Jay Blades' ex wife Jade had to call the police when he went missing (2024)

Jay Blades has previously revealed that his ex wife Jade had to call the police and report him as a missing person after he disappeared following their split.

In his 2021 memoir, The Repair Shop star, 54, spoke about the aftermath of his first marriage breakdown as he told how his 'life came crashing down' around him.

It comes as on Thursday his current wife announced their shock split after just 18 months of marriage.

Fitness instructor Lisa Marie Zbozen, 43, has said she has left the TV star - who she married in November 2022.

But before Lisa, he was married to Jade who he met while studying at university. The former couple share 17-year-old daughter Zola together and split in 2015.

Jay Blades has previously revealed that his ex wife Jade had to call the police and report him as a missing person after he disappeared following their split

It comes as on Thursday his current wife announced their shock split after just 18 months of marriage

In a part of his old memoir he told how when they split he 'hadn't planned' to leave and 'hadn't even packed a bag' when he got into his car and drove away from their home.

He then spent the next few days and nights in the car parked at a shopping centre in Wolverhampton out of sight of CCTV cameras

Jay said: 'My life had come crashing down around me. I was 40, I was in a cloud of dust and couldn't see anything. This is it, I thought. There's no way forward. All the things I have achieved are worth nothing now.

'EventuallyI had to find a hotel and take a shower. Using my credit card, I ordered room service and ate the first real meal I'd had in days. I'd lost a stone since leaving home.

'Next morning, the police wanted to talk to me. My wife had reported me missing, and when I paid for the room by card, alarm bells rang.'

He went on to explain that the police brought apsychiatric nurse to help with his questioning and he 'answered on autopilot' feeling like he 'wasn't really there'.

Jay then recalled how he overheard the nurse say to the policeman:'I'm not sure yet that we need to section him.'

The policeman then added that they thought he was a danger to himself - which Jay recalled was 'scary'.

Fitness instructor Lisa Marie Zbozen, 43, has said she has left the TV star - who she married in November 2022

In a part of his old memoir he told how when they split he 'hadn't planned' to leave and hadn't even packed a bag when he got into his car and drove away from their home

Jay said: 'My life had come crashing down around me. I was 40, I was in a cloud of dust and couldn't see anything'

He was then taken under the wing of one of his palsbusinessman Gerald Bailey who helped him find his feet again amid his divorce and helped him find somewhere new to live - with Gerald's his mum and stepdad

When their relationship sadly broke down Jay relocated to the West Midlands. 'I was homeless. You heard me right – yes, homeless,' he told the Daily Star at the time. 'Everything fell down for me. My marriage broke up, my business broke up.

'I left my ex-wife the house and everything like that.'

He then moved on and married Lisa - who announced their shock split on Thursday after just 18 months of marriage.

It comes just a day after it was revealed that Jay's beloved uncle was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbourfollowing a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway.

In a statement posted online early this morning Lisa said: 'I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw.

'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. 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. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie x.'

A representative for Jay has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

The couple married in Barbados in November 2022, sharing their wedding with Hello! Magazine.

Speaking about their intimate ceremony of just 15 guests, Lisa told the magazine at the time: '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.'

During the ceremony, the couple exchanged bespoke wedding rings which had been created by The Repair Shop's Richard Talman - which Lisa said was one of her favourite touches.

Lisa is a personal trainer with decades of experience in her field, posting tough, high-intensity workouts on Instagram almost every day which show her lifting kettlebells, lunging and squatting.

She runs on-demand fitness app The Wkout, which offers programmes for fat burning, strength training and yoga.

A biography of Lisa on The Wkout's website describes her determination as 'no joke'.

It reads: 'Lisa brings the FIRE every-time. Lisa's workouts are dynamic, powerful & no two workouts are the same.'

The fitness company also describes itself as: 'No Fad Diets, No Gimmicks & No Excuses. Just hard work & sweat.'

The relatively private couple also gave fans a glimpse into their relationship in early 2022 when Jay revealed he didn't learn to read or write in childhood.

Appearing on BBC documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51, the couple were filmed going over words for the presenter to spell out as practise.

Jay, who has revealed he received a late dyslexia diagnosis at the age of 31, asks for his other half's help spelling the word 'tree' during the programme.

