Jay Blades faces charges for engaging in controlling and coercive behavior

 

BBC presenter Jay Blades has been charged with engaging in controlling and coercive behavior against his wife. Blades, known for his role on The Repair Shop, appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, according to West Mercia Police.

Following the charge, the BBC took the decision to remove a program featuring Blades from its Friday evening schedule and indicated that no further broadcasts with him are planned in the near future.

Blades, 54, faces one count of engaging in controlling or coercive behavior in an intimate or family relationship. He is scheduled to appear at Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 11.

West Mercia Police confirmed: “Jason Blades, aged 54, from Claverley in Wolverhampton, has been charged with controlling and coercive behavior. He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, September 13, and has been released on bail to appear at Worcester Crown Court on October 11.”

The charge pertains to Blades' wife, Lisa Zbozen, who announced their separation on Instagram on May 2.

Blades gained prominence through the BBC's The Repair Shop, where he helps restore cherished family heirlooms. A BBC spokesperson noted that Blades is not currently employed by the BBC, and the charge is unrelated to his BBC work.

Blades' rise to fame from furniture maker to TV celebrity has been swift since he joined The Repair Shop in 2017. Recently, Channel 4 aired Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple, exploring his friendship with Dame Judi Dench, which began on the show.

On Friday, the BBC also removed the seventh episode of David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed, which originally aired in January and featured Blades and David Jason touring the UK to meet master crafters.

In 2022, Blades appeared in the BBC documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51, which followed his journey of learning to read and write as an adult. Raised in Hackney by a single mother, Blades faced financial difficulties and lived in a hostel before moving into social housing. His career began as a furniture maker, and he was discovered by TV producers through a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded that teaches young people to restore and sell old furniture.

The BBC has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.