Repair Shop star Jay Blades facing second court case over alleged driving offence
Jay Blades, the BBC presenter, is facing a second court case for allegedly using his mobile phone while driving.
Mr Blades, who presents The Repair Shop on BBC One, is set to appear at Cannock magistrates’ court on Tuesday, after pleading not guilty to an alleged driving offence, according to The Sun.
The 54-year-old separately attended Kidderminster magistrates’ court on Friday, after being charged by West Mercia Police with one count of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.
According to court documents, the charge relates to his wife Lisa Zbozen, a fitness instructor, who announced on her Instagram page in May that their relationship was over.
Mr Blades will appear at Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Oct 11.
The father of three is alleged to have used his phone while driving in Wombourne, Staffordshire, in April last year.
Mr Blades, who was made an MBE for services to craft in 2022, has presented The Repair Shop since 2017. He won a daytime Bafta TV award last year, along with other members of the programme, for a special featuring the King, who was at the time the Prince of Wales.
The King selected an 18th-century bracket clock from the collection at The Prince’s Foundation’s Dumfries House headquarters and a piece of Wemyss Ware made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee for restoration.
Blades steps away from high-profile roles
Mr Blades had supported the King’s Foundation, formerly the Prince’s Foundation, as an ambassador, and visited its Dumfries House location in Ayrshire for the BBC special The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit.
Mr Blades has since stepped away from his role at the King’s Foundation. He has also resigned as chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University.
A spokesman for the university said: “Jay Blades MBE has resigned from his role as chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University with immediate effect.
“We thank Jay for his loyal service to the university, and will be making no further comment.”
Mr Blades grew up in Hackney, east London, and left school aged 15 without any qualifications, spending his 20s working in factories and as a labourer.
After graduating from Buckinghamshire New University, he co-founded the Out of the Dark charitable social enterprise which trained young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to revamp furniture.
Mr Blades also presented the BBC’s Money For Nothing until 2020 and appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Bake Off and Comic Relief.