BEYOND REPAIR
I wanted him to love me, but it got worse so I grabbed a bag and left, says Jay Blades’ wife after revealing shock split
Lisa revealed she would need counselling over the split, and described herself as 'broken'
THE wife of TV’s Repair Shop star Jay Blades announced the end of their marriage yesterday — saying: “I grabbed a bag of a few things and just left.”
Fitness guru Lisa, 43, wed the BBC presenter, 54, in Barbados 18 months ago.
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But in an emotional online statement she confirmed the relationship was over, saying she’d “never cried so much”.
Lisa, who described herself as “broken”, said: “The world got the best parts of my husband. I got a whole lot of everything else.”
Lisa added in an online statement: “I wanted my husband to love me and keep me safe and I would love him right back.
“But it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things & just left.”
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The fitness instructor added she “didn’t want this day to come”, and agreed she would need counselling over the split.
Lisa first revealed the break-up early yesterday, posting on Facebook group TheWkout Family where she gives gym tips to 5,600 members.
A few hours later, after The Sun made inquiries, she shared the same statement to 141,000 followers on Instagram page thewkoutofficial.
Lisa said: “I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up on this story.
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“I don’t know how to say this because it’s still really raw. Last weekend I finally left.
“I probably should be really angry but I’m just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much.”
Jay Blades fights back tears as The Repair Shop guest reveals harrowing family tragedy behind 'life-changing' statue
Next to the post, she shared a photo of her in her bridal gown in Barbados, with Jay, in his suit and trademark glasses.
'I’m numb'
Lisa added in her post: “Anyway, That’s why there’s been no new wkouts. I would never miss a wkout. I’d do it on the pavement bare foot & naked if I had to.
“This is the first post I’ve made out loud and it feels like I’m numb.
“I will admit I’m crying as I type this as I can’t believe this is even real. I hope you don’t mind if I just have a few days trying to figure out my life as I’m currently in a spare room with a few essentials.
“I don’t know what else to say. The world got the best parts of my husband & over time, I got a whole lot of everything else.
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“No matter how mad it got I still apologised & still tried to fix it, because I loved my husband, very much. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie x”
She was inundated with messages of support and told well-wishers: “I’ve done everything right. Don’t worry. You have no idea how much I didn’t want this day to come.”
Asked how she planned to bounce back, she said: “I need to find the first step again.”
The world got the best parts of my husband & over time, I got a whole lot of everything else
Lisa
She and Jay wed in front of just 15 guests at a beachfront villa in Barbados, exchanging “imperfect” rings designed by Repair Shop colleague Richard Talman.
The couple shared their wedding snaps with Hello! magazine.
JAY AND LISA MARIE'S RELATIONSHIP
Jay got down on one knee with a ring he designed and was made by his co-star Richard Talman who works as a goldsmith on the show in 2021.
They tied the knot in a sunny Caribbean ceremony on November 2022 with just 15 guests attending.
Speaking to magazine about their special day, Jay, 52, said: "One word sums up the day: perfect.
"We had our closest family there, the weather held out and everything worked out so well."
Lisa, 41, added: "Once you get to a certain age, you realise what’s actually important on the day - and that is having the people around you that love you for who you are.
"So we made the day our day."
Jay was overcome with emotion during the ceremony.
The television presenter confessed: “I think the thing that was most emotional for me was actually saying the vows.
“It was almost like I had tunnel vision and I could only see Lisa there.
"And honestly, that’s when it really hit me. I was like, ‘We’re really getting married now!’. That’s the only time I really got emotional.”
Jay was previously married to his ex-wife Jade.
The pair, who split up in 2015, share daughter Zola, 15.
'Very lucky'
After their engagement, Lisa had said she was “very lucky and grateful for everything I have”.
Furniture restorer Jay has become one of the BBC’s most popular stars with seven million viewers watching him and other experts fix up broken treasures.
Jay started presenting The Repair Shop in 2017. It is next due to air on May 15.
Earlier this week he revealed he was quitting social media following the death of his uncle.
Richard Brathwaite, 72, was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour in Wembley, North West London, in March after a dispute about a shared alleyway.
In an Instagram video on Monday, Jay said going to the funeral had left him “messed up”.
He said of his uncle: “Really, super nice guy, shouldn’t have happened to him, but it really affected me. I feel a little bit messed up.
“So what I’m intending on doing is this. I’m coming off social media for a bit, and I’ll be back in a bit.
I need to find the first step again
Lisa
“Going to go and get some therapy and just chill out.
“Please, take care of each other, take care of yourself, and I’ll see you guys soon.”
In October 2022 Jay welcomed King Charles on a Repair Shop special in which the team fixed items from Dumfries House in Scotland.
Earlier that year Charles, then Prince of Wales, handed Jay an MBE at Windsor Castle for services to craft.
Speaking then, Jay revealed the rest of his TV team were “over the moon” for him. He added: “They have all said, ‘Do we have to bow, do we have to curtsy to you?’”
Jay has also fronted Money for Nothing and Jay Blades’ Home Fix.
He was raised in Hackney, East London, by his mother Barbara and maternal half-brother.
He left school aged 15 due to his undiagnosed dyslexia and spent his 20s working in factories and as a labourer.
He was homeless for a time in his 20s. Jay, who has three children from previous relationships, spoke about living with dyslexia in BBC documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51.
The programme gave fans a glimpse into his life with Lisa, as he was seen asking for her help to spell the word “tree”.
With his wife at his side, Jay admitted: “I’ve mainly got by from the help from those around me, people like Lisa.”
Jay had revealed he received a late dyslexia diagnosis aged 31 after enrolling at Buckinghamshire New University as a mature student reading criminology.
Before his TV fame he did charity work and helped to run children’s club Men Behaving Dadly in West London.
Lisa has been a personal trainer for decades and puts clients through high-intensity workouts involving kettlebells, lunging and squatting. A biography on The Wkout’s website describes her determination as “no joke”.
The fitness company describes itself as: “No fad diets, no gimmicks and no excuses — just hard work and sweat.”
I’ve mainly got by from the help from those around me, people like Lisa
Jay
After their marriage, Lisa told Hello! magazine: “Once you get to a certain age, you realise what’s actually important on the day — and that’s having the people around you that love you for who you are. So we made the day our day.”
And on Valentine’s Day this year she posted a snap of herself with Jay and wrote: “My heart is where my husband is.”
A week later she put up another wedding snap as she wished the star a happy birthday.
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We approached Jay’s agent and the BBC for comment last night.
Lisa could not be contacted.
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