The Repair Shop star makes candid admission about personal struggle away from hit BBC show
ONE of the experts on The Repair Shop has revealed more about his personal struggles away from the show.
Dominic Chinea is known for his restoration work on the National Television Award-winning programme.
The former set designer is a fan-favourite with BBC viewers, due to his masterful metal work and his passion for restoring vehicles and other family heirlooms.
But in a new interview, Dominic has hinted that he’s faced his own issues behind-the-scenes as he explored the impact the hobby has on people.
The TV personality has revealed that he thinks specific crafts can really help those with mental health issues.
He remarked: “With craft and mental health there’s a real big link, mental health is a big thing and craft can help anybody.”
“Crafting doesn’t have to be a career. There are so many people whose lives have been affected and saved and changed by doing a craft.”
As well as starring in The Repair Shop, Dominic is also known for his role on Make It At Market.
On the other BBC One show, he helps aspiring entrepreneurs make a proper living out of their crafting hobbies.
He admitted that he sometimes thinks their passion or new hobby comes from trauma in their personal lives.
“Lots of people on Make It At Market have been through horrendous things in their lives, then they picked up the craft as a way of dealing with what they’ve gone through, to calm down and relax,” he told The Mirror.
“It has literally saved their lives. They’re not trying to make millions of pounds from it, it’s just about doing and making something.”
It turns out that Dominic also has something in common with his fellow restoration expert, Jay Blades, 54.
The duo have both been diagnosed with dyslexia in the past, but he’s not let the learning disability stand in the way of success.
But he did admit that he faced uncertainty in his life as he dreaded the static life of a corporate office.
Speaking about being a practical person, Dominic explained: “I’ve got a graphic design degree.
The Repair Shop experts
The Repair Shop premiered in 2017 and sees family heirlooms restored for their owners by numerous experts with a broad range of specialisms. Jay Blades acts as the foreman, with a talented team at work in the restoration process. Let's take a look at some of them.
- Jay Blades: Foreman of The Repair Shop and Furniture Restorer
- Will Kirk: Carpenter, Cabinet Maker and Wood Painter
- Steve Fletcher: Clock Restorer
- Suzie Fletcher: Saddle Maker and Leather Worker
- Dominic Chinea: Metal Worker and Signs Restorer
- Sonnaz Nooranvary: Upholstery Restorer
- Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell: Soft-toy Restorers
- Kirsten Ramsay: Ceramics Conservator
- Lucia Scalisi: Painting Conservator
- Brenton West: Antique Photography Specialist and Silversmith
“I like designing and typography and photography but I very quickly realised I’m quite dyslexic.”
He added: “I’m not very good at academic stuff and sitting behind a desk staring at a computer.”
