The Repair Shop star reveals permanent injury from show after string of machinery accidents
A STAR of The Repair Shop has revealed a permanent injury from the show after a string of machinery accidents.
The BBC series has been hugely popular since it first aired in 2017 and fans love seeing the experts work their magic on treasured items.
However, their valuable work sometimes comes at a price, as expert Dean Westmoreland has revealed.
Dean is the show’s resident cobbler and has worked on all sorts of shoes.
He said: “It’s always a challenge because every pair has a different story.
“I’ve had clown shoes, running spikes, war boots. I’m open to everything.”
However, he revealed how repeated accidents with the machinery he uses has altered his thumb’s shape permanently.
He explained to OK! Magazine: “I have a squared-off thumb!”
Dean joined The Repair Shop in 2021 and previously enjoyed the show as a viewer.
He admits that before his first day filming, he thought the barn was just a set and that the repairs took place elsewhere.
But he said: “I thought it was all staged, but it’s as real as a TV show can be.”
That means the tears that regularly appear on the show – from the clients and the experts – are real too.
But Dean joked: “The camera hasn’t caught me yet!”
However, he does get emotional working on the items brought into the barn.
He said: “It’s really fulfilling, You know the history of the item, the story, you get an insight into people’s lives. So there’s that extra responsibility.
“When you give it back and they’re happy, there’s such a sense of relief.”
Who are the main experts on The Repair Shop and what do they do?
The Repair Shop fans will recognise these familiar faces:
- Jay Blades, furniture restorer and host
- Brenton West, silversmith and antique photography specialist
- Lucia Scalisi, painting conservatorKirsten Ramsay, Sussex-based ceramics conservator
- Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, soft toy restorers, known as the “Bear Ladies”
- Sonnaz Nooranvary, upholstery restorer
- Suzie Fletcher, leather worker, saddle maker
- Steve Fletcher (brother of Suzie), clock restorer
- Will Kirk, carpenter, wood painter and cabinet-maker
- Dom Chinea, metal worker and signs restorer
The Repair Shop airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.