Jay Blades appeared in court on Wednesday, August 13, charged with two counts of rape.
The former The Repair Shop presenter, 55, is accused of two instances of rape between 2022 and 2024, and appeared via video link at Telford Magistrates’ Court for the first hearing.
The former presenter fronted the BBC favourite for seven years before stepping away last year over separate allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his ex-wife.
While awaiting trial for these allegations, West Mercia Police confirmed earlier this month that new charges had been brought against him.
The father-of-three was present for a five-minute hearing, where he is understood to have been granted conditional bail not to contact the alleged victim.
The Mirror reports Blades was seen on screen wearing a suit, including a blue shirt, black polka dot tie, and glasses.
He is understood to have confirmed his name as “Jason Blades” and provided his address and date of birth.
He will next appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court in September.
Before the latest allegations, Blades was already awaiting a trial for different charges against his ex-wife, Lisa-Marie Zbozen, which he has denied.
He was arrested over the accusations in May last year, the day Zbozen announced publicly she had decided to call it quits on her 18-month marriage to Blades.
It was stated at the time that Blades’ actions led to his ex-wife fearing “on at least two occasions, that violence would be used against her”.
Blades pleaded not guilty to the charge during a court hearing in October last year.
Before the charges had been made, Blades had enjoyed a growing career in the spotlight.
He had been awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to the craft and even met King Charles when he appeared on a Repair Shop special in the same year.
Blades and Zbozen married in a small ceremony in Barbados in late 2022, and following his arrest last year, he left the popular BBC programme.
It is believed his decision was also related to the death of his uncle, Richard Braithwaite, which happened in March of the same year. A neighbour of 72-year-old Braithwaite has been charged with murder.
Despite being dropped from the show, Blades’ co-star Steve Fletcher shared this year that he has visited the former show host.
Posting a photo of himself and Blades on his Instagram earlier this year, he penned in the caption: “In a break from our ‘Secrets From the Barn’ Tour, I popped in to see Jay the other day for a cup of tea and a lovely chat.
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“It was great to catch up. Hope to see him again soon.”
Since his initial court appearance, in which Blades denied allegations made by his wife, he has been edited out of the popular BBC programme.