The Repair Shop’s host Jay Blades has spoken publicly about the recent murder of his uncle.
The presenter, 54, confirmed with a social media video on Monday (April 29) that he had just attended the funeral for his family member, which had happened a few weeks earlier.
Speaking into his camera in his signature flat cap, Blades said: “How we doing guys? Hope you’re all well. Now, this is kind of like a public service announcement. I’ve just been to my uncle’s funeral, he was murdered a few weeks ago. A really super nice guy, it shouldn’t have happened to him. But it really affected me, I feel a little bit messed up.”
“So, what I’m intending on doing is this – I’m coming off social media for a bit, and I’ll be back in a bit. I’m gonna go and get some therapy, and just chill out. Yeah, because when things happen, sometimes you really need to take stock and just relax.”
“So, I’ll be back soon and please take care of each other, and take care of yourself, and I’ll see you guys soon.”
Blades, who has presented the furniture and family heirloom restoration show The Repair Shop on the BBC since 2017, has been open in the past about his past mental health struggles.
As he shared on the Dish podcast earlier this year, he suffered a breakdown in 2015 after separating from his wife and at a time when he was struggling to keep his charity afloat. “Everything flopped for me,” he said. “The business, the relationship, everything.”
He recalled the day that he drove down the motorway “looking for a bridge to crash into”, before running out of petrol and checking into a hotel, where he was close to being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
“I sobbed. Proper, shoulder-heaving, gut-wrenching, inconsolable sobs,” Blades told the Mirror. “Everything poured out. I bawled and howled.”
FOR HELP AND ADVICE ON MENTAL HEALTH:
- ‘Am I depressed?’ – help and advice on mental health and what to do next
- YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
- MIND – For mental health support, advice and awareness
- CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably for young men
- Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
- The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day
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