The Repair Shop - Season 9 / Year 2025

Confronted with a contraption that has clearly seen better days, a daunted Dominic Chinea is taking on the barn's first assignment. All the way from Scotland, brothers Lewis and Ross have wheeled in their family's mobile ice cream trailer. Keen to share the inside scoop on the family business, they reveal that they've been serving up gelato in St Andrews, Fife since 1908 when their great-great-grandfather came over from Italy and started selling the yummy stuff from a shop in the centre of town. Passed down to their grandparents and then to their parents, the family shop is to be carried on by the lads, and part of their plan includes restoring the mobile trailer, which was bought at auction in the 1990s and used to sell ice cream at weddings and events before being left to retire outside. With the wood frame falling apart and a rotten steel chassis, but with the promise of free ice cream at the end, Dom pulls off a beautiful restoration with creamy ice treats a big hit in the barn.

Toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch are ready to triage the next repair as Fayez and son Jay arrive with a four-legged friend who's been through the wars. Bought in 1983 in Syria for his sons, Fayez's rocking horse was a favourite growing up for son Jay. Every time he visited the country in the summer holidays, his grandmother would show him the horse which she promised to keep safe. When the wars erupted, Syria became unsafe for the family to visit, but before she passed away, Fayez's mum ensured the rocking horse was kept safe in an apartment owned by Fayez and his wife. Years later, when they finally made it back over to Syria to inspect their apartment, it was a complete mess, but amongst the carnage was their precious rocking horse. With a baby on the way for Jay, it's never been more important to the family to see the toy returned to its original condition. The Bear Ladies enlist the help of Pete Woods to make this repair a real team effort.

Stuart Taylor is hoping to turn the page on an unfortunate incident that caused big damage to a pocket-sized book. The pocket dictionary belonged to his mum who sadly died from leukaemia aged just 38. Only four years old when he lost his mum, he doesn't have many memories of her, so the book - which his sister passed to him when he was 15 - is a tangible link to her. But sadly, during a house move, the book fell out of a box and was only found much later in the street - run over, covered in mud and virtually destroyed. Stuart has been overcome with the burden of guilt over the precious keepsake. For book-binder Christopher Shaw, it's a little book with big problems, but his expert hands - along with those of clock face expert Cindy Welland - ensure Stuart can treasure it forever, guilt-free.

Oyez, Oyez! Carpenter Will Kirk and silversmith Brenton West are on hand to do what they do best for the final fix. In search of sparkle is Kila and her bell. As the first ever female town crier for Lytham in Lancashire, she wants her dull bell to be as shiny as she is when dressed in all her finery. Passed down to Kila when she was inaugurated in 2023, the bell has seen better days and needs sprucing up. Also on Kila's wish list: a baldrick - or belt, typically worn over the shoulder to carry a weapon or instrument - in which she can keep her all-important handbell, which leather worker Suzie Fletcher is roped in to make. In one of the barn's grandest exits, Kila - in full town crier livery - has a go on her spruced-up ringer and gives the experts a bold thank you cry.

Taking on the barn's first fix are leather worker Suzie Fletcher and textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet. They are tasked with rescuing a dog's jacket worn by a four-legged hero involved in the Lockerbie bombing disaster. Brought in by owner and trainer Neil Powell, the jacket and collar belonged to Pepper, a much-loved border collie who qualified as a search and rescue dog at just 18 months old. The brightest dog Neil has ever known, Pepper also helped rescue a young German boy, who had been missing for over 36 hours in terrible weather. 

But in 1988, after helping search operations in the large crater at the Lockerbie disaster, exposure to the contaminated site left Pepper and the other search dogs with tumours, and they all died. For Neil, it is imperative that Pepper's well-worn search and rescue jacket and collar are restored to keep his memory alive. Suzie brings life back to the leather collar, whilst Rebecca washes away years of dirt from the jacket to reveal something special for Neil. 

