The Repair Shop star Dean Westmoreland has revealed he has a permanent injury from the work he does. Cobbler and footwear expert Dean joined the
BBC show in 2021 bringing joy to viewers when the team, led by presenter and furniture restorer Jay Blades, repair beloved items – which often hold sentimental value - to their former glory. Since Dean has been part of the programme, he has restored a beloved gran’s running shoes which helped her win Silver for Team GB at 1936
Berlin Olympics as she bravely took to the tracks in front of Adolf Hitler. Fans also got emotional when Dean transformed a pair of boots worn by a viewer’s late father in a Prisoner of War camp during World War Two. The guest, named Malcolm, revealed his dad was captured in Norway and imprisoned for five years. When he was freed by the
American Army and returned home, he was able to keep his boots. In the new series of the show, Dean restored a tiny pair of cowboy boots bought for a guest’s son by her brother Roger Pope, a session musician who found them on his travels round America with stars like Sir Elton John. Tragically Roger died of
cancer in 2013, but the boots are a treasured reminder of his love for his nephew. The Repair Shop star Steve Fletcher's life away from BBC show: Famous sister to unusual
Job The Repair Shop expert Dean Westmoreland is permanently injured from his work ( Image: BBC/Richochet Ltd) But behind the scenes, Dean has shared he is often in pain as he has permanently damaged his hands from trapping it in machinery he uses to do his job. He confessed to OK! magazine: “I have a squared off thumb. This thumb has been on the machine so many times that it’s now squared off.” Despite this, Dean revealed he finds his job “really fulfilling” and is always moved when a repaired item is reunited with its owner. He continued: “You know the history of the item, the story, you get an insight into people’s live, so there’s that extra responsibility. When you give it back and they’re happy, there’s such a sense of relief. I’m learning every single day and that’s what drives me to get better. There is more than a lifetime’s worth of learning in footwear. I’m hungry for it.” Before the joining the show, Dean said he actually thought it was staged, but now he’s a part of it he confirmed “it’s as real as a TV show can be”. At the moment, Dean travels down from his home in Yorkshire to film at the barn in Chichester – but says he would love to be part of a tour if they took the show on the road in the future. He added: “It would be incredible. I think it would definitely work if they could manage the logistics.” 'I'm a TV writer and these are the 10 best new films and shows to watch in April' Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat ,
Instagram ,
Twitter ,
Facebook ,
YouTube and Threads Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033