SUDDEN END
Jay Blades’ wife Lisa taught him how to READ at 51 & enjoyed ‘perfect’ wedding but marriage just got ‘worse and worse’
The Repair Shop presenter hinted their marriage was in trouble six weeks ago...
THEIR intimate wedding in Barbados was described as "perfect" as Jay Blades declared he'd found 'the one'.
But just 18 months on, the TV star’s wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen has announced she’s ended their marriage, confessing she’d “never cried so much”.
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Fitness guru Lisa, 43, and BBC presenter Jay, 54, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Barbados, in November 2022.
They fell in love during the pandemic - and Lisa even helped Jay learn to read and write for the first time, aged 51.
But Lisa has now confessed she’s “broken,” saying: “The world got the best parts of my husband. I got a whole lot of everything else.”
Writing in a statement, the fitness guru said: “I wanted my husband to love me and keep me safe and I would love him right back.
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“But it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things & just left.”
We reveal how they got together and how their marriage broke down…
Showed vulnerability
Jay and Lisa met online in 2020, during the pandemic, and quickly started getting along.
He previously told us: “We met in the modern way online, got chatting and then, the next thing you know, we both liked each other and we had a bit of a chinwag.”
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Jay was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was a mature student, aged 31, attending the Buckinghamshire New University to study criminology.
He’d managed to hide the fact he couldn’t read or write for most of his life - only getting accepted into college after his friend copied an application letter to top US university Harvard that he had found on the internet.
Jay Blades learns to form words with sounds in new BBC doc following him learning to read at 51
Jay graduated after using computer software that read out books and allowed him to dictate essays - and he’d been using this software to get by ever since.
But, with Lisa, he was able to be open about his struggles.
He said: “When you are in a relationship people tend to show their best side. Not many people would show their vulnerability.
“But by saying I have a problem with reading shows your vulnerability.
“It got us to a position where she thought, ‘OK if he is brave enough to bring that to my attention, let me support him’.”
Read MBE letter for him
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Lisa helped him a lot with his reading when they first got together.
He said: “With my MBE, I could see it was an official letter but I didn’t know what it was stating, so I got Lisa to read it to me.
“I get a lot of fan mail and Lisa reads all of that as well, because if someone has taken the time to write, it is really important. I’d never just leave it. Never.”
What also drew Jay to Lisa was how she got on so well with his daughter Zola, 17, who lives with his ex-wife Jade in Turkey.
Jay said: “I’m quite private with my family so when she met everybody it was almost as if everybody knew her for years. It is weird.
“And then you say this woman is The One because she fitted in with everybody.”
Christmas Eve proposal
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Jay proposed to Lisa while on holiday in Barbados on Christmas Eve 2021.
Fittingly, he proposed with a ring made by Repair Shop jeweller Richard Talman.
And after they got engaged, she posted a sweet picture of Jay kissing her forehead.
She wrote: “I'm very lucky & grateful for everything I have.”
The very first time I met him, I said: 'I'm going to marry that man'
Lisa Zbozen
Then, on Valentines Day 2022, she shared a picture of her fiance, writing: “Dear Universe, Thank You. #sohandsome.”
In another post before they got married, Lisa shared a selfie from Royal Ascot, writing: “The very first time I met him, I said: 'I'm going to marry that man.'
“Thank you for challenging me to be better every day.
“I'm not perfect by a long way, but working together, we make it as perfect as it could be. I love you completely.”
Before they got married, Lisa supported Jay every step of the way when he learned to read and write for the documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51.
She said: “I’m so proud of him. This has brought us closer together in our relationship.
“We have learned to help each other and find that middle ground between ‘work Jay’ and ‘home Jay’.
“I tell you what the best thing is now he’s reading is that he’s different — it’s almost like it’s taken a weight off him.”
She added: “Being able to read would make his life a little easier in certain situations because I can’t always be there so it’s important for him to have that skill.”
'Perfect' Barbados wedding
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A year after they got engaged, Jay and Lisa returned to Barbados to get married in front of just 15 guests at a beachfront villa.
They exchanged “imperfect” rings, designed by Richard - who made the engagement ring too.
Speaking to magazine about their special day, Jay 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 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.
Lisa's statement
"I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up on this story.
“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.
"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.
“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"
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.”
As recent as Valentine’s Day this year, Lisa posted a snap of herself with Jay and wrote: “My heart is where my husband is.”
'I finally left'
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But six weeks ago, Jay hinted at problems in their relationship in a tweet.
On 19th March, he posted a photo of his shoes on a red carpet along with a heartfelt caption, writing: "THOUGHT OF THE DAY. Life has a Way of tripping you up when you least expect it.
“You must learn from this experience and get ready to Move, differently."
And now it has all come to an end, as Lisa has announced she’s left Jay.
Gym instructor 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.
“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.”
Next to the post, she shared a photo of her in her bridal gown in Barbados, with Jay, in his suit and trademark glasses.
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.
“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”
I’m so embarrassed and ashamed I couldn’t be enough
Lisa Zbozen
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.”
She also insisted to fans that she "kept trying" to save the marriage and make it work before confirming the separation.
Responding to one of her supporters on Instagram, she said: “I just kept trying to fix it until someone outside of the circle heard and saw my story and here we are."
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The heartbroken personal trainer went on to add in a separate comment: “I’m so embarrassed and ashamed I couldn’t be enough.”
Asked how she planned to bounce back, she said: “I need to find the first step again.”
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