Dame Judi Dench to appear in The Repair Shop to fix sentimental gift to her late husband

Virgin Radio

23 Aug 2022, 11:27

Dame Judi Dench will feature in an upcoming special episode of hit BBC show The Repair Shop to fix a pocketwatch belonging to her late husband.

The show usually sees members of the public come to The Repair Shop HQ to get their possessions, that usually have huge sentimental value, mended by a member of the team led by host Jay Blades.

As the series celebrates its fifth anniversary and the Edinburgh’s TV Festival, a special episode will air, featuring acting legend Dame Judi Dench and Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Dame Judi will be looking to fix a pocketwatch she gave to her late husband, Michael Williams, a year after they married in 1972.

The watch no longer works, and the actress would love to hear it tick again to remind her of the times she shared with her husband before he passed away in 2001.

Get ready to have the tissues on hand.

The Repair Shop have tasked horologist Steve Fletcher to help Dame Judi fix her beloved watch, whereas Craig will be seeking the assistance of furniture restorer Will Kirk and the Teddy Bear Ladies, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell.

He is looking to fix a lifelike chimp from Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard, which he was gifted as an opening night gift.

Following their time at The Repair Shop, both Dame Judi and Craig will join Jay on stage in Edinburgh to reveal their shiny new fixes live.

Speaking about the special episode, managing director of production company Ricochet, Joanna Ball, said: “The team, on and off screen, has done an extraordinary job and our heartfelt thanks to Dame Judi and to Craig for sharing their precious stories with us.

“As always we’re a little bit nervous sharing the finished fixes but we hope that they love the work our experts have delivered as much as we loved working on them.”

Creative director of the festival, Stewart Clarke, also said: “This is the perfect opening entertainment piece and we would like to thank everyone involved for bringing a bit of The Repair Shop magic of the barn to the TV Festival, it’s going to be an absolute must-see.”

The special episode of The Repair Shop will air on the show's YouTube channel.