Jay Blades cancels Hay Festival appearance amid personal struggles

Jay Blades has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Hay Festival as he ‘continues to take time out’ following his split from his wife Lisa. 

The Repair Shop star, 54, was due to speak to journalist Sarfraz Manzoor at the Welsh literary festival on Thursday about his book Life Lessons: Wisdom And Wit From Life’s Ups And Downs, in which he shares inspirational words for making the best of life.

A statement from his team said: ‘We wanted to confirm that as Jay Blades continues to take time out, he won’t be attending the session as advertised at this year’s Hay Festival.

‘We’re sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment that this may have caused and we hope you enjoy the rest of the festival.’

The festival confirmed that ticket holders will be refunded.

Jay Blades has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Hay Festival as he ‘continues to take time out’ following his split from his wife Lisa

Earlier this month, Jay’s wife Lisa Zbozen announced the end of their short-lived marriage

Jay announced last month that he would be taking a social media hiatus following the death of his uncle, saying he was taking time off to ‘take stock and just relax’, but confirmed he would be ‘back soon’.

Just a week before his marriage split was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed. 

Earlier this month, Jay’s wife Lisa Zbozen announced the end of their short-lived marriage.

The couple married in the grounds of a beachfront villa in Barbados on November 22 2022.

Filming on the new series of the BBC’s The Repair Shop commenced without Jay at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Chichester, West Sussex.

The TV star first found fame on the restoration programme, which sees members of the public take worn-out family heirlooms to be restored by a team of experts.

Lisa walked out on Jay earlier this month, saying their 18-month marriage ‘just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left’.

Taking to Instagram, Lisa shared an emotional poem by Billie Brooks, which spoke of trusting that ‘someday soon this pain you are feeling won’t be so unbearable’. 

A statement from his team said: ‘We wanted to confirm that as Jay Blades continues to take time out, he won’t be attending the session as advertised at this year’s Hay Festival’

Lisa announced her split from the TV star who she married in November 2022, in an emotional social media post on May 2.   

She said: ‘I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up this story, but some parts have been definitely missed, so it’s forced my hand…

‘This was the whole post on a private forum: I don’t know how to say this because it’s still really raw.

‘I probably should be really angry but I’m just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much.

‘I wanted my husband to love me & keep me safe, and I would love him right back, but it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few thing’s & I just left. Anyway, That’s why there’s been no new wkouts [workouts].’

In another post, she said: ‘I will admit I’m crying as I type this as I can’t believe this is even real. I hope you don’t mind if I just have a few days trying to figure out my life as I’m currently in a spare room with a few essentials.

‘I don’t know what else to say. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie x.’ 

It all came as Jay was expected to be back filming the hugely-popular BBC show The Repair Shop but had reportedly been absent on set. 

Last week, MailOnline revealed that Jay would be ‘given the time’ he needed to deal with personal issues impacting his life.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Lisa said: ‘I don’t know how to say this because it’s still really raw’

Amid reports that Jay had thrown BBC‘s The Repair Shop filming into chaos, a source has confirmed to MailOnline that the presenter is being ‘given the space’ he needs to get ‘his head straight’. 

The insider said: ‘Jay is a much-loved member of the team on The Repair Shop. It is a really close-knit group, who are like a family.

‘Jay will be given the time he needs to deal with things and sort out what he needs to get sorted. 

‘He’s been through a really difficult time with his uncle and now he is having to deal with the breakdown of his marriage. 

‘The BBC fully expect Jay to return but they won’t be rushing or pushing him to come back before he is ready and he’ll be given the space to sort things out and get his head straight.’

Reports recently suggested that the Christmas special of the Repair Shop was in jeopardy due to Jay’s absence.

But MailOnline later understood that this was not the case.

Lisa announced that she had ended her marriage with Blades with a surprise post on social media in the early hours of Thursday (seen on wedding day)

The source added: ‘Filming for the Christmas show is almost wrapped up. There’s no chance it won’t go out. It’s one of the jewels in the crown.’

Just a week before his marriage split was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed.  

Jay announced that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, Richard, 72.

Richard was stabbed to death on a quiet residential street in North London in March. 

The Old Bailey heard that the killing came after a ‘long-running neighbour dispute’.