UK TV Presenter Jay Blades Charged with Rape

In a shocking development, Jay Blades, a well-known UK television presenter and former BBC host, has been charged with two counts of rape by West Mercia Police. The news comes as a significant blow to the public figure, who has previously faced allegations of controlling and coercive behavior against his estranged wife, Lisa-Marie Zbozen.

According to a statement from West Mercia Police, Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been formally charged with two counts of rape. He is scheduled to appear in court at Telford Magistrates’ Court on August 13, 2025. This marks a major escalation in the legal proceedings against Blades, who has been a prominent face on British television for over a decade.

Blades, who was awarded an MBE for his services to craft, has been in the spotlight for years due to his role as the presenter of the BBC show The Repair Shop. However, the allegations against him have forced him to step back from the show, which he had hosted for seven years. He has also resigned from his position with the King’s Foundation, an educational charity formerly known as the Prince’s Foundation.

Blades was arrested in May 2024 and charged in September of that year. The allegations against him involve actions that allegedly caused Lisa-Marie Zbozen to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence would be used against her between January 2023 and September 2022. Zbozen, a fitness instructor, announced the end of their relationship on her Instagram page in May of last year.

In October 2024, Blades pleaded not guilty to the charges of controlling and coercive behavior, and he is currently awaiting a pre-trial review on that matter. The new rape charges add another layer of complexity to his legal situation, with the case expected to draw significant media attention and public scrutiny.

Blades has had a long and varied career in television, having previously hosted Money For Nothing on the BBC until 2020, and appearing on shows such as Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Bake Off, and Comic Relief. He has also appeared in documentaries exploring the history of the West Midlands and the East End for Channel 5.

Blades was appointed as the first chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University in 2023, following his studies in criminology and philosophy from 2001. However, he left the position last year, with a university spokesperson stating at the time that he had resigned “with immediate effect.”

The case has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of public figures and the need for accountability in the entertainment industry. As the trial approaches, the public will be watching closely to see how the legal system handles these serious allegations.