Estranged wife of Jay Blades breaks silence after Repair Shop star charged with coercive behaviour

Estranged wife of Jay Blades breaks silence after Repair Shop star charged with coercive behaviour

Jay Blades' estranged wife has spoken out after the Repair Shop star was charged with engaging in controlling behaviour.

The BBC presenter, 54, appeared at court earlier today after being charged with one count of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship. The charge relates to his fitness instructor wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen, according to court documents.

She announced on her Instagram page in May that their relationship was over, having married in Barbados on November 22, 2022. Blades, who fronts the BBC series The Repair Shop, will appear at Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 11.

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As reported by the Mirror, Lisa broke her silence following the news with a post on social media. She shared a news article confirming Blades had been charged with controlling or coercive behaviour.

-Credit:instagram/@jaybladesmbe
-Credit:instagram/@jaybladesmbe

West Mercia Police said in a statement: “54-year-old Jason Blades of Wolverhampton has been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour. He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court this morning (Friday 13th September) and has been bailed to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 11th October.

‌"The charges follow the launch of an investigation after we were called to an address on 3rd May. As criminal proceedings are active, we will not be providing any further details at this time."

Blades was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to craft. Alongside the Repair Shop, Blades is set to front an upcoming Channel 5 series titled Jay Blades: A Country House Through Time.

He has also starred in numerous documentaries, including a fifteen-part BBC series with Sir David Jason titled David & Jay's Touring Toolshed and a recent Channel 4 feature with Dami Judi Dench, called Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple.

Blades and Lisa tied the knot in Barbados in 2022 with only 15 guests but he once described it as "perfect" at the time. Speaking to Hello magazine he said: "One word sums up the day: perfect. We had our closest family there, the weather held out and everything worked out so well."

Lisa confirmed their break-up on social media on May 2 this year. She said: "I don’t know how to say this because it’s still really raw," before adding: "I probably should be really angry but I’m just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now." The announcement came just days after Blades announced he would be taking a social media break as he shared that his uncle was "murdered a few weeks ago".

He also stepped away from filming the Repair Shop, with the crew carrying on without him. In June, Blades returned to work where he was seen without his wedding ring on. Just the week before he had pulled out of a public appearance at the last minute as he “continued to take time out”.

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