Yahoo News The Repair Shop viewers 'in bits' over heart-warming 'TV moment of the year'
A tatty Jess the cat had helped its besotted 12-year-old owner through countless hospital visits and tough times.
What did you miss?
The Repair Shop viewers have been calling an emotional reveal the "TV moment of the year" as a young boy was reunited with the cat toy that had got him through countless hospital visits.
Colin, 12, had been born with multiple serious health conditions, and his adoptive family brought in his beloved Jess the cat which had comforted him through many a tough time but was in need of some TLC itself.
As ever, the experts did a spectacular job - but Colin's overjoyed reaction at seeing his good-as-new Jess was one of the most tear-jerking the show has ever seen.
What, how, and why?
The Repair Shop viewers knew they were in for a weepy one this week as the episode opened with Lesley Anderson and daughter Nicola bringing in a well-worn Jess the cat that belonged to Colin, 12, who had been adopted into their family as a baby.
Colin had spent the first months of his life in hospital with multiple serious health conditions and his procedures had included a tracheotomy and a stoma.
Helping him through his hospital stays was his beloved cuddly cat, who had also been given tracheotomy and stoma incisions to give Colin comfort, but had definitely seen better days.
Experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell did an incredible job of Jess' makeover, but could not have expected the reaction they got from Colin who burst into happy tears and sobbed with his family before cuddling Jess and rubbing his nose into its fur. Middleditch and Tatchell were in tears themselves, as were fans of the show.
One moved viewer commented on X: "I'm in bits. Bless Colin." Someone else agreed: "Oh bless him the smallest things can mean so much to us. What an emotional bit this was."
Another viewer wrote: "One of these days I’m going to be able to watch an episode of @TheRepairShop without crying like a big baby. Today is not that day though."
As someone asked whether they were talking about Colin and his cat, they replied: "Yep, I challenge anyone not to shed a tear at that moment."
I'm in bits. Bless Colin . ❤️😢 #TheRepairShop pic.twitter.com/mcPigfwOBl
— Dylan 🐦 (@dylan6roberts) August 21, 2024
In fact, the tears were flowing for some before Jess had even been repaired as one person admitted: "First time I’ve cried before the #TheRepairShop transformation. Just hearing Lesley Anderson’s story about her son Colin and his cuddly toy Jess. What an impressive woman. So much love for her boy."
Someone else added: "Oh Colin and Jess Bless you, not a dry eye in this home. Two heart surgeries, many health complications, Jess the cat beside him providing comfort. Priceless."
One viewer commented: "His reaction is one of the t.v. moments of the year. Well done all." Someone else wrote: "All together now... And cry. Lovely little boy and amazing family."
What else has been happening on The Repair Shop?
The emotional episode was even more moving than last week's, where Madeleine Willis, Andy Cox and their children Freya and Aiden brought in an old bedstead that had been turned into a garden bench, but was badly rotting.
They explained that it had been the couple's first bed together, and was where they brought Aiden home to as a baby after sadly losing his twin sister, and him being given just a 5% chance of survival.
Aiden had beaten the odds to make it home from hospital, and when the couple later welcomed sister Freya, she was born in the bed.
Once it became too worn out to sleep in, it was used as a vegetable planter bed in the garden and later transformed into a garden bench with Madeleine admitting she viewed it as part of their family.
It was restored to its former glory, bringing the family to tears as Madeleine explained: "There's just so much of our family here."
She added: "It takes me back to the children being babies together and playing in the bed, and it was our safe space."
The Repair Shop airs on BBC One at 8pm on Wednesday.