The barn's second assignment arrives with Gurcharan and her daughter Dimple, who have high hopes that carpenter Will Kirk can fix a table that has helped their family find their feet. The table was bought by Gurcharan's husband in 1975 after she moved from India to the UK to marry him. Already pregnant and following their arranged marriage back home, the couple needed to quickly fill their new UK home with furniture, and the table was the first thing through the front door. Their children, including Dimple, and later numerous grandchildren, learnt to walk around the low-rise table. And as her health deteriorated, Gurcharan would sit at the table to cook or bake. 

Over the years, it has become one of the family. But a bad re-varnishing job has left it looking past its best, and the spindles, which once formed a magazine rack, have fallen victim to the children, who used them in sword fights. Will brings his A-game to the table, leaving Gurcharan and Dimple with a beautifully restored and fully functional piece to cherish. 

Pete Woods has a gift for restoring instruments, and Natalie and her dad, Mike, are hoping he can restore harmony to one they treasure. Mike's late father played the saxophone over a semi-professional career that spanned from the 1940s right up to the 1990s. Post-war, he travelled around the UK in big bands and swing bands. In 1950, he decided he needed a ‘proper job', so became an engineer, but he continued playing the saxophone with a band he formed called The Dick Wade 5. He was in his mid-70s by the time he retired, and he died in 2004. 

His musical talents were passed down to his son Mike, who plays piano, and his granddaughter Natalie, who is following in his footsteps by playing the saxophone. Mike would love to see the saxophone playing as it did in its heyday so that Natalie can continue to use it. Pete must repair the pads, fix a missing key guard, and spruce up the old brass to get Natalie playing the saxophone in front of an audience of experts. 

Bringing some special footwear for cobbler Dean Westmoreland to tackle is Gill from Merseyside. Her treasured rugby boots, which she wore back in 1994 to help win the Women's World Cup, have seen better days. Back when Gill was climbing the rugby ranks, there were no administrators - the players organised their own games. Gill was heavily involved and was eventually chosen to play for her country. During the 1994/95 season, she was made England captain, and her team reached the final of the Women's World Cup. It was her beloved boots that carried the ball over the try line, winning the match for England. 

After a few more seasons and plenty of wear and tear, Gill put them away for safekeeping before hanging up her boots for good in 2002. Since then, she's been awarded an MBE from the Queen for her services to the women's game. Now, she's keen to get her boots repaired so she can treasure them before donating them to the Rugby Museum in Twickenham to inspire other young women interested in the sport. Dean's got some 'sole-searching' to do in order to revive the boots, but his Midas touch leaves Gill floored.

Arriving first at the barn is Ian with some footwear that has proven essential to his life. He bought what he calls his ‘soldier boots' 19 years ago and wears them anytime he's doing anything of importance. Ian was born profoundly deaf, and at the age of 14 was diagnosed with a disease that's left him with just five per cent of his eyesight. Despite his adversities, he has forged a career as a blind photographer, but it's been a difficult path. The boots act as an armour of sorts, and are part of Ian's uniform to help conquer the trials and tribulations thrown up each day. In them, he feels ready for battle, but unfortunately the boots are no longer ready to conquer the world. He's had his money's worth out of the soles, and the fur lining is nearly non-existent. Expert cobbler Dean Westmoreland pulls off a magnificent salvage job which leaves Ian practically skipping out of the barn. 

The next item is a pressing matter for metal worker Dominic Chinea as visitor Emily brings a rather weighty number that belonged to her grandad. The 1826 printing press was passed down to her when he died several years ago. In the 1940s, her grandad worked at a printing firm. He loved his work so much that he often took it home, and Emily grew up making Christmas cards and labels with him. The printing press was gifted to him by the firm, but he never got round to refurbishing it - it just sat at home collecting dust and rust. Emily lost her dad when she was just 18, so her grandad meant the world to her, and having the press restored in his memory is top of her wish list. Renowned as being rather fiddly, Dom's got a big job on his hands just to remove all the built-up grease and dirt, but his precise restoration of every nut and bolt means that every day can now be an ‘inky fingers day' for a delighted Emily. 

