Jay Blades and the team mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee by bringing four treasured heirlooms with a royal connection back to life.\n\nAmongst the barn’s arrivals today are a royal pair in their own right. Diane Gould and her son Terry come from a long line of London pearly kings and queens. The pearly tradition of sewing decorative patterns of buttons on to suits to help raise money for charity started in Victorian times, but grew out of a much older custom. In each London borough, market traders, or costermongers, elected coster kings and queens who would collect money to help those who had fallen on hard times. Diane has brought in a suit that belonged to her late father Alf, and now her son Terry is keen to carry on the family tradition and make his first suit. Unfortunately, Alf didn’t have time to finish this suit, so Diane and Terry are hoping the admirable sewing skills of the barn’s teddy bear duo, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, can create something fit for royalty!\n\nNext, a treasured item that has kept watch over royal treasures for over 100 years. Peter McGowran is chief of the Tower of London Yeoman Warders, also known as the Beefeaters. He has brought with him a very special lantern steeped in royal tradition that is still in use every day at the tower. The lantern is a key part of the Ceremony of the Keys, during which the warders lock up the tower, and the Crown Jewels, every night. But now the lantern is beginning to show signs of its daily use for over a century, and the huge responsibility for restoring this national treasure falls to horologist Steve Fletcher and stained-glass expert Matt Nickels.\n\nCeramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay works on a hand-painted commemorative plate made to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. The plate arrives with Helen Ringland, part of a pair that have been in her family for as long as she can remember. The plates are believed to have been painted by a distant relative to be displayed in Newcastle’s Royal Jubilee Exhibition over 130 years ago. These plates are one of the few things Helen has from her father’s side of the family, but an unfortunate decorating accident left this one in several pieces. Although Helen’s father attempted to glue it back together at the time, it needs the talents of Kirsten to repair the damage and restore the plate back to pride of place on display in Helen’s home. \n\nFinally, a bicycle made for two is wheeled in by John Phillips. This unusual tandem was created by welding two normal bikes together back in 1977, the Queen’s silver jubilee year. To mark the occasion, John painted the bike red, white and blue before embarking on a tour of France with his wife Deborah. The bike hasn’t been ridden for many years, but after Deborah’s recent death, John wants to restore the bike to working order and get back in the saddle to raise money for charity in her memory. With so much work to do, both the barn’s bike expert Tim Gunn and metal maestro Dominic Chinea have a job on their hands to get this bike back on track in time for this year’s jubilee celebrations!
Source: BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 21
The team take on four unique items, each carrying deep emotional weight and powerful personal stories.\n\nFirst through the barn doors is a giant plush hound dog, gifted to the ...
19-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 20
Four more treasured items arrive at the barn, each with emotional and historical weight, and all requiring careful restoration.\n\nFirst through the doors are Thomas and his gra ...
12-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 19
The team take on four more remarkable restorations steeped in personal history and cultural heritage.\n\nFirst through the barn doors is Ruth from Nottinghamshire, carrying a we ...
05-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 18
Four more cherished items arrive at the barn, each carrying deep personal and historical significance, and all in need of expert restoration.\n\nFirst through the doors are a pa ...
30-07-2025
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 6
First through the workshop doors are Alex and his son Flynn, with a cuddly keepsake that’s provided comfort and security for both father and son. Named Lamb Chop, the stuf ...
22-07-2025
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 4
Over the years, the team are often thrown a curve ball in the shape of weird and wonderful items they have never encountered before. One thing they’ve learned is that fami ...
13-07-2025
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 3
First through the workshop doors is Vanessa with a World War II memento for the attention of toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch. Vanessa’s mother joined t ...
09-07-2025
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 1
First through the workshop doors is Minty Barlow, with a miniature house from her childhood. It was originally part of a model village tourist attraction in her hometown of Clee ...
03-07-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: 17. Ve Day Special
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the team open the barn doors to four very special items, each with an extraordinary wartime story behind them. \n\nHorologist Steve Flet ...
13-05-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 16
Kicking things off are Melissa and her mum, Hari, who bring in a novelty party piece that’s lost all impact. They’re hoping that Pete Woods can drum up a solution. T ...
06-05-2025
BBC 2
Series 11: Episode 34
An unusual necklace telling the story of love and loss is brought back to life in time for a wedding. And a camera dating back to the 1940s is given a new lease of life for a yo ...
26-02-2024
BBC 2
Series 14: 17. Ve Day Special
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the team open the barn doors to four very special items, each with an extraordinary wartime story behind them. \n\nHorologist Steve Flet ...
13-05-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 15
First up in the workshop is a mandriola belonging to internationally celebrated folk musician Vin Garbutt. Vin’s son Tim and family friend Maggie are hoping Julyan Wallis ...
29-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 14
Kicking things off is a life-sized model horse used as a teaching aid at a riding school for disabled people. Instructor Ena and star pupil Ellen are hoping Hector, who is badly ...
22-04-2025
BBC 2
Series 14: Episode 13
Entering through the barn doors first are siblings Michelle and Paul along with their mum, Ann. They have an unfinished family project that needs the help of metalworker Dominic ...
15-04-2025
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 1
First through the workshop doors is Minty Barlow, with a miniature house from her childhood. It was originally part of a model village tourist attraction in her hometown of Clee ...
03-07-2025
BBC 2
Series 13: Episode 1
Stepping into the barn is a pair of tiny cowboy boots, treasured by the family of Elton John's former drummer, while queen of the invisible fix Kirsten faces her biggest challen ...
23-06-2024
BBC 2
Favourite Fixes: Episode 3
First through the workshop doors is Vanessa with a World War II memento for the attention of toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch. Vanessa’s mother joined t ...
09-07-2025
BBC 2