BBC The Repair Shop stars share admission as they open up on unaired scenes: ‘Doesn’t make good TV’
The Repair Shop’s beloved Teddy Bear Ladies, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, have revealed the emotional toll of filming the BBC restoration programme during a recent appearance on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.
The duo, who have been fixtures on the heartwarming series since its launch in 2017, opened up about their struggles to maintain composure during particularly poignant moments in the barn.
Speaking candidly with Titchmarsh, the experts disclosed how they manage tears and emotional reactions whilst filming the show’s famously touching reveals.
Their admission offers viewers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the popular programme, where cherished family heirlooms are lovingly restored to their former glory.
Amanda revealed that she frequently cries away from the cameras, explaining that production teams deliberately limit emotional footage of the experts.
“There is always a stash hidden, so we can grab a tissue if we need one,” she told Titchmarsh, who admitted he often gets “told off” for becoming emotional during sentimental clips on his own programme.
“It is so emotional,” Amanda continued. “I think they keep the emotional clips of us to a minimum because it doesn’t make good TV if we are all blubbing. It can get really emotional in that barn.”
The pair have developed specific strategies to cope with overwhelming emotions during filming.
“That’s why I tend to shuffle around to give her a bit of a hug because it gives me something to focus on,” Amanda explained when asked how they maintain composure during reveals.
Julie acknowledged her own vulnerability, admitting: “You could see I was about to lose it, I think it was quite clear.”
Despite the challenges, the duo support each other through difficult moments.
“It is hard,” Amanda said, “But we are quite fortunate. We kind of play off each other, so usually, different things trigger us.”
She added: “So one will sense that the other one is starting to go, and will kind of take over the conversation.”
Beyond their television work, Amanda and Julie have built a successful partnership that extends well beyond The Repair Shop.
The pair established their restoration business, Bear it in Mind, in the New Forest in 2006, with Julie initially eager to preserve traditional restoration methods.
Their shared passion for teddy bear restoration has led to additional ventures, including their podcast Bearly Begun, where they discuss their craft in greater depth.
Last year, the duo collaborated on a children’s book which has enjoyed considerable success.
Despite their close working relationship and constant on-screen pairing, the experts are not related but have forged a strong friendship through their mutual love of toy restoration.
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Their appearance on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh is available to watch on ITVX.