Jay Blades hosts bizarre late-night DJ sessions after being charged with controlling & coercive behaviour against wife
BBC STAR Jay Blades has hosted a bizarre late-night DJ session after being charged with coercive behaviour towards his wife.
It comes as the Repair Shop presenter, 54, is currently off screens – and has deleted all his social media accounts following his court appearance last month.
The DJ set was part of a midnight broadcast, and he was seen with his arms aloft and chatting to a small audience as he controlled the tunes.
Wearing a black jumper and his trademark specs, the star introduced himself as Jay Blades MBE on the live streamed session.
One viewer told the Mirror: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw he was online doing a session – it’s a website called MixCloud which DJs use.
“He seemed like a guy without a care in the world, and looked like he was having a few drinks and he was dancing away on his own – maybe that is helping to get him through.
“At the end he said he’d be back online soon and asked viewers to keep an eye on his channels for updates about it.”
Blades cut to an image of himself with Dame Judi Dench during the gig.
The BBC and other TV channels have shelved shows featuring the presenter, including this year’s upcoming Christmas special of The Repair Shop, in light of him being charged.
The show’s creators, Ricochet, are said to be considering a permanent replacement for him and are already eyeing up furniture restorer Will Kirk and craftsman Dominic Chinea from the series.
Channel 5 have also shelved a documentary series Blades was making called A Country House Through Time.
And Channel 4 have confirmed they will not be making a sequel to his recent travelogue with Dame Judi Dench, The Odd Couple.
A TV insider told the Sun: “Everything is up in the air following Blades getting charged, but TV chiefs didn’t want to be seen to act slowly.
“Until court proceedings have run their course, everything is getting put on hold, and alternative plans are being considered.
“But The Repair Shop is likely to continue as it’s hugely popular and the feeling is that the show is bigger than any individual.”
MARRIAGE SPLIT
Estranged wife Lisa Zbozen had posted a message on Instagram on May 2 saying the couple’s 18-month marriage had ended.
Dad-of-three Blades was then arrested the same day.
He was bailed on the condition he does not contact Lisa directly or indirectly.
Blades will next appear at Worcester Crown Court on October 11.
The charge sheet states Blades allegedly “repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely physical and emotional abuse towards Lisa Zbozen”.
The offences allegedly took place between January 1, 2023, and April 9, 2024.
Blades and Lisa married in November 2022 in Barbados, a year after their engagement.
Photographs of their intimate beach-front ceremony were published in Hello! Magazine.
They said their vows in front of 15 guests and exchanged rings designed by Blades’ Repair Shop colleague Richard Talman.