Howdy COBBLER!

The Repair Shop's shoe expert DEAN WESTMORELAND on working his magic on a special pair of cowboy boots

- REBECCA FLETCHER

THE REPAIR SHOP

WEDNESDAY, 8PM, BBC1 FACTUAL

A tiny pair of cowboy boots bring some rock and roll to the Workshop of Dreams this week, as presenter Jay Blades and his trusty crew of craft experts return to BBC1 with six new springtime episodes of The Repair Shop.

‘It’s incredible to be back – we always miss it when we have a break,’ says shoemaker Dean Westmoreland, 34, who discovers a fascinating music connection involving legendary artistes Sir Elton John and Sir Rod Stewart while restoring the treasured footwear to their former glory.

‘I always think it’s a shame that shoes can’t talk – just think of the stories they could tell,’ smiles Dean, who’s been the barn’s resident cobbler since 2021. ‘Luckily, these cowboy boots have a rich history, a great story that’s being passed down the generations of a family. It’s a privilege to hear it on this show.’

Other repairs in the opening episode include the team working their restoration magic on a smashed Murano lamp, broken weighing scales, and a cracked saz, a traditional musical instrument from Turkey.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Bradford-born dad-of-two Dean tells TV Times more about his challenge and why he loves being a cobbler…

Sounds like your repair rocks! 

It was right up my street. A lady called Diane brings a pair of tiny cowboy boots into the barn that were brought for her son by her brother, Roger Pope, a talented drummer and session musician. He was in various bands back in the day and had Elton John and Rod Stewart as his support acts.