I'm Done With The Repair Shop

[barry1010]

Loved this programme when it first started. The early series were a perfect showcase of a variety of craftsmanship, expertise and interesting objects but this latest afternoon series shows very little of the actual repairs.
I know there are alternatives but they haven't grabbed me in the same way as the original Repair Shop.

[douglas9401]

Maybe someone will fix it.

[retrocop]

Just watched Salvage Hunters .The Restores pn Quest TV. The skill and resourcefulness of the restorers was a joy to behold and made me quite gobsmacked and proud of our small band of unsung artisans and geniuses

[barry1010]

I'll give it a go, Retro.
douglas, see what you did there :D

[vulcan42]

The BBC seem to have the knack of taking a good show and tweaking it here and there to create an annoying one. Originally about 3/4s of it was devoted to the skills of the repairers now that time is spent on the sob stories. Also I have stopped watching it now as the restorers often refer to their own work as very good, brilliant or even perfect. They have changed from being modest expert restorers whom I admired, to television celebrities and all that entails.

[brainiac]

This programme is another example of what the BBC often does: takes a successful show and flogs the living daylights out of it by overexposure, too many repeats, too many spin-offs and the promotion of the presenters to present their own shows, write books etc etc.
Step forward the exceptionally annoying Jay Blades, who is never off TV and never out of newspapers and weekend supplements, usually going on about his tough background in Hackney and the fact he's dyslexic. How he managed to get a degree when he claimed he couldn't read is an enduring mystery.
Will Kirk and Dominic Chinea - admittedly both very skilled - are already appearing in (not-very-good) spin-offs. Enough already!

[Buenchico]

>>> Originally about 3/4s of it was devoted to the skills of the repairers now that time is spent on the sob stories

No sob story, no programme, apparently:
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23558219.bbc-diy-sos-cancel-plans-film-lowestoft-summer/

[elliemay1]

I got fed up with it too for same reasons, never watch it now

[Ellipsis]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it ...

[jourdain2]

Like everybody else, I loved it when it started - as did OH. It is the sob-stories that are killing it for me, too.
Why,oh why?
The TV people get their hands on something that works fine and then try to force it into their pattern - and it breaks. So very sad. So very dire a projected future.

[maggiebee]

Well I love it.

[Sam1960]

I'm still a fan, but its not the same as it used to be.

[Ellipsis]

Lots of other programs go downhill over time. Some examples: X Factor, Big Brother, BGT, I'm a Celeb ...

[DarceyK123]

I agree every show now is about the sob stories.

I did always wonder with the Repair Shop, if the sentiment heirloom meant so much to the owner then
1) why did they let it get into that state? Or
2) if it was already in that state when they got it then why didnt they get it done themselves.

Guessing they didnt want to shell out their own money on it.

[douglas9401]

TV types like cheap telly, this is cheap telly.

See also Homes Under The Hammer, Bargain Hunt, Flog It, sundry 'find me a house abroad' adventures and many, many more.

[Sam1960]

When I first watched it about six years ago, Steve Fletcher instantly reminded me of a programme I used to enjoy watching as a kid in the 60's "Out Of Town by Jack Hargreaves" I remember a few of the episodes were quite simply made from his garden shed. And he would show you how things worked.

As you say dougie, cheap tv. "but it was good to watch"

[retrocop]

‘Say what you will. The country side is still the only place that I will settle down. Troubles there are so much rarer. Out of town’. :-)

[choux]

I would think that the history of the items gives individual pieces more for the restorers to appreciate the reasons why the repairs are so desirable for the owners. They understand better the level to which restoration is hoped for - as new, retaining character (patina or wear and tear) or simply fit for purpose once more. Some of the owners have received

[choux]

...the items in poor condition through inheritance.

[choux]

retrocop, Hargreaves disliked intensely that music and had it exchanged for something he thought more in step for his programme

[barry1010]

I think it must be easier, quicker and cheaper to film people chatting about their objects and back story than to film the repairs.
I have never been convinced that the experts do all the restorations in that barn - it has no heating at all and you can see them muffled up in the winter, dithering and turning blue.
It must be difficult for Kirsten to get that last little piece in when Kirk is hammering and banging away and trying to paint/clean paintings must be nigh on impossible when the teddy bear ladies and the furniture restorer are creating dust storms when they are ripping ancient stuffing out of teddies and chairs.
I'm sure the experts take the items back to their familiar and well stocked workshops and just bring them back to the barn for occasional filming updates.