is reaching a significant achievement this month as it marks its eighth year of captivating audiences with the restoration of cherished items.
Since it began in 2017, the show has welcomed a plethora of objects into the workshop, ranging from treasured family heirlooms and historical artefacts to unique and irreplaceable presents, all meticulously restored by a team of skilled experts.
Yet, returning these treasures to their owners isn’t always easy. A few years back, metalwork expert Dominic Chinea engaged with fans on The Repair Shop’s official , addressing their curiosities, including whether the restorers ever feel tempted to keep the items they work on, reports
Dominic admitted: “Yes, of course! It’s very- it’s kind of all-consuming working on these things. It’s the nuts and bolts of being here working every day on these things. But also mentally, it does take over and I spend an awful lot of time thinking, working up a plan and researching.
BBC The Repair Shop expert admits it ‘takes over mentally’ in ‘tough’ admission (Image: (Image: BBC))
“So yeah, when the day comes when we have to say goodbye, it is tough. It usually involves me the next day, going online, going on some auctions and trying to find things to buy my own one.”
With a chuckle, Dominic conceded that his desire to possess pieces similar to those he works on on the show was inevitable. He shared: “I want them all in my own workshop hanging on the wall!”
Dominic has become a beloved figure on the show, but he wasn’t always in the spotlight. Initially joining as a set designer, Dominic revealed to the : “I think most people don’t know is that I actually made The Repair Shop sign.
Dominic Chinea has been part of the BBC show since 2017 (Image: BBC)
“I started at the barn as a prop maker and set designer for the series, I wasn’t supposed to be on the show.” Dominic thenwent on to explain his unexpected rise to on-screen fame.
He added: “In the first week of filming, I think the crew found a few items that were rusty and needed metalwork, and I think somebody put two and two together was like, hang on a second – he’s quite handy. And so I ended up on the show.”
The Repair Shop is available to watch on iPlayer.