THE Repair Shop star Jay Blades has been left devastated after learning his friend Agenda Brown passed away last week.
Jay, 54, has revealed that although he and Agenda got to know each other later in life, they shared a “powerful” friendship.
On Thursday night (July 18), jewellery designer Alice Cicolini confirmed that her partner Agenda died following a shock “medical emergency.”
She confirmed his death on Instagram, writing: “On Friday 12th July in Paris, the humble, powerful and unique spirit I was privileged to call my Marvellous lost his life in a whirlwind medical emergency.
“Agenda was my collaborator in love, life and creativity. As he did for so many others similarly bereft this week, he brought into my world so much transformational impact as well as a smile and a sparkle that illuminated all around him.”
Jay was quick to comment on the post, expressing his sadness at Agenda’s death.
“My Heart is with you and the Family. We had a short Friendship but Very Powerful & I Know I Will Meet him Again,” Jay wrote.
Sadly, Agenda’s death is one of many sad events Jay has been dealing with recently as his uncle also passed away and he has separated from his wife, Lisa-Marie Zbozen.
BBC star Jay announced his split from fitness instructor Lisa in May.
Lisa, 43, wed the BBC presenter in Barbados less than two years ago. But in an emotional online statement, she confirmed the relationship was over, saying she’d “never cried so much”.
Lisa, who described herself as “broken,” said: “The world got the best parts of my husband. I got a whole lot of everything else.”
Lisa added: “I wanted my husband to love me and keep me safe and I would love him right back.
“But it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things & just left.”
Jay has not commented publicly on the split, but the news of his marriage breakdown came just days after he announced another tragic loss; the death of his uncle, Richard Braithewaite.
In a video on his Instagram account he said: ‘’I’m coming off social media for a bit, and I’ll be back in a bit. Going to go and get some therapy and just chill out. Please, take care of each other, take care of yourself, and I’ll see you guys soon.”
Jay got down on one knee with a ring he designed and was made by his co-star Richard Talman who works as a goldsmith on the show in 2021.
They tied the knot in a sunny Caribbean ceremony on November 2022 with just 15 guests attending.
Speaking to Hello! magazine about their special day, Jay, 52, 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, 41, added: “Once you get to a certain age, you realise what’s actually important on the day – and that is having the people around you that love you for who you are.
“So we made the day our day.”
Jay was overcome with emotion during the ceremony.
The television presenter confessed: “I think the thing that was most emotional for me was actually saying the vows.
“It was almost like I had tunnel vision and I could only see Lisa there.
“And honestly, that’s when it really hit me. I was like, ‘We’re really getting married now!’. That’s the only time I really got emotional.”
Jay was previously married to his ex-wife Jade.
The pair, who split up in 2015, share daughter Zola, 15.
Richard, 72, was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley around lunchtime on March 21 after his next-door neighbour Derek Brown, who lived on the same street, allegedly knifed him.
Jay has been taking time away from the hit BBC series The Repair Shop. However, earlier this week, he announced he was making his TV comeback with another new show.
Jay Blades’ Country Homes Through Time will see the host explore stately homes for Channel 5.
It is the latest in a string of factual programmes for Jay, who presented East End Through Time in June last year and The Midlands Through Time in October.
The East End and Midlands series gave The Repair Shop star space to explore his roots, but now he’s moving further afield and exploring country homes across the U.K.
Jay said: “I love these series, uncovering eye-opening, surprising and extraordinary facts about where we live. There is so much history to delve into.”
The new series will air later this year.
