BBC star Jay Blades arrived at court today to face a driving offence – just days after being charged with controlling and coercive behaviour against his estranged wife.
The Repair Shop host is accused of using his mobile phone while driving in Wombourne, Staffordshire, in April last year, which he previously denied.
The 54-year-old arrived at Cannock Magistrates Court this morning wearing a black suit and his trademark flatcap as he clutched a bottle of water.
On Friday, the furniture restorer attended Kidderminster Magistrates Court to face a charge of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.
The charge relates to his wife Lisa Zbozen, a fitness instructor, who revealed on social media in May that their relationship had come to an end.
Jay Blades arrived at Cannock Magistrates Court this morning wearing a black suit and his trademark flatcap as he clutched a bottle of water
The Repair Shop host (pictured outside Cannock Magistrates Court) is accused of using his mobile phone while driving in Wombourne, Staffordshire, in April last year, which he previously denied
West Mercia Police launched an investigation after they were called to an address the day after Ms Zbozen’s post on Instagram.
Dad-of-three Blades will appear at Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on October 11.
Following his first charge, he resigned from the King’s Foundation, which he supported as an ambassador.
Blades also resigned from his role as chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University.
He previously won daytime BAFTA TV award for a Repair Shop special which had featured the King, who was Prince of Wales at the time.
Blades left school at 15 with no qualifications but got back on track studying for a degree in criminology and philosophy at Buckinghamshire New University from 2001.
BBC star Jay Blades arrived at court on Tuesday to face a driving offence
Blades has pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence
Following his first charge, Blades resigned from the King’s Foundation, which he supported as an ambassador
Blades left school at 15 with no qualifications but got back on track studying for a degree in criminology and philosophy at Buckinghamshire New University from 2001
Blades appeared in a Channel 4 documentary last month about his friendship with actress Dame Judi Dench, called ‘Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple’
In 2022, a special one-off episode to mark the BBC’s centenary saw Jay Blades and the repair team visit the King, when he was still the Prince of Wales, at Dumfries House in Scotland
Following his graduation, Blades co-founded the Out of the Dark charitable social enterprise that recycled and revamped furniture to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
And he found fame on the BBC restoration programme The Repair Shop – which sees members of the public take worn-out family heirlooms to be restored by a team of experts – starring on the show since its launch in 2017.
In 2022, a special one-off episode to mark the BBC’s centenary saw Blades and the repair team visit the King, when he was still the Prince of Wales, at Dumfries House in Scotland.
