Entertainment
The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades learning to read aged 51 to share bedtime stories with daughter
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Jay Blades has revealed his main motivation for learning to read at the age of 51, is so he can share bedtime stories with his daughter.
The Repair Shop star was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult after suffering with literacy difficulties throughout his childhood.
However, he’s now about to embark on one of the biggest journeys of his life by learning to read, and will film the process for an upcoming documentary.
Speaking on This Morning on Monday, Jay revealed: ‘My motive for doing it was to read my daughter a bedtime story and write her a letter which I’ve never done. She’s about 15 years old now so it’s going to be a little outdated, me reading a story, but it’s one of those things I want to do.’
Jay shares one 15-year-old daughter, Zola, with his ex-wife Jade, and also has a stepdaughter, Paris Goodman, from his relationship with partner Christine.
Fun fact: social media influencer Grace Victory also describes Jay as her ‘dad’ after growing up with him as a father figure in High Wycombe.
In his interview, Jay recalled how his learning was halted when he began to suffer racial abuse in school.
Jay Blades will document his journey learning to read (Picture: BBC Pictures, Wah Wah Lab)
‘I could read a little bit, I think I suffered a lot of racism when I entered school and my learning just stopped there. This was the ‘80s, ‘81 and I don’t think it was recognised as much then, people didn’t know about dyslexia.
‘I’ve met so many people who have dyslexia and just got through life. But I want to learn to read.’
Jay recalled teachers labelling him a ‘dunce’ or ‘dumb’ in school but was relieved to finally be given the appropriate label of dyslexic.
More: This Morning
In addition to the documentary, the presenter confirmed his hit BBC series, The Repair Shop, will be back on screens.
‘There’s another series coming, I think there’s a few series, we’re filming a few. The Repair Shop, don’t worry there’s loads more coming,’ he promised.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
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