Crafts are making a comeback on TV lately…. thumbnails on Little Oz and craftsmen on Making itare supported by local series The repair shop in Australia.
Based on a UK format and adapted by Warner Bros Australia, this series is hosted by builder Dean Ipaviz, who previously appeared on ABC Escape from the city.
The hour long episodes feature 3 stories where Aussies show up at the residents barn with a treasured item in desperate need of some TLC.
As a Bake-off shed, the barn is beautifully nestled in the bush (presumably somewhere just outside Sydney) where 6 experts will apply their skills, bringing objects back to life. They are leather craftsman Aaron Douglas Wales, furniture restorer Britta de Laat, jeweler Erin Keys, metalworker Majella Beck, electrician Paul Lowe and watchmaker (watchmaking expert) Andrew Markerink.
Jeweler Erin will help Cathy restore a family heirloom that survived a fire but needs restoration. The Victorian-era necklace belonged to a great-great-grandmother and its damaged centerpiece includes strands of hair from women in the family (eww). For Cathy, bringing it back will mean the possibility of passing it on to her niece.
Watchmaker Andrew will help restore a family clock for Malcolm who wants to present it to his father, Peter, and remind him of his days in Northern Ireland. He hasn’t played in over 5 decades, but can Andrew work the magic of him?
Finally, electrician Paul is tasked with restoring a toy train for 8-year-old Rafe and his mother. The set belonged to Rafe’s grandfather.
Throughout the hour the experts meticulously apply their skills, explaining their steps as they go. It’s warm and fuzzy and brilliant all at the same time, but it would be nice if our narrator summed up a little less. While I could have happily wrapped things up in 30 minutes, for those who enjoy attention to detail and history, this will hit the right spot.
By the end of the episode, when the owners return to see their painstaking work, you can bet there will be bedtime tears, in a good way.
The repair shop in Australia it may not be for everyone, but it is authentically reproduced for LifeStyle and its fine suite of local brands.
The Repair Shop Australia screens Tuesdays at 8.30pm on LifeStyle.
