iron wire logo black and red
Family & Society | Rights & Freedoms

BBC The Repair Shop star Jay Blades charged with two counts of rape a year after leaving show

3 hours ago
BBC The Repair Shop star Jay Blades charged with two counts of rape a year after leaving show
Originally posted by: GB News

Source: GB News

Former BBC The Repair Shop star Jay Blades has been charged with two counts of rape.

The 55-year-old is awaiting trial on a separate charge of controlling and coercive behaviour against his estranged wife, the claims of which were revealed last year and led to the presenter’s exit from the BBC show.


The former presenter fronted The Repair Shop for seven years before stepping away last year over the allegations by his ex wife.

West Mercia Police confirmed the new charges against him on Monday, with The Sun reporting a magistrates’ court date has been set for next week.

A spokesperson told the publication: “Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape.

“He is due to appear at Telford magistrates’ court on 13 August 2025.”

PA |

Jay Blades was already awaiting trial for coercive control against his ex-wife, which he denied

Blades was awaiting a trial already for separate charges of controlling and coercive behaviour against ex-wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen, which he has denied.

He was arrested over the accusations in May last year, the day Zbozen announced publicly she had decided to call it quits on her 18-month marriage to Blades.

It was stated at the time Blades’ actions led to his ex-wife fearing “on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against her”.

Blades pleaded not guilty to the charge during a court hearing in October last year.

Jay Blades BBC |

Jay Blades left BBC The Repair Shop last year

Before the allegations, Blades had enjoyed a growing career in the spotlight.

The father-of-three was awarded am MBE in 2022 for services to the craft, and even met King Charles when he appeared on a Repair Shop special in the same year.

Blades and Zbozen married in a small ceremony in Barbados in late 2022, and following his arrest last year he left the popular BBC programme.

It is believed his decision also related to the death of his uncle, Richard Braithwaite, which happened in March of the same year. A neighbour of 72-year-old Braithwaite has been charged with murder.

Despite being dropped from the show, Blades’ co-star Steve Fletcher shared this year that he has visited the former show host.

Posting a photo of himself and Blades on his Instagram recently, he penned in the caption: “In a break from our ‘Secrets From the Barn’ Tour, I popped in to see Jay the other day for a cup of tea and a lovely chat.

“It was great to catch up. Hope to see him again soon.”

BBC |

Jay Blades was charged last year with controlling and coercive behaviour

Blades once fronted several other shows. As well as The Repair Shop, which he starred in from 2017, he hosted Money For Nothing and Jay Blades’ Home Fix, as well as documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.