{"id":144333,"date":"2023-12-16T03:06:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T03:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity-hub.com\/?p=144333"},"modified":"2023-12-16T03:06:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T03:06:02","slug":"santas-little-helpers-spread-cheer-in-the-repair-shop-special","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity-hub.com\/lifestyle\/santas-little-helpers-spread-cheer-in-the-repair-shop-special\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa's little helpers spread cheer in The Repair Shop special"},"content":{"rendered":"
Jay Blades<\/span><\/span><\/span> and co\u2019s heartwarming festive stories will move you to tears<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Repair Shop at Christmas 2023<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Eve, 8pm, BBC1<\/span><\/p>\n When people bring their treasured heirlooms into The Repair Shop to be restored and reveal the emotional stories behind them, it\u2019s not just viewers who are moved to tears.<\/p>\n Although he keeps his cool as he introduces them, presenter Jay Blades is often overwhelmed too \u2013 especially at this time of year. \u2018I well up all the time,\u2019 he says. \u2018But you can feel the magic at Christmas. Every year we do it bigger and better \u2013 and I can\u2019t wait for viewers to see this year\u2019s show.\u2019<\/p>\n The Christmas Eve special certainly packs a few emotional punches, none more so than when Jo Thomas from Wales brings in a broken record player with deep sentimental value.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jay Blades (second from right) and the Repair Shop team in the Christmas-themed barn<\/p>\n Her son Ben gave it to her on the last Christmas before he died in January 2006, aged just 11. Playing records on it reminds her of dancing with Ben to\u00a0Abba songs before cancer cruelly cut his life short.<\/p>\n Audio expert Mark Stuckey is tasked with fixing it. \u2018That story got to me,\u2019 says Mark. \u2018I could feel the pain this family has gone through.<\/p>\n ‘That an 11-year-old considered he was dying and wanted to leave something solid behind for his mother \u2013 you just think, \u201cWow!\u201d We complain about our aches and pains, but when you hear some of the stories that come into the barn you think, \u201cWhat the heck do we have to moan about?\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n Also working her magic is paper restorer Angelina Bakalarou, who tackles 100-year-old cardboard Santa decorations passed down through three generations to Sheila from Newcastle.<\/p>\n \u2018The biggest challenge was their textured surface,\u2019 explains Angelina. \u2018I made a paste to create the texture. I spent about four days repairing them, they were my little guys!\u2019<\/p>\n Though the episode was filmed in September, the barn certainly looks as Christmassy as Santa\u2019s grotto with snow, beautiful fairy lights, trees and Christmas jumpers galore.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018We have got an amazing team of set designers,\u2019 says Jay. \u2018One day the barn looked as it usually does, and then the next it looked really Christmassy.\u2019<\/p>\n And after a break last year, the experts then do a round of Secret Santa, surprising each other with handmade gifts.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s always a little bit competitive and we love to see what we\u2019ve chosen for each other,\u2019 says Jay. \u2018Without giving too much away, it gets a bit emotional.\u2019<\/p>\n That\u2019s the show\u2019s stock-in-trade of course, and Jay\u2019s convinced this episode will deliver another warm and moving holiday glow. \u2018It\u2019s always special in the barn,\u2019 he says. \u2018But Christmas Repair Shop is magical.\u2019<\/p>\n Bradley Walsh: My Comedy Heroes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Saturday 16 December, 9.05pm, Channel 5<\/span><\/p>\n Bradley gets us chuckling with this three-part series in which he picks his favourite comedians and shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bradley\u2019s best-of-the-best list includes national treasures such as Victoria Wood and Morecambe & Wise, and he\u2019ll share clips from shows such as Dad\u2019s Army and Blackadder.\u00a0<\/p>\n Showbiz mates Alison Steadman and Alexander Armstrong will also reveal their stories from working in comedy and reflect on what makes our sitcoms world-class.<\/p>\n Capital\u2019s Jingle Bell Ball\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday 17 December, 5pm, ITV1<\/span><\/p>\n The nation\u2019s biggest Christmas party is back with highlights from the two-night event at London\u2019s 02 Arena earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s the start of Christmas for me!\u2019 exclaims Roman Kemp, co-host of the show with his Capital Radio breakfast colleagues Chris Stark and Si\u00e2n Welby.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favourites on the bill in this poptastic kick-start to Christmas include Take That, Rudimental, Alicia Keys, S Club, Rita Ora, Raye and Busted.<\/p>\n DIY SOS: EastEnders Special<\/span><\/p>\n Monday 18 December, 8pm, BBC1<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n DIY SOS’s Chris Frediani (left) pictured with Colin Salmon, who plays George Knight in Eastenders<\/p>\n Nick Knowles and his band of merry fixer-uppers team up with the EastEnders gang for this tear-jerking special instalment of the home-improvement show.\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019ll see which of the Walford crew pick up tools in aid of mental health hub Butterfly Effect Wellbeing.\u00a0Before, the charity operated out of a Portakabin, but now has a new home that requires extensive renovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n They must all work together to transform the space into a welcoming haven.