Jay Blades quits two royal-backed charities after being charged with coercive control against wife
BBC presenter Jay Blades has quit two royal-backed charities after he was charged with coercive control against his wife.
The Repair Shop presenter, 54, is accused of physical and emotional abuse of estranged wife Lisa Zbozen, 43.
He will appear at Worcester Crown Court next month to enter a plea.
And now he has resigned as co-chair and trustee of Heritage Crafts and as ambassador of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, according to The Mirror.
The first supports and promotes heritage crafts and the later funds training and education for makers.
He previously stepped down from educational charity the King’s Foundation.
The furniture restorer was last week charged with controlling and coercive behaviour towards his wife.
Blades appeared at a court on Friday accused of physical and emotional abuse of his wife.
His future on The Repair Shop now appears to be up in the air following the charge.
A BBC insider said: “The Beeb won’t feature any new shows in which he appears until it is clear how legal proceedings conclude.”
Blades married personal trainer Lisa in a small ceremony in Barbados in November 2022.
She announced she had left the star on May 2 as police launched an investigation.
It comes after he had a charge of using his mobile phone behind the wheel of his Land Rover dismissed yesterday.
The presenter appeared at Walsall Magistrates’ Court wearing a black suit on Tuesday.
He earlier pleaded not guilty to using a handheld mobile device while driving in Millfields Way in Wombourne, Staffordshire, on April 2.
In a two-minute hearing, Blades spoke to confirm that his plea to the charge remained not guilty.
Prosecutor Zulqarnain Saeed then confirmed the Crown was offering no evidence.
He explained the police officer who was due to give evidence was “unavailable” and therefore the case would not proceed.
Magistrate Neil Ravenscroft told Blades, who stood at the back of the court with his hands clasped behind his back: “The matter will be dismissed and you are free to go.”
Blades replied “thank you, sir” before leaving the court room.