2017– · Based on 16 seasons through June 24, 2026 ·
The Repair Shop follows skilled craftspeople who restore treasured objects in a barn in West Sussex. Owners bring damaged toys, furniture, instruments, clocks, and other keepsakes that connect them to loved ones. The experts must save fragile materials while keeping the marks that tell each object's story. The tone is calm, kind, and often emotional, especially when owners see their repaired treasures. Some repairs give clear space to LGBT relationships, gender identity, and community history. Leigh's armchair holds memories of his partner Greg, who died from AIDS, while Ben's dress repair celebrates his late sister Lizzie and includes support for her transition. A later episode restores the first Gay Switchboard logbook and honours the people who helped callers find support. These stories make LGBT acceptance a noticeable part of selected episodes, while family memories and careful repair remain the show's main focus.
Community feedback
Was our 43% Woke rating accurate?
Loading review details…
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Repair Shop.
Woke representation / casting
Not present. The programme features real craftspeople and owners whose backgrounds fit modern Britain.
0%
Woke political dialogue
Ben discusses Lizzie's transition in series 14, episode 5. Ben says her transition did not change their bond and that she remained his inspiration. His words directly support acceptance of a transgender family member.
24%
Identity-driven story themes
Leigh's series 13 armchair repair honours his relationship with Greg and their life before Greg died from AIDS. Ben's series 14 dress repair celebrates Lizzie alongside her transition. Lisa Power's series 16 logbook repair honours Gay Switchboard and its support for LGBT people. These repair stories give positive weight to LGBT identity, relationships, and acceptance across several seasons.
42%
Western institutional / cultural critique
Not present. The programme's accounts of hardship stay tied to objects and personal history.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Not present in this title.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The Sun called the rejected Bob Monkhouse joke-book repair woke censorship. Reddit comments also accused the decision of being woke. Helen Joyce accused the show of promoting transgender ideas through its guests. The Monkhouse complaint reached a national newspaper.
68%
Creator track record context
Matt Baker's supplied woke-context score is 39 out of 100. The other eight listed creative people each have a supplied score of 10 out of 100. These stored ratings give the listed team an average of about 13 out of 100.
13%
Production
TV Show · 2024
I gathered 1,000 people to fight for $5,000,000, the LARGEST cash prize in TV history! We're also giving away a private island, Lamborghinis, and millions more in cash throughout…
TV Show · 2020
There is a ranch in northern Utah. It is considered the epicenter of the strangest, and most disturbing occurrences on Earth: For two decades, the federal government investigated…
TV Show · 2019
Celebrities compete in a singing competition with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or…
