Catch up TV

Series 14: Episode 23

The team of expert craftspeople welcome the owners of four more cherished heirlooms steeped in personal history and emotional significance.\n\nFirst through the barn doors is a WWII Auxiliary Territorial Service jerkin, brought in by history enthusiast Mary from Ledbury. Once worn by female dispatch riders during the war, the leather garment had suffered extensive damage. Master saddler Suzie Fletcher undertakes a meticulous restoration, allowing Mary to wear it once more at re-enactment events and continue her mission to honour the daring women of wartime Britain.\n\nNext, electronics expert Mark Stuckey is tasked with reviving a vintage cine projector belonging to Stephen and Chris from Southampton. The projector holds decades-old footage filmed by their late friend Frank, a Royal Navy officer, while he was serving in the armed forces. With help from plastics expert Charlotte, Mark rebuilds the mechanism and restores the lens, allowing the couple to view Frank’s adventures at sea for the first time in over 40 years – an emotional reunion with a cherished friend.\n\nBookbinder Chris Shaw is delighted to see a fragile 1879 physiology textbook owned by Holly from Derbyshire. It belonged to her late father, a renowned physiologist, who inspired her to follow in his footsteps. Sadly, he has passed away, but on her graduation day, Holly’s brother presented this special volume to her. With its spine broken and pages falling apart, Chris uses traditional techniques to rebind and restore the book, preserving its inscription and illustrations. The result is a treasured heirloom that Holly can now explore without fear of further damage – a lasting tribute to her father’s legacy and their shared passion for science.\n\nFrom Watford, Shaminder brings in a well-worn Indian harmonium that belonged to her father, Gurmit Singh Virdee, a beloved music teacher who inspired thousands across the UK and Kenya. The harmonium, used in Sikh worship and family gatherings, has broken keys, and some of the knobs are missing. Organ restorer David Burville carefully repairs the reeds, recreates the knobs, and balances the keys to restore the instrument’s voice. His hard work culminates in a heartfelt performance that brings the family’s musical legacy back to life.

Source: BBC 2