The Repair Shop’s Kirsten Ramsay ‘in tears and knocked sideways’ by heart-breaking family death on show

THE REPAIR Shop’s Kirsten Ramsay has recalled how she was ‘in tears and knocked sideways’ by a heart-breaking family death on show. The TV restorer stars alongside the likes of Jay Blades and Suzi Fletcher in the hit BBC series. Kirsten spoke about the emotional journey she faced meeting customers coming into the shop with […]

THE REPAIR Shop’s Kirsten Ramsay has recalled how she was ‘in tears and knocked sideways’ by a heart-breaking family death on show.

The TV restorer stars alongside the likes of Jay Blades and Suzi Fletcher in the hit BBC series.

Kirsten spoke about the emotional journey she faced meeting customers coming into the shop with their family heirlooms and items of huge sentimental value.

She told The Sun’s TV Mag: “I don’t believe there’s any one of us that hasn’t shed tears at some point.

“It’s very difficult not to get involved sometimes.”

Recalling a particularly tough incident, the ceramic conservator went on: “I think it’s always hard when it involves the death of a child.

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The ceramic conservator recalled a particularly emotional moment on the show[/caption]

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Kirsten joined the team in 2017[/caption]

“One of the sort of very early ones was a Bargeware teapot. I didn’t know the story beforehand and it was the father who came in.

“His daughter – I think she was probably in her 20s, possibly 30 – had died, leaving his granddaughter, who was who was very, very young. She was a toddler.

“And this teapot had been passed down through the family through the female line in the family. And that was extraordinarily emotional.”

Remembering her reaction at the time, she explained: “I didn’t have any warning of that coming.

“And I do have some sort of personal experience of that myself. That really sort of knocked me sideways if I’m honest.”

Despite the emotional challenge, Kirsten, who has worked for The British Museum while using her skills, is clearly a fan of what she does.

Kirsten joined the BBC show in 2017 with over 25 years of experience in her field, having trained at the prestigious West Dean College.

She reflected: “I do work for the antiques trade and both museums, but I’ve always done work for individuals. And I’ve always had people that have bought things that have had huge sentimental value.

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She described being able to work on the sentimental items as a ‘huge privilege’[/caption]

“Sometimes you might see the item and it’s sort of, you know, you’re not that excited about it. Then you hear the story behind it and everything in you just wants to get this piece back together for the owner.

“To be honest, it just feels like an incredible privilege. Yeah, it really does put the pressure on sometimes when you’ve heard the story.

“So I’d say in the main it just feels like a massive privilege. It’s not a burden.”