Jay Blades, the well-known presenter of BBC’s The Repair Shop, has been charged with two counts of rape, according to a statement released by West Mercia Police.
The 55-year-old, whose full name is Jason Blades, is due to appear at Telford Magistrates’ Court on 13 August 2025 to face the charges. The alleged offences are separate from an ongoing legal matter in which Blades is accused of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.
Blades pleaded not guilty
On Tuesday, Blades appeared via video link at Worcester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing related to the coercive control charge. He pleaded not guilty to the allegation that he subjected his estranged wife, Lisa-Marie Zbozen, to controlling or coercive behaviour between 1 January 2023 and 12 September 2023.
Legal proceedings in that case are continuing, and a trial date is expected to be set later this year.
Jay Blades rose to national prominence as the host of The Repair Shop, a BBC primetime show where skilled craftspeople restore damaged but sentimental family heirlooms for members of the public. His calm and empathetic presence on screen made him a household name.
Originally from Hackney, east London, Blades worked as a furniture maker before entering the media. His television break came after producers saw a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded to help young people learn furniture restoration and entrepreneurship skills.
In recognition of his community work, Blades was awarded an MBE in 2021. In 2024, Blades stepped back from his role on the Repair Shop, the BBC has confirmed. The reasons for his departure were not publicly detailed at the time.
West Mercia Police have stated that the rape charges are now part of a separate legal matter and have not provided further comment. No trial date has yet been confirmed for those charges.
As the legal process unfolds, Blades remains formally charged but not convicted, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
