Repair shop with HRH Charles

The Repair Shop, however, needs a base level of emotion to succeed, and trying to prise any identifiable emotion from a member of the royal family is a painfully fruitless endeavour. The items Charles offers to be repaired – a clock and a vase, possibly damaged because it fell off a window ledge at some point, Charles shrugs – have no sentimental value to him whatsoever. When they are eventually restored to their former glory (beautifully and faithfully, as always), the best he can do is offer a handful of distant platitudes. “How marvellous,” he repeats over and over again, and “Wonderful”, the same way he would if he was being given a tour of a new municipal swimming pool in Peterborough. It’s so rote that at one point I feared Charles would fully disassociate and ask the vase: “So what is it that you do?”

And you sense that The Repair Shop knew this, because it’s smart enough to hide an actual episode of The Repair Shop in with all the royalty. Sandwiched between the Dumfries items, we meet a woman called Nicola. A normal woman, who wants an everyday household object restored: a cast-iron soldier, broken and blackened, that housed a set of fireplace tools. The soldier is significant, Nicola says, because it belonged to her husband, who has recently died of cancer.

Bang. Tears. Instant tears, as Nicola explains that she had wanted to get it repaired to present to her husband as a final gift, but ran out of time. And more tears, too, when she is presented with a gleaming, restored soldier at the end of the episode.

This is what The Repair Show is. That soldier had no monetary worth, no historical value. On paper, it didn’t need to be saved. But it meant everything to Nicola, and so it became invaluable. Compared with this, the King’s expensive ornaments come off as little more than expensive clutter. It doesn’t really matter if they can’t fix it, because he has palaces full of more just like it. But Nicola’s soldier? She wouldn’t part with it for all the money in the world.

There’s a chance that this episode of The Repair Shop will be watched by more people than usual, because of all the royal rubbernecking it promises. But if these people come for Charles, they’ll stay for Nicola. The Repair Shop is a magic formula, and this episode is proof that it really doesn’t need to be messed with.

Guardian

shysal

I enjoyed it but couldn't help cringing at how touchy-feely Jay was, also forgetting his correct title. HRH didn't seem to mind though. The restorations were superb as always.

It was filmed last March I believe when Charles was still Prince of Wales.
(Apologies if others have said the same)

Although not the same emotional appeal it did give Kirsten, Steve et al the opportunity to test their skills which was great for them as they rose to the challenge magnificently. It also showcased the importance of apprentices learning these skills for the future, especially those not academically inclined. Better an apprentice at King Charles workshop than coming ou of uni with a degree in media studies, no job and massive debt. This gives youngsters a pride in themselves and their work.

There's always someone ready to criticise no matter how lovely the programme. Maybe Charles didn't have anything highly personal and broken that would be suitable. So therefore, as no-one will cry let's abandon the whole episode and not have Charles on at all. ?‍♀️

volver

I was there a few years ago Casdon, just after it was opened to the public after having fallen into disrepair, I think.

It's marvellous.

The new barns etc that the apprentices built are beautiful.

It is on my list of things to visit next time we are in Scotland.

I presume Prince William is now President of The Prince's Foundation.
What a wonderful not-for-profit organisation; I think it's an amalgamation of several other charities and worth another programme of its own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the programme - thought it was lovely.

This programme is lovely especially for the emotional tear jerking stories, Charles’ items did not have that appeal. Good for encouraging craft skills though, there’s the difference. Anyone watching the woodworking show ( channel4)?

He’s HMKing now, not HRH. Sorry to be a pedant.

SparklyGrandma

He’s HMKing now, not HRH. Sorry to be a pedant.

He was HRH when it was filmed last year, so perhaps Razzamatazz can be excused ?

Charles is keen to promote apprenticeships - that was his aim, he wasn’t there to get his stuff mended?.

They all mentioned the benefit of apprenticeships which was good.

Kirsten did a wonderful job on the goblet.

Charles had a pretty decent apprenticeship himself ?

I thought it was a very nice programme, ok slightly different to its usual format, but nice nonetheless. Easy stress free tv. I liked the way it focussed on traditional skills, the way King Charles champions these as equally of value to university degrees. Long May this programme continue.

I think that all these skills are entirely in the Arts and Craft tradition.

Love it.

I'm pleased that King Charles is so keen to promote these wonderful old skills and thought he was lovely on this programme and so genuinely fascinated by those trying to keep them going.

It was absolutely delightful, and as he left he agreed with Jay that they needed to keep the connection going between HRH’s apprentice schemes and the Repair Shop. Loved seeing such a relaxed HRH and the delight on everyone’s faces when he saw the amazing work that had been done on the pieces.

I have just watched this lovely programme. I was pleasantly surprised to see Charles being treated like a human being with not a bow or curtsy in sight. He is clearly interested in craftsmanship and well done him for enabling young people to access apprenticeships. I am hopeful that the days of people being terrified when meeting the monarch are well past.

I thought Jay was just right. He's very natural and helped HRH relax.
Steve, on the other hand, seemed a bit nervous.
I love watching the items being restored.
I have had a few things mended and reupholstered. It isn't cost effective but gives much satisfaction.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Charles was enjoying having normal conversations with people rather than the "And you're a robber too?" (see Time Bandits) type of exchange. He looked a lot happier than he does on some of the official engagements.

I'd like to have my Teddy bear restored

I have watched this programme since it began and I preferred it in earlier years when the programme was less about emotion and more emphasis was on following the skilled restoration projects. Sometimes I find it quite cringe worthy but obviously others like it. To me often the craft workers look rather uncomfortable wringing out the last tear.
I enjoyed this episode and thought Jay was refreshingly natural. My husband’s child hood home was not far from Dumfries House so we have visited several times since it opened.

A really lovely programme and good to see such a natural relationship between the then HRH Price Charles and Jay Blades. Both men seemed to be enjoying themselves and I’m sure HRH appreciated being treated as much as an ordinary person as is possible.

It was wonderful. The Princes Trust do such excellent work and shows Charles as a very perceptive and kind person. Jay was too touchy, but apart from that it was a great insight into the aims of the trust and Repair Shop. Wonderful that youngsters are being trained and valued in these skilled professions. Simply amazing what they achieve,