The Repair Shop star Richard Talman joked he’s being kept “on the backburner” on the show as he is yet to be included in the episodes when big names have visited. Last year, King Charles became the show’s most famous customer to date when he selected two historic items to be repaired in the barn.
Reflecting on the moment, Emilice fashion owner Richard said most of team were kept in the dark about his visit until after he left. He shared: “I wasn’t at the barn that day, very few of us were. I know nothing, in fact a lot of us didn’t even know it had happened until after it had taken place.
“I’m pretty sure the royal security had it covered. From what I can recall, there was only a minimum of experts and crew there that day. Most sadly, I was not one of them.” Despite his disappointment, Richard said he understood that the King probably has his own goldsmiths who could take care of his jewels, so was therefore not needed.
On the day, the royal was looked after by the show’s main presenter Jay Blades, who has since gone to welcome a number of celebrities on the show such as Judi Dench, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French and Sir David Jason. With the latter, he has filmed the upcoming show Touring Toolshed, in which they travel the country helping members of the public and experts with their craft makes and fixes.
Richard said of Jay meeting his “life-long hero”: “He’s got very close with an absolute idol of mine David Jason. I was also quite disappointed that I wasn’t there the day David Jason came in. He’s a life-long hero of mine due to Only Fools and Horses.” Despite missing him in the barn, the jewellery maker did eventually get to briefly meet David at a different event and “played it cool” when he shook his hand.
While he is yet to follow in the footsteps of his co-star Jay and meet one of the show’s big-name guests, he hopes his time will come in the future. He continued: “I wasn’t in that one [with Judi Dench], I wasn’t in when Jennifer Saunders came along… sadly not. They’re keeping me on the backburner for another time, possibly.”
Addressing his future on the show, he added: “I feel incredibly honoured to still be a part of it. All the time they will ask me to be there, I will be there. Hopefully I will give them no reason to want to find another goldsmith.”
Richard has recorded over 25 episodes of the show, but admits he almost didn’t take the opportunity after believing it was a prank. Reflecting on the call he received from the BBC, he spilled: “Initially I didn’t think it was real. I will be honest with you, it’s not everyday in your profession you get somebody calling you from the BBC wanting to schedule you in.
“So I initially I thought it was a prank call as that’s something me and my late father used to do to each other all the time, we used to wind each other up, so I assumed that’s what it was. But, my wife went, ‘Check it out’ and we checked the number out and lo and behold, it was the production company.”
Richard was scouted for the show through his successful flagship business RTFJ, founded in 2010. He has since announced the launch of his new jewellery brand called Emilice, named after his young daughters Emily and Alice. The new brand of fashion items will start with jewellery and will soon feature leather ware and other accessories. For information and updates, please see here.
The Repair Shop continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
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