of the ones was a lady who made these wooden puppets, or “automata”
