TV presenter Jay Blades faces a two-year wait for his trial after appearing in court to plead not guilty to two allegations of rape.
The 55-year-old, who fronted primetime BBC show The Repair Shop, was on a videolink to Shrewsbury crown court on Wednesday to face the charges.
Wearing a dark suit, blue tie, white shirt and his trademark spectacles, Blades - listed under his full name Jason Blades - spoke to confirm his identity before stating “not guilty” twice to the charges.
Judge Anthony Lowe, the senior judge at the courthouse in Shrewsbury, adjourned the case for a trial in September 2027, and apologised directly to Blades.
“I apologise”, he said. “It’s not a proper justice system where people are having to wait that length of time for their trial, but I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”
Blades’ barrister, Susan Meek, had appealed to the judge for an earlier trial date, saying the TV presenter has been unable to work since last year.
“It is an extraordinary length of time for him to be out of work”, she said.
But the judge refused, referring to the extensive delays in the crown court and record numbers of cases waiting to be heard.
“Perhaps the press attention in this case will bring it more to the public domain the chronic position we are in in relation to the backlog”, he said.
“If I were to bring Mr Blades’ trial forward, bringing it in perhaps a year earlier, all I would be doing is bumping a case off the list.
“While I understand Mr Blades is more high profile, the reality is everyone waiting for a trial - their lives are being put on hold, as are the witnesses as well.”
He added: “Many people in the backlog, for one reason or another, may have been suspended from work, so my regret is not that I can’t bring it forward, but my regret is I can’t hear it for two years, until 2027.”
Blades first appeared in court in Telford at the start of August after it was announced he had been charged with rape allegations.
Magistrates in Telford released the TV presenter on conditional bail and sent the case to the crown court due to the serious nature of the charges.
Blades did not indicate pleas during his preliminary hearing at the magistrates’ court.
The defendant, of Claverley in Shropshire, found fame on the BBC restoration programme The Repair Shop, which he started presenting in 2017.
A furniture restorer by trade, he became the face of the show that featured people having their treasured objects repaired and rejuvenated.
Blades, who was also the presenter of the BBC's Money For Nothing until 2020 and took part in Celebrity Masterchef, Celebrity Bake Off and Comic Relief, stepped back from his role on The Repair Shop last year.
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