The Repair Shop star Dean Westmoreland has disclosed that his hands have been permanently harmed due to his work.
The footwear expert and cobbler joined the BBC program in 2021, aiding Jay Blades and his team in restoring and repairing beloved items.
The program often leaves viewers in tears, whether it involves reuniting a woman with her childhood teddy bear or restoring a record player that reminded a lady of her late son who died from cancer at the age of 11, and has even featured King Charles III.
However, behind the scenes, one of the stars of the show has suffered a shocking impact.
Dean’s hand, which frequently aches after a long day of cobbling , has been permanently damaged after catching his thumb in machinery.'I have a squared off thumb,' he has revealed.
'This thumb has been caught on the machine so many times that it’s now squared off.'
The cobbler joined the program in 2021 (Picture: BBC)
He went on to
: ‘It’s always a challenge because every pair has a different story.’ OK!‘It’s really fulfilling,
' he added. ‘You know the history of the item, the story, you gain an insight into people’s lives. So there’s that extra responsibility. When you give it back and they’re happy, there’s such a sense of relief.’
A recent episode saw Dean transform a unique pair of shoes from the 70s (Picture: BBC)
‘Not the same colour, mine were much more tasteful!’ he quips.
After restoring them to their original vibrancy with paint touch-ups and a new sole, Dean leaves the owner speechless and in awe over the new look.
Sir Elton John had worn a similar pair on stage (Picture: BBC)
‘It’s like I became a different person when I put them on!’ he adds.
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
He’s injured himself on the machinery numerous times.