As she was filmed helping him, Jay says: 'I've mainly got by from the help from those around me, people like Lisa.'

Although Lisa's Instagram account is typically filled with fitness and motivational content, she often pauses her workout material to pay tribute to Jay.

On Valentine's Day 2022 she posted a headshot of the presenter, writing: 'Dear Universe, Thank You.' She added the hashtag #sohandsome.

After the pair got engaged, she posted a sweet selfie of herself and Jay while he kissed her forehead, thanking loved ones for their messages of support.

Lisa wrote: 'I'm very lucky & grateful for everything I have.'

In another post from Royal Ascot, after the couple were engaged, Lisa shared another selfie of herself with Jay dressed in their finery and wrote: 'The very first time I met him, I said: 'I'm going to marry that man.'

She added: '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.'

The split comes afterJay's beloved uncle was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour on a quiet residential street following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway, MailOnline revealed this week.

The Repair Shop star announced on Monday that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, telling his fans the shocking bereavement had left him feeling 'messed up'.

Richard Brathwaite, 72, was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley around lunchtime on March 21 after his next door neighbour Derek Brown, who lived on the same street, allegedly knifed him.

Brown, also 72, is said to have launched the attack on Mr Braithwaite after accusing the victim of leaving items in the shared alleyway between their homes.

During the fatal incident, Mr Blades' 71-year-old aunt Annetta was also injured and suffered cuts to her head and face.

The funeral for Mr Brathwaite is thought to have been held on Monday, with the BBC presenter paying tribute to his uncle, who he called a 'really, super nice guy' adding that the alleged killing 'should never have happened to him'.

In an emotional video, still wearing his black suit following the service, he told his Instagram followers: 'Hope you're all well. This is kind of like a public service announcement. I've just been to my uncle's funeral [...].

'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.

READ MORE:The Repair Shop's Jay Blades emotionally reveals his beloved uncle has been murdered as grieving star quits social media after his funeral

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'I'm coming off social media for a bit, and I'll be back in a bit. 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.'

Emergency services were called to the North London property in March but tragically pronounced Mr Brathwaite dead at 12.30pm. A man was later arrested outside Wembley Police Station.

A special post-mortem examination that took place two days later gave the victim's cause of death as a stab injury.

A man appeared in court on March 26 where he was charged with murder, wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the Old Bailey in March the alleged murder took place following a 'long-running neighbour dispute between the defendant and the deceased'.

Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC set a plea hearing for June 11, scheduling a three-week provisional trial from January 27 next year.

Neighbours living on the street told MailOnline they did not know much about Mr Braithwaite who 'kept to himself'.

Mr Blades' video, which was captioned 'good evening all, see you soon', led to an outpouring of support from fans and those within the television community.

BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury wrote: 'Sorry to hear this Jay. Glad you're taking some time out'.

Channel 4's First Dates star Fred Sirieix posted a red heart emoji, while 5News host Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije said: 'Look after you bro. So sorry for your loss.'

BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin added: 'I am so sorry to hear this, sending you love xx'.

Jay, who is best known for presenting BBC's The Repair Shop, was raised in Hackney with his mother Barbara and maternal half-brother.

The presenter, a furniture maker by trade, has seen his career flourish since BBC producers put him at the helm of the hit craft show, which restores family heirlooms to their former glory, in 2017.

He grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his much-loved mother Barbara and by the time he was in his twenties, he ended up homeless and wondering 'is this what my life has come to?'.

The father-of-three previously said he could fit all his belongings in one carrier bag when he lived in a hostel before he was given social housing on the Victorian Peabody estate.

Jay was discovered by TV producers after they saw a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded that taught young people how to restore and sell old furniture, after previously running community groups for youngsters.

But he became homeless as his relationship disintegrated with his ex-wife - before being discovered and elevated to TV stardom frontingThe Repair Shop on its debut in 2017.

The reveal about his second marriage split comes just a day after it was revealed that Jay's beloved uncle (seen) was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway

Jay was discovered by TV producers after they saw a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded that taught young people how to restore and sell old furniture

Dyslexic and unable to read, it wasn't until the star reached 51 that he began to tackle to the illiteracy problem that had haunted him all of his adult life - after he'd found fame on the show that tapped into the nation's obsession with heritage crafting.

