Review: Jay Blades' book "Making It"

It's a popular thing for TV celebrities to write a memoir and venture into print off the back of their fame and popularity. This is essentially what Jay Blades has done by sharing the past life which brought him to where he is now, in an autobiography. Jay's book "Making It" is no bandwagon jump though, no cash in tawdry tale cobbled together to shift a few copies. Far from it. He speaks both eloquently and humourously about some of his most vulnerable and painful times, in a way which you cannot help but be moved by, and be swept along on the journey with him.

I chose to take in Jay's book in a different way to many, one which Jay himself would benefit from were it another person's life he were reading about. As much as I enjoy reading, I especially enjoy taking in content by audio. I find I become immersed in listening to the reader whilst still able to do other tasks which don't require much active concentration. As such my review is primarily based upon the audiobook of 'Making It' as read by Damian Lynch, which is unabridged and has a duration of 7 hours 51 minutes. The equivalent hardback has 277 pages.

An added bonus of listening to the audio version is that at the very end we are treated to a 15 minute question and answer session, between narrator Damian Lynch and the man himself Jay Blades. A lovely touch which added some extras insights.

My copy was obtained from the Apple Book store as it was the cheapest option at the time; priced at £7.99, less than the hardback book option. It is also available from Audible and other suppliers of audiobooks. I have since obtained (kindly gifted) a copy of the hardback version also, which was invaluable to flick through while writing this review. Actor Damian Lynch is an excellent narrator. Whilst listening to him reading Jay's words you sometimes forget you are not listening to Jay himself. He is very well chosen to tell his story and captures Jay's humourous jovial tone very well.

Jay presents us with an inspirational story of overcoming hard times and beating the odds, when his life could have taken a very different turn very easily. He is very open and honest about his life, not shying away from shining a light on the mistakes he's made along the way. The book is written in a conversation style and Jay's voice is apparent in every word, whether listening to the audiobook as I primarily did, narrated by Damian Lynch, or in the printed word. That is partially because it was written with ghost writer Ian Gittens, due to Jay's severe dyslexia. I have not been able to find out for sure, but I feel sure the book is based upon extended recorded conversations between Jay and Ian; Ian effectively transcribing and organising his words.

Jay's life seems to have began in a place of relative calm. They were not well off by a long way. However Jay, his half-brother and his mother accepted their lot and were fairly content for a time. Absent from this set up being his father, who has never been a part of their life except to take from them. He seemingly spread his seed without care, fathering 26 children and not feeling he owes them anything. Jay has no time at all for this man who contributed nothing to his life, except occasionally negatively. Being his father only in biological fact he cannot bring himself to call him 'dad', instead humourlessly referring to him as T.M.W.C.T.M.B. - the man who contributed to my birth. Sperm donor or seed spreader would have perhaps been more succinct! The point is taken - it is important to Jay that he not repeat his father's mistakes and be a better man.

His relatively sheltered innocent youth in Hackney however was not to last. From his time at secondary school onwards he is rudely introduced to racism and violence against himself and his friends. Violence which he fights back against and returns in spades through explosions of violence of his own, which gain him a reputation. Jay tells these stories with expletives interspersed, which while somewhat surprising at first given the TV Jay we are familiar with, are perfectly natural and only serve to draw you in and make you care what happens to him more. Being dismissed as stupid by teachers due to their failure to understand his dyslexia, he is placed in the lowest stream of pupils. Attending school became days of fighting and eating free dinner, including extra puddings earned by dealing with bullies for others. He cannot recall learning a thing in his time there.

As a young adult he's faced with institutionalised Police racism and brutality on one side and National Front racist violence on the other. It's important to stress here that Jay is not at all "playing the race card" as some critics might off handedly say. He is merely relating the blunt reality of what took place. I see no reason why he should cover up the truth to make people more comfortable. It's an important story which needs to be heard, one which is all too relevant today.

Jay recounts how as a young man he worked as a labourer and in factories, before spending a short time as an office junior for a model agency. This is a position he seems to have mostly blagged his way into, under-informed and treating his interviewer as equal, despite having very little in common on any level. It shows confidence can get you through! He seems to have quite enjoyed this time, the photographers expertise including developing in the dark room opening his eyes to creative arts for the first time and inspiring him.

Of course he also enjoyed being around the female models. He makes no secret early on of the fact he very much had an eye for the ladies, rather too much to his own detriment, when at times during his life romancing only one woman at a time was not enough for him. He has had 3 significant relationships over the years resulting in a child with each, all of which ultimately fail - he accepts blame for much of this happening. Jay is aware of the uncomfortable comparison as regards his father's failings. However despite the relationships all ultimately failing, Jay is a part of all 3 of his children's lives and contributes to them ongoing.

In his thirties, despite suffering severe dyslexia leaving him unable to read and write, Jay gets himself enrolled at university in High Wycombe studying Criminal Psychology, aided in submitting his application by his landlady and a local librarian. This would change the course of his life in numerous ways. The course itself and the understanding he gained from it would lead to his eventual future endeavours, helping disadvantaged young people from falling into crime.

He also meets Jade who will become his partner both in life and in business. Crucially she also helps him tackle his dyslexia. An appointment is set up in London with a specialist and he is at last diagnosed, and begins to get much needed help. He gains a computer system which was a boon to him, reading his course work aloud to him and allowing him to dictate his essays for submission. Jay, who left school with zero qualifications, ultimately leaves university with a degree in Criminal Psychology.

Jay's life took an ironic turn around the year 2000 considering his having been hounded and beaten by racist Police in his youth. While volunteering for youth organisations, the Police Chief Superintendent in Oxford recruited Jay to help with a review of Police interactions in four deprived areas in Oxford to improve race relations. This led to Jay and Jade forming the charity Street Dreams to great success. In turn they set up Out of the Dark, to train disadvantaged people in furniture restoration. It was during this time that Jay and Jade's marriage broke down.

Jay describes himself as the ultimate repair job or fixer-upper and it is at this point in his life he needed it the most. He sees his marriage breaking down as his failing, and his pain and anguish leads to suffering a mental breakdown. He tells how he just walks out one day, and drives with no clue where he was going. He disappeared for days with little recollection of what he was doing, making local headlines. Ironically he was pretty much saved by the man, Gerald Bailey of Diffusion, who would get him the job on Money For Nothing , setting his life and career on it's present course.

Which brings us virtually up to date with talking about The Repair Shop. As the subject which brings us all here, I found myself reading (listening to) the entire book up to this point somewhat in anticipation of this point eventually being reached. I was also mentally reconciling the man I'd got to know through his words with the man we are familiar with from his jovial TV persona. Nevertheless when Jay began talking about how the show came to be, and offered his own perspective as he related some well known owner stories and their item repairs, I was still blindsided by it to the point of tears. It's not hard to see why Jay was chosen to front the show, when just him just talking about them is so moving.

Jay's story is above all one of kindness being empowering. Of kindness being shown to him, when he needed it the most in return. Essentially, put goodness into the world and see it returned in kind. Kindness is the defining trait which uplifts him in his work to this day, runs like blood through the veins of all the shows he fronts not least The Repair Shop, and is ever present in his frequent social media posts.

My review is but a summary of a few of the key events Jay shares with us. If you have not already done, I highly recommend you experience Jay telling you his story in his own words. If reading is something you struggle with doing, whatever the reason (mine is physical comfort, concentration and simply time), I highly recommend the audiobook option. Take in Jay's words while doing the housework, driving, other manual tasks etc. Better still lay back and relax and get lost in his world!