This week, BBC One’s “The Repair Shop” isn’t just dusting off antiques; it’s diving into a locker room of treasured sporting heirlooms. Forget your chipped teacups and moth-eaten teddy bears, we’re talking skateboards, saddles, speedway bibs, and even a rugby league cap older than your great-granddad.
Tuesday night’s episode features a quartet of items, each with a story as worn and loved as the object itself. A 1967 skateboard, battered but not broken, rolls in from one of Liverpool’s first skateboarding pioneers. Metalwork expert Dominic Chinea and woodwork specialist Will Kirk team up for this restoration, hopefully avoiding any wipeouts along the way. Then there’s a 1920s rodeo saddle, making the long trip from Canada, a fitting project for Suzie Fletcher, who honed her saddlery skills in Colorado.
A 1947 speedway bib, emblazoned with a hand-painted number one, presents a unique challenge for Lucia Scalisi. Preserving this tribute to a racing hero requires a delicate touch, balancing restoration with the preservation of history. And finally, Jayesh Vaghela, the show’s resident master hatter, gets his hands on a 1904 rugby league cap. If you’ve ever wondered what beetroot juice has to do with millinery, this is your chance to find out.
As always, “The Repair Shop” isn’t just about fixing things; it’s about the stories behind those things. Each item represents a piece of family history, a connection to a bygone era. Whether it’s the thrill of the rodeo, the roar of the speedway, or the simple joy of rolling down a hill on a skateboard, these objects carry the weight of memories and the echoes of past triumphs. Tune in to see these sporting treasures brought back to life and witness the emotional reunions that follow.
“The Repair Shop” airs Wednesday, December 4th at 8:00 PM on BBC One.