Irwin is next into the barn with a well-travelled toy that needs help. 

Presented to him in 1962 by his mum and dad, George has become a lifelong companion and much-loved stuffed bear. Part of what's known as the ten-pound pom brigade, Irwin's parents were two of the millions of Brits who immigrated to Australia between 1945 and 1982. Once there, his mum found a job in a soft toy factory called Barton Waugh, where George was made for her son. At three years old, Irwin contracted Polio, and George was by his side at every hospital trip. The family decided to move back to the UK for more support, and George has been a companion for Irwin ever since. Both his parents have now passed away, but Irwin clearly remembers his mum talking about getting George restored one day. With George his oldest and proudest possession, he's enlisting the loving hands of the Bear Ladies, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, to bring some tender loving care to his beloved bear. 

The final restoration arrives ahead of time. Head teacher Bethan has brought in her school clock and has high hopes that the combined restoration skills of clock restorer Steve Fletcher and clock face painter Cindy Welland can nurse her historical timepiece back to life. Back in 1877, the clock was gifted to the school by none other than Florence Nightingale. It has remained a talisman of the school and their biggest claim to fame, but as far as anyone can remember has never worked! With the school's 150th anniversary coming up, Bethan is hoping the clock can make its debut as a working feature of the school's rich history. Steve takes a school trip to unveil his and the team's efforts and receives top marks.

First through the barn doors are Lloyd Richards and his wife Karen, with his father's professional Welsh rugby shirt from his playing days back in the 1960s. When Lloyd's dad died, Karen took it upon herself to try to score a try with the family and wash the dirty heirloom before they framed it up. She hadn't bargained for the 1960s cotton to not perform well at 40 degrees! The bright red of the beloved Welsh jersey ran into what was the crisp white collar. Things went from bad to worse when she then tried to bleach the now pink collar and ended up with marks over the entire garment. It's a tough tackle for textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet, but her epic handiwork means it all comes out in the wash and instantly lifts the years off Karen's guilt. 

A much-loved but damaged large brass plate is the next item to arrive. Isha's heirloom, given to her mother around 45 years ago by a friend, once took pride of place at all her family gatherings as a serving plate for some delicious Caribbean feasts. But after Isha moved out of the big family house into a smaller home, the plate ended up stowed away in the garden for 15 years. Keen to revive the tradition of family and food for her two young kids, she's enlisting the help of silversmith Brenton West, who must even the dips out, get rid of the holes in the brass and bring the shine back to the plate. Returning to the barn with some mouthwatering treats for the gang, Isha's plate is transformed to its former glory days as the centrepiece of family life. 

It's a tale of animal rescue next in the barn. Pet lover Angie Bakalarou has the paper skills required for Hazel's map repair. Her dad was an RSPCA inspector who lived for his work rescuing animals all over Yorkshire. As a child, Hazel relished going with her dad on his call-outs. But these were the days before sat nav, and Hazel was put in charge of map-reading them to the right location - a job she adored. After her dad passed away, she found a single map of Wharfedale in his box of ‘important things to keep'. The map is now almost transparent, torn and with its edges falling apart, and Hazel's desperate to save it from ruin. Angie charts out the best route to recovery, leaving Hazel with the keepsake of her dad she had longed for. 

Irish musician Gary hopes professional organ restorer David Burville can put the wind back in his grandmother's beloved accordion. Back in the 1940s, it was her most treasured possession. She taught herself to play traditional Irish music by ear and performed at many a household ceilidh. Growing up, she taught Gary the importance of music in bringing people together, and when she died, when he was just 12, he was already hooked. Years later, graduating with a music degree and becoming a teacher himself, he's keen to see the old squeezebox restored. It's riddled with woodworm, and David's got plenty of fingerwork to contend with. But his mechanical, musical mastery results in a fully restored treasure which fills the barn with pure joy as Gary gives it a play.

