The Repair Shop Catch up, Series 13: Episode 1 on BBC 2

The Repair Shop

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 challenge yet, as she must painstakingly piece together a shattered vintage glass lamp.\n\nFirst through the barn doors is a pair of tiny but treasured cowboy boots. Belonging to Diane Wynell-Sutherland, the boots were bought for her son by her brother Roger Pope, a talented drummer and session musician. Diane shares the remarkable story of her brother's musical journey and his close bond with her son, from Roger's early days in local bands to his collaborations with superstars like Elton John and other iconic musicians in the USA, where the boots were bought. Tragically, Roger battled throat cancer before passing away in 2013, leaving behind a legacy of music and love. The boots serve as a tangible reminder of Roger's affection for his nephew and his enduring presence in Diane's life. However, the boots are showing signs of wear and tear, with brittle leather and split soles. Expert cobbler Dean works his magic, ensuring that the boots will be safe to wear once again and keeping alive the memory of a beloved brother and his extraordinary life.\n\nThe next visitors are Mehmet and his daughter Ozlem who bring in a treasured saz, a traditional Turkish instrument with a poignant history. Mehmet acquired the saz as a teenager, just before the eruption of tensions between the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus in the 1960s. Despite the turmoil of the time, Mehmet found comfort in playing the saz, using its music to ease stress and provide moments of respite from the chaos of war. A constant companion throughout his life, the instrument followed Mehmet to his new life in England where it suffered damage, including a significant crack that threatens its integrity. Expert luthier Julyan Wallis takes on the task of repairing the saz, recognising the instrument's significance to Mehmet and his family. With meticulous care and skill, Julyan sets about mending the crack and addressing other issues, including a broken friction peg, ensuring that the saz will continue to serve as a cherished memento for generations to come.\n\nWhile it’s not a timepiece, the intricate parts of the next repair mean Steve Fletcher is well-placed to meet Caroline Caldwell from Castlewellan, Northern Ireland. She brings in a fascinating piece of industrial history – scales used in the linen industry to weigh threads of linen. Caroline's connection to the linen industry runs deep, with both she and her mother and having worked in this once-booming trade that defined Belfast in the early 1900s. Steve takes on the challenge of repairing the scales, aiming to restore both their functionality and their aesthetic appeal. Steve works to address missing pieces and stubbornly stuck drawers, ensuring that the scales will once again serve as a tangible link to Belfast's industrial past.\n\nLeft picking up the pieces, quite literally, of the last restoration is Kirsten Ramsay, who welcomes mother-and-daughter duo Mal and Jo McKenna. They bring a cherished but smashed Murano lamp to the barn. The story starts in the 1920s, when Mal's grandmother acquired it as a souvenir from Italy. Mal recounts how her grandmother initially broke the lamp, prompting repairs by her mother, and now, with the adhesive deteriorating, they fear further damage. Tasking Mark Stuckey with making the antiquated electrics safe, Kirsten sets about meticulously dismantling the lamp, cleaning away the old adhesive before delicately reassembling it, ensuring that every piece aligns perfectly. Thanks to the team’s expertise, the Murano lamp, once on the brink of irreparable damage, is given a new lease of life.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of The Repair Shop

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 12

First to arrive in the barn is John Wilson from London, with a battered survivor of heady days in the capital for upholsterer Sonnaz and paper conservator Angelina. The unique l ...

01-04-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 11

First into the barn is Heather Evans from Winchester, who is hoping bike aficionado Tim Gunn will be able to restore balance to a tricky mode of transport. She presents a batter ...

30-03-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 10

Hoping to strike a chord with stringed instrument restorer Julyan Wallis, the barn’s first project has given Gary Miles from Mold in north Wales plenty of teenage kicks. G ...

23-03-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 9

First into the barn is Christine Jagger from South Yorkshire, with a cherished garden bench – the best Christmas present she ever received from her late husband, Gordon. F ...

17-03-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 8

First to arrive in the barn are Tony Sivyer, leader of traditional Chinese lion dance team Dragon of the South, along with Alfie Allard, who has risen through the ranks since jo ...

25-02-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 7

First to arrive in the barn is Toby from Berkshire, with a keyboard that was the sound of his hero, Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers. A lifelong fan of the band, Toby was inspi ...

09-02-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Series 15: Episode 6

First into the barn are sisters Carole, Pat and Alison from Shropshire, bringing a treasured relic from their family’s 1970s salon – a retro hairdryer that once belo ...

02-02-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

Favourite Fixes: Episode 5

Mike Stevens is the first to arrive at the barn with a sporting souvenir in need of restoration. He’s eager to recruit metalwork maestro Dominic Chinea and woodwork expert ...

02-01-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

At Christmas 2025

It’s Christmas at the barn, and the doors are thrown wide open to welcome some very special guests who have brought along cherished items in need of a festive fix.\n\nHoll ...

28-12-2025

BBC 2

All episodes

The Repair Shop

At Christmas 2025 - Signed

It’s Christmas at the barn, and the doors are thrown wide open to welcome some very special guests who have brought along cherished items in need of a festive fix.\n\nHoll ...

27-12-2025

BBC 2

All episodes