The Repair Shop viewers left ‘bawling’ over incredibly emotional transformation-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

The Repair Shop viewers have been left in floods of tears after seeing the emotional transformation of a chair.

On the latest episode of the BBC series, Lee from London asked if a leather armchair he purchased with his late partner 40 years ago could be restored.

As he explained to host Jay Blades and upholstery restorer Sonnaz Nooranvary, the chair was the first item of furniture they purchased together.

The couple had first met at a bar in Athens in 1983, while Lee was on holiday and Greg was serving in the American Air Force.

‘I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror and I said he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen…and that was the start of the most wonderful relationship,’ he said.  

However, he said ‘the trouble started’ when they tried to do their best to be together, with Greg repeatedly facing visa troubles as he attempted to settle in the UK.

The Repair Shop viewers were left in tears seeing the transformation of an old chair (Picture: BBC)

But, in 1986, he was finally able to stay.

‘Everything was beautiful. We had a brand-new life and brand new flat together and this was our first piece of furniture we got together to build our home,’ Lee shared.

However, six months later Greg found out he was HIV positive.

He died within the year, just a few weeks before his 30th birthday.

‘If you were HIV positive you were going to die and I lost so many friends too,’ Lee reflected.

The furniture item was purchased by Londoner Lee and his late partner Greg 40 years ago (Picture: BBC)

But he said having the chair and knowing the memories it held was a comfort, but there were concerns it was in danger of deteriorating beyond the point of repair.

‘I have photos of him polishing it so he would be disgusted with it now,’ Lee said.

As Sonnaz explained, there were deep cracks in parts of the leather, which could eventually end up with holes.

‘It would be tragic to lose it so I will hope and pray I can strengthen it in some way,’ she said.

It was repaired by upholstery restorer Sonnaz Nooranvary (Picture: BBC)

However she was able to carry out the necessary work, which she hoped would be ‘a fitting tribute to the love they shared with one another’.

When it came to the reveal, Lee said it was ‘indescribable’ to see it brought back to its former glory.

‘All of the memories and amount of love and companionship all those beautiful things…it’s just bringing back memories of all those years and it was so unfair he was taken away so early,’ he said.

‘Our whole history is in that chair and now the story goes on and the chair goes on.’

Those watching on at home were left emotional, with many saying it had sparked tears.

Lee said it was ‘bringing back memories’ (Picture: BBC)

‘Catching up on the new episode of TheRepairShop. Oh, god, no… the chair… I’m already crying…’ Darren posted on X.

‘Absolutely bawling!’ he later added.

‘Amazing that something as mundane as a chair can evoke such memories.  This is why everything in The Repair Shop is treated with such reverence. Glorious viewing,’ Steve shared.

Meanwhile others said they were caught off guard by how emotional they would become, while others praised the ‘beautiful job’ done to restore it.

The Repair Shop is streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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