First through the workshop doors is Ben, bringing a torn and tattered lace dress that played a big part in his late sister Lizzie's life. The dress became artist Lizzie's ‘muse' and formed a central role in many of her paintings. Ben explains to the barn's experts, Dominic Chinea and Rebecca Bissonnet, that his beloved sister transitioned at the age of 35 and that the dress became her ‘creative rock', featuring in her self-portraiture. With Lizzie recently passing away, Ben is keen to have the dress restored so it can be displayed as part of a posthumous show he's arranging to showcase his late sister's talent. It's a challenging task for textile conservator Rebecca to get the dress back to its former glory, but Ben's emotional reaction when the cloth comes off makes it well worthwhile. 

A damaged drum is the next item to arrive. Richard's heirloom was once the beating heart of an old Cornish May Day festival. His late father Pete played the instrument every year at the Padstow event known locally as ‘Obby Oss Day'. In celebration of the start of summer, the townsfolk split into two groups and either follow the red or blue ‘obby oss' through Padstow, playing drums and accordions as they go. Both sides ultimately gather around the maypole in the centre of town. With the drum now tarnished and torn, Richard is keen for instrument restorer Pete Woods to transform it in memory of his father. Returning with his son Tom, the pair are blown away by Pete's dramatic transformation of their beloved instrument. 

A clocking-in clock may not be everyone's idea of an heirloom, but it's something that immediately transports the next visitor, Emma, back to her childhood. As a youngster, Emma would pay visits to her family's street-lighting business in Dudley, West Midlands. She has fond memories of whizzing around the factory floor on her little scooter, aged six. She also remembers the ‘ding' as the workers clocked in, something she loved to do herself. Horologist Steve Fletcher clocks up the hours, getting the heirloom back to its best, much to the delight of Emma when she returns. But it's clocking in again and hearing the nostalgic ‘ding' that really sends her back to childhood. 

Wheeling in the final item are a father and his three sons: dad Rob, joined by Mark, Adam and Nick, who have brought a career-first for bike restorer Tim Gunn. The polo bike and mallet belonged to the absent fifth family member and teammate Joe, who tragically passed away in a motorbike accident in 2015. Tim's stunning restoration not only rekindles fond memories but also gets the brothers back on to their own bikes, much to their dad's delight.

The early birds at the barn are sisters Lottie and Amy, with a unique record of their childhood, a book given to Lottie as a Christmas present in 1976 when she was three years old. The sisters' mum, an English teacher, wrote it while their dad, an art teacher, did the illustrations. As Lottie says, ‘It's my most treasured possession still to this day.' The book charts Lottie's life from birth up to the age of three, including her sister Amy's arrival. It provides a snapshot of happy times before their parents divorced five years later. Now that their father has passed away, the sisters are keen to preserve the precious keepsake for the next generation. Bookbinder Chris Shaw and art conservator Lucia Scalisi tool up to restore the damaged book to its former glory. 

Next, arriving with a memento from his childhood, is Graeme, who has an unlikely heirloom in need of the metal-skilled minds of Dominic Chinea and Brenton West. Graeme's dad's old paraffin camping stove has put in the miles since it was purchased in 1957. It accompanied his parents on pre-kids cycling and camping trips, and later joined the whole family on walking adventures in the 1960s and 70s. But an explosion on a more recent trip has left the stove completely blown apart. Dom and Brenton take a two-pronged attack to get it back in action again, much to the delight of Graeme when he travels back to the barn. 

Next, a challenge for woodworker Will Kirk is posed by Melanie, who's brought a table that nods to her family's globetrotting past. The table belonged to Melanie's parents, who bought it in Thailand in the late 1960s. It then travelled around with the family as they moved homes multiple times. All family meals were taken around the circular table, with the food a fusion of her parents' English and Chinese heritages. The table is now dull and damaged, something Melanie is keen to remedy for the next generation. Will pulls out all the stops to bring the shine back to the family's table. 