Speaking about when he was homeless, Mr Blades said: 'At 21 I was all over the place, I had no direction, I left London because I was getting into loads of fights and there were people after me.

'My mum moved to Luton and I lived up there with her for a bit.

I had my first child, and then split up with the missus, and moved back to London, then I ended up homeless and went into a hostel.'

Jay was appointed an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours, for services to craft, with King Charles even appearing in a special episode.

Jay Blades' ex wife Jade had to call the police when he went missing (2024)

FAQs

Did the wife of presenter Jay Blades leave marriage after it got worse and worse? ›

The wife of Jay Blades, the Repair Shop presenter, says that she has packed her bags and left their marriage. Lisa Marie Zbozen shared an emotional post on social media, in which she alleged: “The world got the best parts of my husband, and over time, I got a whole lot of everything else.”

Who was Jay Blades' first wife? ›

Before his marriage to Ms Zbozen, Blade was married to his ex-wife Jade. The former couple welcomed a daughter, Zola, 15, together but split in 2015. The furniture restorer and BBC presenter also has two other children from separate previous relationships.

Why is Jay not on The Repair Shop? ›

A source told The Sun: “His uncle's death in March and the breakdown of his marriage means he has decided to take some time out.” Addressing his separation from his wife, the source added: “People who worked with Jay said they were shocked to hear that his marriage to Lisa had ended.

Why are Jay Blades on The Repair Shop? ›

After the breakdown and his subsequent recovery from it, he was cobbling his life back together – working as a furniture restorer and helping disadvantaged young people through another charity he set up, Street Dreams – when BBC producers spotted him in a short film and cast him in The Repair Shop.

Why did Jay Blades split from his wife? ›

Jay Blades' estranged wife Lisa Marie Zbozen has spoken out about their unexpected separation, disclosing that one day she simply "grabbed my things and left" The couple's marriage unravelled shortly after The Repair Shop presenter announced he was taking a break from social media due to the passing of his beloved ...

What has Jay Blades been accused of? ›

One witness was put in a tough spot when her four children, ages 7 to 15, spotted the couple and began "asking questions about what the subjects were doing," according to police. The couple have both been charged with trespassing for hopping the locked gate and for disturbing the peace by having sex in public.

Does The Repair Shop cast get paid? ›

How do the specialists get paid? Again, the wonderful production company pays The Repair Shop cast for their time, effort, and expertise. Every aspect of the show from the materials to labour to set is paid for by the TV company. We're very grateful for that as it keeps this wholesome show on our screens!

Do the cast of repair shop get along? ›

With the cast of the popular BBC show having to spend prolonged periods of time together, it's fortunate that they all get on very well. Saddle maker Suzie Fletcher recently revealed that the stars of the programme are like a "family".

Do the guests pay for repairs on The Repair Shop? ›

The recipients are always delighted by the results - but do they have to pay for the service? We've done some investigating to find out the answer - plus how you can apply to be on the show! Luckily for people taking their family heirlooms to be repaired, the BBC show does not charge for the service.

Has anyone complained about The Repair Shop? ›

The Repair Shop has turned into a talking shop,” quipped someone else. Another viewer posted: “It is nice to hear some of the history of the items, but bloody hell they do string it out. We want to watch the experts do their thing!” “Less chat, more fixing please!” said another fan.

Why did Will Kirk leave The Repair Shop? ›

“The new Geordie woodworker is so not Will [sad emoji] Best of luck to her tho,” a third wrote. “Where's Will [crying emoji]?” another asked. Luckily for viewers, there's some good news. Will hasn't left the show – he'd just taken some time out to pursue his own project – The Travelling Auctioneers.

Why do Jay Blades wear a cap? ›

It was nice to hide behind her if you didn't want to be seen. There's a couple of good reasons why Mr Blades would wear a cap indoors. As protection of airborne dust and particles when he's working, but more probably it's the fact that in the hirsute department, he's somewhat challenged.

Who is Jay Blades' partner now? ›

Is Jay from The Repair Shop married? ›

The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades has split from his wife after 18 months of marriage, it has been revealed. The TV star's other half Lisa-Marie Zbozen, a fitness trainer, announced the news on social media in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Where do Jay Blades live now? ›

He grew up in Hackney, which in his childhood was a working class area of Inner London, and now lives in Ironbridge in Shropshire.

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