The Repair Shop at Christmas opens its barn doors to welcome some of Britain’s most distinguished guests for a heartwarming festive special. Dame Helen Mirren, bestselling author Julia Donaldson, and actor Rob Brydon bring cherished treasures requiring restoration to the expert team led by host Jay Blades. The Christmas special promises emotional storytelling, expert craftsmanship, and the signature warmth that has made The Repair Shop one of BBC One’s most beloved programs, transforming broken items into restored treasures while celebrating the stories and memories they carry.
Airing on Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24th at 8:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the special combines high-profile celebrity presence with genuinely moving human stories, featuring items spanning WWII history, children’s literature inspiration, and community tradition.
The Treasures: Stories That Span Continents and Decades
Dame Helen Mirren’s WWII Cello: A Holocaust Survivor’s Silenced Voice
The most emotionally significant restoration centers on a Second World War cello with a powerful history. The instrument belonged to Martin Landau, a theatre director who escaped Nazi-occupied Germany aboard the Kindertransport (the rescue operation that evacuated over 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe between 1938-1940).
The Cello’s Traumatic History: Tragically, before Landau could escape with his cello, Nazi soldiers smashed and severely damaged the instrument, leaving it broken and voiceless. For over 80 years, the cello has remained silent—a physical manifestation of historical trauma and cultural loss.
Denville Hall’s Mission: The cello is now owned by Denville Hall, a prestigious residential care home exclusively for retired entertainment industry professionals (actors, musicians, directors, stage workers). The home, located in Northwood, London, provides safe haven and community for aging entertainment workers, offering both residential care and cultural programming.
Dame Helen’s Role and Vision: As a devoted supporter of Denville Hall, Dame Helen Mirren brings the cello to expert restorer Becky Houghton with one clear goal: restore the cello’s voice in time for Christmas performances that will entertain the care home’s residents and families. The restoration transforms a silenced historical artifact into an instrument of joy and community.
In Dame Helen’s own words: “Denville Hall is a very special place. We’ve talked about Martin’s cello. To restore the voice of his treasured possession and hear it play once more would be the Christmas gift the community at Denville Hall deserves.”
Julia Donaldson’s Toy Farmhouse: Literary Inspiration Restored
Julia Donaldson, the beloved bestselling children’s author (known for The Gruffalo and countless other iconic stories), arrives with Rob Brydon, the accomplished actor who has lent his voice to characters in all of Donaldson’s animated television adaptations.
The Farmhouse’s Significance: The toy farmhouse was originally gifted to Julia by her grandmother, making it doubly precious—both as a cherished childhood toy and as a family heirloom. This farmhouse holds particular significance in Donaldson’s creative development: it directly inspired settings in multiple beloved stories, including this year’s BBC animated adaptation of The Scarecrows’ Wedding.
Julia recalled: “My sister and I spent happy hours creating stories around the farmyard, and the idea of having it restored and enjoyed by many more children means a great deal to me.”
The Restoration Team and Legacy: Furniture restorer Will Kirk and ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay will collaborate to rejuvenate the farmhouse, restoring its visual appeal and functional playability.
Charitable Transformation: Rather than keeping the restored farmhouse for personal reminiscence, Julia has committed to donating it to Chestnut Tree House, a children’s hospice with which she has maintained a long-standing relationship and where she has regularly shared her stories with children and families. The farmhouse will continue inspiring future generations of children, honoring its legacy as a catalyst for creative imagination.
Additional Festive Restorations
Beyond the celebrity-fronted restorations, the Christmas special tackles additional treasured items:
The Mechanical Reindeer: A life-sized mechanical Rudolph from the Leicestershire Fire Service will undergo restoration. This beloved automaton has provided festive joy to countless community members across years but now requires expert repair to restore its mechanical functionality and visual charm.
The Historic Sledge: A battered but beloved sledge with 80 years of family history will be restored to functionality and visual condition. This item connects to generational memories and outdoor family traditions, representing the kind of sentimental treasure that appears throughout The Repair Shop’s catalog.
The Sheffield Carol Book: A dilapidated carol book plays a central role in “a much celebrated Sheffield Christmas tradition.” This historically significant item ties the restoration to specific community identity and cultural practice, ensuring the special transcends individual stories into broader cultural preservation.
The Repair Shop Format: Emotional Documentary Television
The Repair Shop, hosted by Jay Blades, represents a distinctive television genre—emotional documentary featuring expert craftsmanship. Rather than focusing on commercial transaction or competitive drama, the show centers on human stories, memories, and the skilled artisans who restore broken treasures to functionality and beauty.
The Barn Setting: Filmed at the Court Barn at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Singleton, West Sussex, the location provides an authentic, heritage-rich backdrop that emphasizes the historical and cultural value of restoration work.
The Expert Team: The regular restoration team includes:
- Jay Blades – Host and upholsterer
- Will Kirk – Furniture restorer and cabinet-maker
- Dominic Chinea – Metal worker
- Steve Fletcher – Clock restorer
- Suzie Fletcher – Leather worker
- Becky Houghton – Textile and object conservator (featured prominently in the cello restoration)
- Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell – Toy restorers
- Kirsten Ramsay – Ceramics expert
Each expert brings specialized knowledge and genuine emotional investment in the restorations, often becoming visibly moved by items’ stories and owners’ reactions to completed work.
The Cultural Impact: Celebrating Repair Over Replacement
The Repair Shop functions as an “antidote to throwaway culture,” celebrating repair, restoration, and preservation in an era dominated by consumer disposability. By showcasing items spanning decades—often reaching back to WWII and beyond—the program implicitly critiques contemporary consumer culture while celebrating human craftsmanship, emotional attachment to objects, and the cultural significance of maintaining material heritage.
The Christmas special particularly emphasizes these values: restoring items meaningful to charitable organizations (Denville Hall), educational institutions (Chestnut Tree House), and community traditions (Sheffield Christmas carol book) elevates the broadcast beyond personal entertainment into cultural advocacy for preservation and memory.
Broadcast and Viewing Details
The Repair Shop at Christmas airs on Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24th, 2025 at 8:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Following its initial broadcast, the special will remain available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming, allowing viewers to watch this heartwarming Christmas programming throughout the festive season and beyond.
The 8:15 PM timeslot positions the special during prime-time Christmas Eve programming, after typical family dinner times and during the window when families gather for evening entertainment before the late-night festivities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Repair Shop at Christmas air?
The special airs on Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24th, 2025 at 8:15 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Who are the special celebrity guests?
Dame Helen Mirren, Julia Donaldson, and Rob Brydon visit with treasures requiring restoration.
What is the cello’s story?
The cello belonged to Martin Landau, a theatre director who escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport. The Nazis damaged the cello before his escape. It has sat silent for over 80 years. Dame Helen hopes to restore it for Denville Hall care home residents.
Why is Julia Donaldson’s farmhouse significant?
The toy farmhouse was gifted to Julia by her grandmother and inspired settings in multiple beloved stories, including The Scarecrows’ Wedding. After restoration, it will be donated to Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.
How many items are restored in the special?
The special features at least five major restorations: the cello, the farmhouse, the mechanical reindeer, the sledge, and the carol book.
Who hosts The Repair Shop?
Jay Blades, an accomplished upholsterer-turned-television-presenter, hosts the show and guides viewers through each restoration.
Can I stream the special after broadcast?
Yes, The Repair Shop at Christmas will be available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand viewing following initial broadcast