The barn's final visitor, Mick, has a flat tweed cap, which belonged to his late father, for the attention of master hatter Jayesh Vaghela. Mick's father died when he was just 21, and the hat holds memories of the father he lost so young. His father, a bricklayer, wore the cap every day. It's a tricky fix for Jayesh, who needs to transform the cap without losing the very precious smell that connects Mick to his dad. What he does leaves Mick lost for words

Setting bear ladies Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch the first task – with strings attached – Jill Purves and her daughter Vickie, from Biggar in Scotland. Bulbous, a puppet elephant, was bought at an auction and is believed to have been part of one of the earliest BBC children's programmes, Muffin the Mule. Jill and her husband are puppeteers who started touring in the 1960s. They went on to start a toy theatre, which contains a museum to show children how puppets work. They wanted Bulbous to be one of the museum puppets, but sadly they had a fire, and the poor little elephant suffered smoke damage, and his strings melted. Julie and Amanda enlist the help of David Burville to pull all the strings together to rescue the endangered elephant. 

Top of the agenda for clock restorer Steve Fletcher – a watch with a long history, brought in by James from Glasgow. The Swiss timepiece once belonged to James's grandfather, who was a Lancaster bomber pilot in World War II. It was then passed down to James's dad, who had it engraved. Tragically, in 2005, James's father and sister were killed in a boating accident. His father's body was never found, and they feared the watch went with him. However, it was miraculously found in a drawer 20 years later. The family believe that the watch needed some repairs, hence why his dad had put it aside – a silver lining to a tragic situation. After two generations of adventurous wearers, James hopes to be the third generation to wear the watch, in remembrance of those who've passed away. And Steve doesn't disappoint with a stunning repair. 

Peggy Doran, her daughter Jayne and granddaughter Emilie are next through the barn doors, hoping that painting conservator Lucia Scalisi can use her skills to honour a legend of their family. Back in the 1940s and 50s, Peggy's husband Bill was a well-decorated motorcycle racer who sped through the finish line at Scarborough to win the course lap record and eventually the Gold Cup. He went on to win the Belgium Grand Prix. After he retired, he opened a motorbike shop, and his love of bikes was passed down to daughter Jayne and eventually granddaughter Emilie. Sadly, Bill died when Jayne was just 13. The family enjoy looking through old photos of their beloved Bill doing what he loved best. Once, when Jayne went up to Scarborough to visit the track where her dad held so many accolades, she saw the old course lap record sign – with his name on it – which was about to be demolished after years of being exposed to the elements. The circuit director offered her the sign to take home with her as a memento of her dad. She couldn't believe her luck, but it had picked up some bumps and scrapes over the years. Lucia must scramble to salvage the vinyl lettering while Dominic Chinea races to save the wooden framework on the back of the sign. It's a double win that leaves the entire family feeling on top of the podium. 

Last at the barn, Nicholas and his dad Seamus, from County Antrim in Northern Ireland, with a tale of triumph and disaster. They present Will Kirk with a hurling stick which Seamus's mum bought him in 1980 when he was 18. The entire family was involved in hurling from a very early age - and Seamus's mum once won an All-Ireland medal back in 1947. Seamus enjoyed playing with his brand new hurl for two years before his team made it to the All-Ireland Club Final and went on to win it. Keen to preserve his treasured stick, Seamus retired it straight after the victory. Years later, when debating with son Nicholas over whether he was more skilled having used the old stick compared to the newer ones Nicholas was playing with, Nicholas had to put things to the test, but as soon as he swung at the ball with his dad's old hurl, the stick smashed into bits. Full of guilt, he's desperate for wood expert Will to piece the shattered stick back together. The hurl had been signed by all the players, but with every signature now with a crack, it's a difficult fix for Will, but one that leaves it fit to commemorate a proud time in family and community history.

First through the workshop doors is Bev, bringing a local landmark that has lost its way. The dilapidated village sign from Broome in Norfolk was designed for the millennium by Bev's dad, who was a joiner. Sadly, he passed away in 1999 and was unable to complete the job. Instead, Bev's twin brother took on the task of finishing the sign in time for it to be unveiled by their mum at the village hall on the eve of the millennium. With the sign significantly damaged, it's a tricky job for woodworker Will Kirk, but he unveils it to a delighted Bev, who can't wait for it to be resurrected and take pride of place once again in the village. 

