Jay Blades celebrates Midlands' history in TV show

Jay BladesPA Media

Jay Blades said his new TV show aimed to celebrate the impact the West Midlands has had on the world

At a glance

  • The Repair Shop's Jay Blades says he wants a new TV show to celebrate the West Midlands' impact on the world.

  • The Channel 5 series explores the history of the region

  • Topics include the Staffordshire Hoard, Ironbridge's impact on the industrial revolution and Lady Godiva

  • "It is unbelievable what the West Midlands is responsible for," he says

Allen Cook
BBC News, West Midlands

The Repair Shop's Jay Blades has said he wants his new TV series to show how the world has benefitted from the West Midlands.

Jay Blades: The Midlands Through Time explores the history of the region.

The show covers topics including the Staffordshire Hoard and the region's role in the industrial revolution.

"There are so many things that have started in this area that it is kind of criminal we don't know about it," Blades said.

The TV show came about when the 53-year-old said he was told a piece of history about the area and asked "why does no-one know about this?".

"If you look at the West Midlands, it used to be the workshop to the world. It is unbelievable what the West Midlands is responsible for," he said.

PA Media

The Repair Shop host was made an MBE for services to craft in 2022

The three-part Channel 5 show sees The Repair Shop star visit Coventry to learn about the legend of Lady Godiva and Stoke-on-Trent to hear how Josiah Wedgwood made the area known for its pottery.

When he examined the history of the Staffordshire Hoard, found in a farmer's field in 2009, Blades said he got the chance to try on a replica helmet.

"It was a surreal moment - when you come away you are like 'hold on a minute, this is the hoard, no-one gets to try this on, touch it'," he said.

When the show went to Ironbridge, where Blades' own workshop is based, it focused on how the area became the birthplace of the industrial revolution.

"If you understand how important the area is and what it did for the world, it would be criminal for me not to mention that," he said.

Staffordshire County Council

The show features the Staffordshire Hoard which was found in a farmer's field in 2009

Born in London, Blades lives in Wolverhampton and said he was "super proud" to be in the Midlands and wanted the programme to showcase it to the country.

"We need to celebrate this, where a lot of stuff started and the benefits the rest of the world have got from the Midlands," he added.

Jay Blades: The Midlands Through Time begins on Wednesday at 21:00 BST on Channel 5.

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