BBC Repair Shop star addresses show's future amid Jay Blades absence

The Repair Shop star Sonnaz Nooranvary has spoken out on its future - and is convinced that there is no end in sight. The BBC favourite is back on screens this week where a host of experts oversee the repair and restoration of several valuable items, including a retro hairdryer and a Manchester United football shirt.

The programme has endured some controversy in its time, with former presenter Jay Blades taking a step back from the show earlier this year following the breakdown of his marriage and his uncle’s shock murder. He was later charged with two counts of rape and appeared in court earlier this month where he pleaded not guilty.

When asked about the future of the show, its experts said that there is no sign of The Repair Shop stopping. Sonnaz Nooranvary told The Mirror: "There's so much more out there for us to do. But also stories wise, there's so many more stories that we could touch on.

"Even in this series coming up, one of the stories is a World War II story about the Guernsey invasion, and we've never told that story before. "

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The upholstery restorer is also keen for the programme to go stateside, and thinks that the show could have a future abroad if they were to set about exploring 'different cultures' around the world.

She added: "We could go to Hollywood! We need to do Repair Shop US!

"I feel like we could immerse ourselves in different cultures and items and get under the skin of a completely different environment but still be us restoring things for people!”

Soonaz was 'really fascinated' by some of the items that she explored on the new episodes - especially as some take certain interiors 'for granted' in this day and age.

She added: "I think World War II stuff, from that time, even like the 50s and the 60s, for me, that was a bit of a national revolution. But with upholstery...The interiors generally, the 50s, 60s and 70s was a hugely revolutionary time in terms of materials, and types of materials and manufacturing techniques.

"And I find that really fascinating because... if I was a maker from that time, if I was living back then, all these new designs, modernist designs...I just think at that time it would have blown my mind as a tradesperson.

"It's all the going from a tacking hammer to a staple gun. So I love working on stuff from that period. I think, wow, this is so revolutionary. But we take it for granted now."

Asked whether she thinks in 50 years that people will be bringing current modcons like an air fryer in for repair, Sonnaz laughed and said: "Yes, or a wi-fi router!"

Sonnaz added that the 'best thing' about the job is getting the opportunity to do what she loves.

She said: "It's a real pleasure to be l really sharing our knowledge with people. So that's what I sometimes feel like, 'Oh, God, people aren't going to know what was underneath this cover or inside something...'

"You've got to open up and investigate. So that kind of comes into my thinking very rarely. But most of all, it's just like you love what you do and all day you get to do that. And that's the best thing."

The Repair Shop, Wednesday 1st October, 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer

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