A rusted-up shop till is the next item to arrive, courtesy of Jas, whose parents opened a grocery shop in the late 1960s that largely catered to Coventry's Asian community. The shop became a hub for the area and ‘an adventure' for Jas and his siblings, who would sneak down at night to take chocolates. After a decade, the shop couldn't compete with bigger supermarkets and closed its doors, meaning the till hasn't been used for years. With no key, the contraption is near impossible for Steve Fletcher to prise open, but when he does, he's rewarded with the find of handmade toy money inside. When Jas returns to discover the finding, he is transported straight back to his joyful childhood. 

Next to arrive is a small handmade organ crafted from cardboard and brought in by Sairah, whose grandfather made it in Basra during the First World War. Hailing from a family of organ builders, he made it out of army signal book covers whilst serving in the Royal Engineers. Fixing a handmade item is a tricky task, even for seasoned organ restorer David Burville, and after a lengthy fix, Sairah returns wondering if it will play once again. 

Finally, an heirloom from the golden age of cinema. Sisters Georgie and Lydia need the help of upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary to honour a couple who played a starring role in their lives. Their great-uncle built a cinema with his brother in Knighton, Powys, which opened in 1947 to a huge queue of people eager to watch films in their local community. Their great-aunt Enid was also involved in the business. The building was demolished in the 1990s, so the siblings never saw the cinema but were delighted to find some cinema seats stored under their great-uncle and great-aunt's house. Sonnaz and Dom join forces not only to bring the chairs back to life but also to give the two young women a glimpse of a 1940s cinema experience they have never known.

It's the return of smoke and mirrors from times past as Camilla arrives with a groundbreaking form of Victorian entertainment she'd like to see back in action. Her revolving zoetrope is a candlelit, animation device that laid the foundations for the development of moving film.

Camilla's great-great-great-grandfather made the device back in the 1850s. A chief draftsman of the Darlington Railway, he often did technical drawings of trains, and his eye for detail can be seen in the construction of her zoetrope. Passed down to her grandma, Camilla recalls playing with it as a child, and now that it is in her care, she'd love to see it restored to working order.

Angelina Bakalarou has clocked up nearly 20 years of paper conservation experience, which she can use to restore the picture scrolls, whilst expert Dominic Chinea takes on the missing metal prongs that hold the scrolls in place. Will Kirk uses traditional techniques to make a stand. Their combined hard work leaves Camilla completely animated over her now fully usable zoetrope.

The barn's next project is a pair of furniture designer classics. The forlorn pair of chairs belong to Roger, who inherited them from his twin brother Chris when he immigrated to Florida in the 1990s. Unbeknownst to Roger, upholstery expert Sonnaz Nooranvary reveals that his brother Chris had very good taste, as the chairs are vintage ercol. Not realising how important they would become after the loss of his brother, Roger kept the chairs stored in a damp storage space for many years and is now ashamed they've ended up in such a sorry state. Sonnaz sets to work revamping the upholstery, whilst carpenter Will Kirk tackles the water-damaged wood. Their combined efforts pay off as Roger takes a seat on his beautifully restored keepsakes.

Next, hoping for the healing hands of ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay, Janaki enters the barn with a precious link to her Sri Lankan heritage. Her ceramic statue of the Buddha has been in her family for over 70 years and was passed down by her mum. Back in Sri Lanka, her mother left the family home and started work as a nanny for a wealthy family, which was unusual for the times. After a few years, the family decided to immigrate to the UK and asked Janaki's mum if she'd like to go with them. Quite the adventurer, she jumped at the chance. Once settled in London, she married and had children of her own. Times were tight, but she remained a devout Buddhist, and Janaki remembers that the statue was always the centrepiece of her mother's shrine at home. But time has not been kind to the little statue. With damage to the all-important gesture of the Buddha and a broken base, Kirsten must undertake some delicate repairs to restore this beautiful, dainty piece.

