Jay Blades, former Repair Shop presenter, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape after appearing in court.
The 55-year-old BBC star last appeared in Telford Magistrates’ Court on August 13, as confirmed by West Mercia Police, where he was granted conditional bail.
Today, he appeared in front of the Shrewsbury Crown Court via videolink, where he entered his plea for two counts of rape, dated between November 2022 and April 2024.
The case was then adjourned for trial in September 2027.
A case management hearing was also set for the same court on May 15 next year, but Blades will not be required to attend this in person.
Blades has been a regular on TV for several years, also appearing in Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Bake Off and as the presenter for BBC’s Money for Nothing.
In 2022, he also fronted a documentary about learning to read at 51.
Last year, he stepped back from The Repair Shop following his separation from his wife, Lisa Marie Zbozen, who posted about the end of their marriage on social media.
She told followers she didn’t think she had ‘ever cried so much’ and was ‘incredibly sad about the whole thing’.
In September last year, he was charged with controlling and coercive behaviour towards Zbozen and entered a not guilty plea at Worcester Crown Court a month later.
Judge James Burbidge KC rejected an application for part of the proceedings to be heard in private.
Blades has presented The Repair Shop since 2017, and, as the show enters its 14th season, it is unclear where its future lies.
The BBC has previously confirmed no episodes featuring Blades will be aired until it is clear how ‘legal proceedings conclude’. All episodes already on iPlayer that involve him will remain on the site.
Despite leaving school at the age of 15 with no qualifications, Blades was awarded an MBE by the future King Charles back in 2022 for his services to craft and his work with disadvantaged youth, his charity efforts, and restoration work.
Outside of presenting, the 55-year-old has appeared on a number of shows, including Would I Lie to You?, Celebrity Masterchef and The Graham Norton Show.
In 2021, his documentary, Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51, charted his journey with dyslexia where he was diagnosed with the reading ability of an 11-year-old.
Since then, he has filmed several more documentaries about his childhood, including Jay Blades: No Place Like Home and Jay Blades’ East End Through Time.
He has also recently appeared alongside Sir David Jason and Dame Judi Dench in two separate series.
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