The Repair Shop’s Suzie Fletcher has revealed she had a ‘breakdown’ after filming the first series of the popular BBC show.
Suzie, 62, who is a leather worker and saddle maker, makes regular appearances on the hit show.
Prior to this, she lived in the US for 22 years and met her husband James Allen Baker known as Rob, three months after moving across the pond.
The couple were married for 15 years until Rob suddenly died of pancreatic cancer in 2013, which she said came as a shock as they were unaware he was ill.
In her 2023 memoir, The Sun Over The Mountains, Suzie explained how she’d finally left her farm in 2017 and returned to the UK.
The Repair Shop’s Suzie Fletcher has revealed she had a ‘breakdown’ after filming the first series of the popular BBC show
Suzie, 62, who is a leather worker and saddle maker, makes regular appearances on the hit show
Suzie penned: ‘I was travelling light but my heart was heavy. It’s funny how we say someone has ‘baggage’ – I definitely did.’
She continued: ‘I don’t think I realised just how laden down I’d become until I had a breakdown sometime after filming the first series of The Repair Shop. Even after experiencing moments of panic in the US, I didn’t know what was happening.
‘My body had been flooded with cortisol and adrenaline for so long that I had to retrain myself how to breathe and keep calm. It’s taken time to rationalise what I’ve been through and even longer to repair the damage.’
Suzie then considered returning to the US as settling back in the UK left her feeling ‘so unfamiliar’ and ‘fragile’.
However, she said it came as a ‘relief’ when The Repair Shop’s production team made contact with her to ask if she’d like to star in another season of the show.
It comes after Suzie revealed Repair Shop show bosses often ‘edit a lot out’ of the BBC programme.
The couple were married for 15 years until Rob (pictured) suddenly died of pancreatic cancer in 2013, which reportedly came as a shock as they didn’t realise he was ill
She and her brother Steve (pictured) are extremely close, with Suzie often describing him as her ‘rock’
In an interview with The Sun, she admitted: ‘ They edit quite a lot out because I do lose it quite frequently. I’ll have tears rolling down my face.
‘I get caught up in other people’s emotions so quickly. But I’ve stopped trying to hide it now because that’s just who I am – I embrace it.’
Suzie has the job and responsibility of restoring sentimental items that often leaves her feeling very nervous.
She added: ‘I personally still get very, very nervous because every time it’s the first time I’m working with that person. It is very nerve-wracking waiting to see how they are going to respond to what I have done.’
Last week, fans were concerned as a beloved star appeared to be missing from the line-up.
In a post to the BBC show’s Instagram, it was announced that The Repair Shop will back for a new series next week, promising: ‘More fixes. More stories. More memories restored.’
Host Jay Blades was seen beaming alongside a host of the regular experts, however, watch and clock specialist Steve Fletcher was missing from the image.
It comes after Suzie revealed Repair Shop show bosses often ‘edit a lot out’ of the BBC programme
Horologist Steve, 61, has been part of the much-loved show since 2017, mending a plethora of cherished time pieces week after week for visitors to the West Sussex barn.
Steve appears on the show alongside leatherworker and saddle expert sister Suzie.
But with Steve not making an appearance in the promotional image, several fans flooded the comments with their fears that he may not be returning to the series.
They shared: ‘Love this show! Missing Steve in the photo!; ‘yeah, where’s Steve!!’
‘Where the hell is Steve at?’; ‘Where’s Steve?’
‘Steve’s not missing, is he?!’; ‘Where is Steve?! Sad to see he is missing in this photo.’