Finally, Fiona brings in a pair of her dad's boots from the 1960s. She explains that these are no ordinary Chelsea boots but traditional step-dancing boots. Her father, a Norfolk fisherman and lifeboat worker, used this freestyle form of tap dancing to relax at the end of a hard day's work. Keen to continue the tradition, Fiona returns to the barn accompanied by a musician in the hope of dancing in her father's step-boots once again.

First through the workshop doors is Ben, with an unusual item needing a joint crusade to get it back on its feet. Silversmith Brenton West, woodworker Will Kirk and leather expert Suzie Fletcher collaborate to bring this suit of armour back to life. Dubbed ‘Arthur', it belonged to Ben's grandfather, actor Joss Ackland, and is believed to have been gifted to him as a parting gift after the 1973 film The Three Musketeers. The suit of armour stood guard in the room that Ben slept in when staying over at his grandparents' house as a young child. He was afraid of it, but they reassured him by saying it was there to protect him. When Joss died at the end of 2023, Ben asked if he could have the suit of armour, and is now keen to have it restored. 'It's important for me that Arthur's brought back to life, because it's part of him.' While Brenton leads the charge, Will tackles the joist, and Suzie focusses on the leather straps. When Ben returns, he's blown away by the memories brought flooding back by the restored suit of armour.

Next, husband-and-wife-team Walid and Joujou Saad hold the key to the restoration of a precious typewriter brought in by writer Nicola and her father Joe. The pre-war machine belonged to Nicola's mother, Maureen, who was taught to type on it by her grandmother to land her first job in the 1960s. A year later, Joe got a job at the same company, where the young couple met and fell in love. Nicola says, 'That machine helped her learn the skill to get the job and meet the love of her life.' Sadly, Maureen now has Alzheimer's, and Nicola is keen to have the typewriter restored, so that she can use it and explain to her own children the important role it played in their grandma's life. It's a big degreasing and cleaning task for Team Typewriter, but when dad and daughter return, they are delighted with the restored machine.

Arriving next is a beast of a challenge for stained-glass restorer Matt Nickels. Charlotte's grandfather made the piece of stained-glass – featuring a stag in the centre – which was installed in the bathroom of the bungalow where he lived. 'It's always been one of those quirky parts of the house.' Now, Charlotte's sister lives in the property and is doing it up, but Charlotte is determined to save the stained-glass pane that she remembers from childhood. Will Kirk whips up a teak frame to complement the colourful glass, leaving Charlotte absolutely delighted when she returns.

Last is a pair of boots to get the whole barn moving. Dance teacher Helen has brought in her red and white cowboy boots that embody 30 years of fun on the floor line dancing. Recently, Helen's heel got stuck in the torn inner lining of one of the boots, and her husband had to cut through its length to release her foot. Helen was horrified. Determined to still be dancing aged 90, she needs her trusty boots back in fine fettle. Cobbler Dean Westmoreland is tasked with getting the boots back in harmony so that the barn team can be taught line dancing by a delighted Helen.

First into the barn is Zelda, with her most precious possession, a ring bought by her father on a day out together when she was a teenager. But the ring looks nothing like it originally did when it had an onyx stone as the centrepiece with the letter p on top. Unfortunately, the stone fell out. Zelda's stepmum had it fixed, but the black onyx was replaced by a purple amethyst which, though beautiful, isn't the ring Zelda remembers. Now that her dad has passed away, Zelda is keen to get it back to its original best.

It's a challenging fix for master goldsmith Richard Talman, and he enlists the help of Sonnaz Nooranvary to drip water while he drills into the onyx stone. The intricate repair work does the job, and Zelda is transported to her childhood when the cloth comes off.

Next, a severely cracked mechanical doll needs the expert skills of toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch. For Ian, the doll is a painful reminder of his sister Denise, who he lost in a road traffic accident, aged just 24. After she died, his parents stored the doll in the loft, and Ian has only recently rediscovered it. While Julie and Amanda crack on with filling the doll's fractures, creating new digits for her missing fingers and making a new outfit, mechanical whiz David Burville gets her walking and moving her head again. When Ian sees the newly restored doll, he can't believe the transformation.

