TV presenter Jay Blades has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape.
The Repair Shop star, 55, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court via videolink today.
BBCBlades found fame on the restoration show, which he started presenting in 2017[/caption]
King Charles joined The Repair Shop stars for a one-off episode marking the BBC’s centenary
BBCHe fronted the hit BBC show for seven years before stepping back last year[/caption]
The defendant, of Claverley in Shropshire, found fame on the restoration show, which he started presenting in 2017.
Blades fronted the hit BBC show for seven years before stepping back last year.
King Charles appeared alongside him on a special episode in 2022.
The same year, Blades was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to craft.
He also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Bake Off and Comic Relief, as well as presenting Money For Nothing until 2020.
TV presenter Blades was held last month by West Mercia Police.
The force confirmed the charges against the dad of three in July.
A spokesperson said: “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.”
Blades appeared in court via video-link for a first appearance.
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing.
Blades was granted conditional bail to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court today.
The telly host stepped back from filming The Repair Shop last year in the wake of his marriage split and the death of his uncle.
Speaking at the time, a source said: “Jay has taken a step back and is having a break from filming The Repair Shop.
“His uncle’s death in March and the breakdown of his marriage means he has decided to take some time out.
“The Repair Shop is carrying on without him for now and the other repairers are hard at work.”
In April last year, Jay said he was taking a break from social media following the funeral of his uncle.
Months later, in an interview with Hungry Jay Media, Blades admitted he was not able to picture what his life will look like in ten years.
When asked about his future last August, he responded: “This one is quite hard.
“I don’t know where I see myself in ten years.”
However, after taking some time to think about it, Jay admitted there were two big aspirations he had.
He added: “I’m really having a lot of fun doing what I’m doing. I think in ten years I would like to have a successful gameshow.
“Also I would like to have worked with all of the people that I admire.
“I’m already doing that now but there’s I’ve got to work with – and you’re not going to know who that is just yet.”
PAJay Blades has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape[/caption]
Blades introduces King Charles as a ‘very special guest’
In the Repair Shop episode with King Charles, Blades introduces the royal as a “very special guest”.
The King asks the team to evaluate an 18th-century bracket clock and piece made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
While on a tour of the workshop, Charles says: “Apprenticeships are vital, I can see the difference that we can make.”
The King then gets to see how the team have reconstructed his item.
Charles joked: ” Have you sorted this? The suspense is killing me.”
Speaking afterwards, Blades hailed the momentous episode as “unbelievable”.
He said: “You’ve got someone from a council estate and someone from a royal estate with the same interests about apprenticeships
“It is unbelievable to see that two people from so far apart, from different ends of the spectrum, actually have the same interests.”
Speaking last August, he said he couldn’t picture what his life will look like in ten years
Blades was granted conditional bail to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court today Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
