jay blades birthday

Jay Blades shares adorable childhood snap as he celebrates his birthday

The BBC presenter celebrated a milestone birthday at the weekend

TV & Film Writer
February 24, 2021

Jay Blades celebrated his 51st birthday at the weekend and took to Instagram to share an adorable throwback photo - and we can't get over how adorable it is! 

MORE: The Repair Shop star Jay Blades to front brand new TV show

In the photo, which looks like it was taken in the 1970s, a young Jay can be seen dressed quite appropriately for the decade in a wide-collared shirt and flares. 

The photo was accompanied by a heartfelt post written by his friend BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake which touched upon Jay's difficult childhood and journey which led him to The Repair Shop.

WATCH: Jay Blades talks delay of The Repair Shop new series due to Covid

It read: "Meet Jay Blades. Born in London on the 21st of February 1970. That's right, today is his Birthday. Brought up by his mother on a council estate in Hackney his journey has taken many twists and turns.

"Jay is dyslexic and after leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, he eventually managed to get back on track studying for a degree in criminology and philosophy at Buckingham Chilterns University, then finding his true vocation in restoration and supporting vulnerable people in our society.  

Jay shared this snap from his youth 

"Jay Blades is a man whose personality, enthusiasm, and empathy shine bright every week in millions of homes across the UK as the host of BBC One's extraordinarily successful The Repair Shop. 

"The six-foot three dapper furniture restorer with the flat cap, bold glasses and gold tooth is a truly unique presence on mainstream television. He is the antithesis of the throwaway culture that surrounds us, believing that the old can become new, the worn can shine again, and the broken can be fixed."

MORE: Jay Blades explains reason behind delayed new series of The Repair Shop

MORE: The sweetest pictures of Jay and Dom's Home Fix's Jay Blades' family

MORE: Jay Blades admits he didn't know he was Repair Shop host

It concluded: "It is perhaps no coincidence that this belief in the restoration of objects stems from a belief that humans too can be repaired, fixed and rejuvenated. He is the living embodiment of that. A man whose backstory will give you an idea of the hurdles that he has had to overcome, and how those considerable challenges make the ascent to where he is today seem all that more impressive. Still working and he wants to do better."

Fans of the presenter were quick to share their well-wishes under the post. "Happy birthday, big man!" remarked one, while another said: "Happy birthday Jay! It's wonderful to see you on our screens every week and I look forward to all that's ahead for you."

A third added: "Happy birthday handsome, hopefully an OBE or MBE is just around the corner, it'll be thoroughly deserved."

Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more