The third visitor is Kevin, with a 1920s banner that has seen better days. The large textile was owned by the Milburn Toffs Jazz Band, who along with other groups used to take part in carnivals around the north east of England. The Toffs came from a working-class area but dressed ironically in posh top hats and tails. At the centre of the banner is a little boy – Kevin's father as a young child, the mascot of the band. Art conservator Lucia Scalisi and textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet join forces to make the banner parade ready once again.

The barn's final visitor is Dylan, with a wooden whirligig – a garden ornament that spins in the wind – made by his beloved grandfather. The whirligig was damaged in a storm and requires the skills of woodworker Will Kirk. Dylan's grandfather was a great support to Dylan as he learned to live with MDP syndrome and to gradually grow in confidence. Dylan has received an award for spreading positivity on social media and attributes his grandad to helping him ‘have a voice'. The whirligig is a fun reminder of how his grandad wanted to bring a smile to his face. It's a labour of love for Will to get the precious ornament spinning again in time for Dylan's return.

First into the barn are Keith and his daughter Kirsty, who have brought a cleverly designed accessory that requires the skills of resident horologist Steve Fletcher. Keith's father Desmond went blind in his thirties due to a hereditary disease that runs in the family called Stickler syndrome. Desmond never let his condition stop him and retrained in his field so he could continue his career in engineering and welding after becoming blind. Upon retirement, after 21 years of loyal service, Desmond was presented with a personally engraved braille watch from his company and wore it every day for over 30 years. Steve takes on a new challenge with the watch, making a hinged case so that the glass top can be opened, and the wearer can feel the braille dial to tell the time. Keith and Kirsty want to repair the watch in honour of Desmond's inspiring resilience and to pass it onto Keith's granddaughter and Kirsty's daughter Phoebe, who is also blind.

Next in are brother and sister Zaff and Nasari, with an item holding long-buried memories of their family's life in Uganda. The siblings need help from electrical expert Mark Stuckey with their father's vintage projector, which was used to showcase family videos. When their family was forced to flee the country in 1972, Zaff and Nasari's father brought the precious projector with them to Rochdale, where they eventually rebuilt their lives. After almost half a century of being unused, Zaff and Nasari hope to restore the projector to working condition. Allowing them to relive never-before-seen treasured memories of their childhood in Uganda.

Noodworker Will Kirk welcomes Zoe Blake-James and her grandmother Rowan, with a family heirloom that has been passed down four generations of women in the Blake-James family, making it over 130 years old. The vintage fire screen originally belonged to Rowan's grandmother, and she has fond childhood memories of it being used in the family living room. Zoë is a student of Victorian literature and has a great passion for researching this era and her family's history. The pair would love to preserve the fire screen for future generations. Will gets cracking with the wooden frame and enlists the help of textiles conservationist Rebecca Bissonnet to tackle the delicate embroidered screen.

The final pair to walk through the barn doors are celebrated veteran singer-songwriter Ralph McTell and his friend Matthew. They need the expertise of leather expert Suzie Fletcher to help repair a tattered old toy that has been earmarked for a revival. Ralph was involved in a children's programme called Alphabet Zoo in the 80s, where he wrote a song for every letter of the alphabet. A friend gave him the leather kangaroo as a gift to celebrate the song Kenny The Kangaroo. As a result, Kenny appeared on stage with Ralph at venues like the Royal Festival Hall. Ralph met Matthew at his local pub. As well as working at the pub, Matthew also works with children with special needs doing music therapy, where he began using Ralph's songs in his class. The children were captivated by the song Kenny The Kangaroo. Ralph was moved by this and offered to donate his leather friend to the school, but it cannot be enjoyed by the children in its current condition. Suzie has her work cut out in repairing this 70s stuffed toy from down under, whose once robust leather is now cracked and split. When the pair return, they are delighted to see Suzie has been able to get Kenny leaping back into action again, so Matthew can use him in his therapy sessions with the children.