<\/p>\n Celebrity Masterchef: Christmas Cook-Off\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wednesday 20 December, 9pm, BBC1<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Boyband Blue’s Duncan James (pictured) is one of the famous faces taking part in this year’s Celebrity Masterchef: Christmas Cook-Off\u00a0<\/p>\n Break out the cooking sherry for a competition with former contestants eager for another chance to win the Golden Whisk.\u00a0<\/p>\n Singer Mel Blatt, actor Richard Blackwood, Blue\u2019s Duncan James and Love Island\u2019s Faye Winter don festive aprons to make an Australian-themed dish from mystery ingredients.\u00a0<\/p>\n They\u2019ll present to Gregg Wallace and Aussie natives John Torode and Peter Andre.<\/p>\n The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thursday 21 December, 9pm, BBC1<\/span><\/p>\n Ghosts star and former Sewing Bee Christmas Special contestant Kiell Smith-Bynoe hosts as four celebrities get their bobbins out in this holiday special. It\u2019s his first time taking over as host of the show \u2013 he\u2019ll continue his duties in the upcoming series, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Punk legend Toyah Willcox, comedian Jessica Knappett, After Life star Kerry Godliman and Black Ops\u2019 Hammed Animashaun will be tasked with creating Christmas stockings with their own unique twist, turning puffer coats into kids\u2019 fancy dress and whipping up dream outfits for Christmas Day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n And it all takes place under the watchful eye of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant.<\/p>\n The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Eve, 8.15pm, Channel 4<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Great Christmas Bake Off 2023 team: Noel Fielding (top left), Alison Hammond (top right), Paul Hollywood (bottom left) and Prue Leith (bottom right)<\/p>\n Half a dozen ghosts of Bake Offs past join for this festive special, one baker from each series since the show moved to Channel 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n They\u2019re asked to whip up mince pies, cinnamon bread and a \u2018redemption bake\u2019 \u2013 to make up for a disaster they experienced on the series.\u00a0<\/p>\n The tone is lighter than a twice-baked souffl\u00e9, with even Paul Hollywood ditching his Scrooge persona.<\/p>\n Britain Get Singing\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Eve, 9pm, ITV1<\/span><\/p>\n Can Kate Garraway carry a tune? Find out in this festive sing-off pitting the stars of our favourite shows against one another.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hosted by Roman Kemp, the special will see Kate singing as part of the Good Morning Britain team against EastEnders, Coronation Street, Love Island and The Masked Singer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jonathan Ross joins the judges this year, alongside singers Adam Lambert, Alesha Dixon and will.i.am. But which group of musical talents has what it takes to emerge victorious?\u00a0<\/p>\n Although Corrie has the mighty Claire Sweeney on its side, The Masked Singer boasts previous contestants Russell Watson and Aled Jones and appears to be a shoo-in. But as the old saying goes, it\u2019s not over till the fat lady sings.<\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Day, 4.40pm, BBC1<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing presenters Claudia Winkleman (left) and Tess Daly are joined by six celebrities for the Christmas special\u00a0<\/p>\n For those missing their weekly dose of dance-floor magic, Strictly waltzes back in its traditional Christmas Day slot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly invite six celebrities for a twirl around the ballroom with a pro \u2013 EastEnders\u2019 Jamie Borthwick, BBC Breakfast\u2019s Sally Nugent, actress Tillie Amartey, rugby player Danny Cipriani, Sugababe Keisha Buchanan and historian Dan Snow \u2013 while a performance from Eurovision wonder Sam Ryder and two fab-u-lous group routines will add to the festive feeling.<\/p>\n The Masked Singer: Christmas Special<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Day, 7.30pm, ITV1<\/span><\/p>\n ITV\u2019s hit talent show gets its first festive special ahead of its new series. There\u2019s a Christmassy vibe to this sing-off in which four celebrity contestants hide beneath festively flamboyant costumes, each hoping to stump the celebrity panel and viewers about their identities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jonathan Ross, Rita Ora, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan will be joined by Leona Lewis as a guest panellist, with host Joel Dommett struggling not to laugh at some of their wilder guesses.<\/p>\n The Piano At Christmas<\/span><\/p>\n Christmas Day, 8.45pm, Channel 4<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Piano experts Lang Lang (left) and Mika perform at London’s King’s Cross station for the Christmas special\u00a0<\/p>\n The moving hit show is back with a holiday special, in which six amateur pianists from the first series return to perform Christmas tunes on a piano at London\u2019s King\u2019s Cross station.\u00a0<\/p>\n They include Harry, 92, who brought viewers to tears with his attempts to connect with his wife who had dementia, and 13-year-old Lucy, whose talent despite her disabilities astonished show experts Lang Lang and Mika.<\/p>\n Peaky Blinders: Rambert\u2019s The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby<\/span><\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Day, 9.25pm, BBC4<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Rambert Dance Company perform a piece telling the story of gangster Tommy Shelby and his family\u00a0<\/p>\n This innovative dance piece written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and performed by Rambert Dance Company tells the story of ruthless gangster Tommy Shelby and his family.\u00a0<\/p>\n Filmed at the Birmingham Hippodrome, it follows Tommy as he builds his empire in post-war Birmingham and becomes transfixed by a mysterious woman who may have an ulterior motive.\u00a0<\/p>\n The late poet and Peaky Blinders star Benjamin Zephaniah performs the spoken word segments, while a band belts out iconic songs from the show.<\/p>\n