Jay Blades quits King’s Foundation following coercive control charge

Following accusations of using coercive and controlling tactics against his former wife Lisa Marie Zbozen, BBC broadcaster Jay Blades resigned from his position at the King’s Foundation.

The 54-year-old host of the Repair Shop, along with other BBC programmers, took home a daytime Bafta TV trophy last year for a special that included the King, who was then the Prince of Wales.

As an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, formerly known as the Prince’s Foundation, he visited its Dumfries House headquarters in Ayrshire for the BBC show The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit.

Blades has notified the charity of his resignation, the educational foundation announced to the PA news agency on Sunday.

The episode, which marked the BBC’s centenary, saw the King put forward two precious objects to be restored – a piece of Wemyss Ware made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and an 18th century bracket clock.

The pair were on friendly terms, with Blades later saying they bonded over a ‘mutual interest in heritage craft’.

On Friday, Blades appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court with one count of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

He was pictured clearly trying to keep a low profile as he exited the court, wearing a hood and a puffer jacket as he quickly made his way to a car.

The presenter looked stressed and downcast, a far cry from his sunny demeanor fans are used to seeing on TV.

Blades was bailed and is now set to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, October 11 to address the allegations of physical and emotional abuse.

West Mercia Police said it launched an investigation into the allegations after being called on May 3.

The pair separated earlier this year, with Zbozen, 43, taking to Instagram to share news of their split 18 months after their marriage ceremony.

She also uploaded a poem shortly after which referenced ‘treating yourself kindly’ in hard times, leading some to wonder if she was referencing the end of her marriage.

Meanwhile, Blades took a step back from Repair Shop amidst the dissolution of his marriage.

Blades and Zbozen married in Barbados in November of 2022.

At the time, Blades told Hello magazine: ‘We had our closest family there, the weather held out and everything worked out so well.’

‘Once you get to a certain age, you realise what’s actually important on the day – and that is having the people around you that love you for who you are. So we made the day our day,’ Lisa added.

Blades and his first wife – from whom he split in 2015 – share a 17-year-old daughter.

As the case continues to unfold, its difficult to predict what the future of Blades’ career will look like.

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