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Portsoy’s Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and other areas of the north-east are set to feature in a new BBC TV show featuring Sir David Jason.
David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed will see him and Jay Blades hit the road to help members of the public, professional makers and enthusiasts take their crafts to the next level.
It will begin on Monday evening at 6.30pm on BBC 2 and will be screened for the next three weeks.
It will show a lesser-known side to one of TV’s best-loved faces, as Sir David Jason reveals his life-long passion for creating and fixing things.
In the programme, David and Jay park up their toolshed at the UK’s air shows, steam rallies, county fairs and vintage festivals, to meet some of the UK’s most talented crafters, makers and tinkerers – as well as people who could use a little help.
Each episode will see the duo attend a craft, hobby or engineering fair, meet enthusiasts, tinkerers and crafters and call in some talented experts to help fix their problem projects.
They will also be heading out into the surrounding areas to meet the people whose hobbies have taken over their whole life.
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and Cullen will feature in the third episode which will be screened on Wednesday evening after the pair filmed in the north-east last summer.
The episode synopsis outlines: “David and Jay arrive in the fishing village of Portsoy in north east Scotland, where they are visiting the Scottish Traditional Boat Show.
“Retired doctor Becky shares her passion for basket weaving. Becky reveals that she would love to learn how to improve her baskets, and David and Jay introduce her to expert basket maker Helen.
“They work together to troubleshoot the cause of Becky’s basket making woes and fix some bad habits.
“Meanwhile, David and Jay head to the harbour to meet with a local rowing group who want to share their boat that they have made.
“And finally, the pair head to the nearby village of Cullen to meet Craig, a traditional cooper.
“He chats about his craft and demonstrates how a barrel is made – before Jay is challenged to have a go himself.”
Cullen will also feature in episode eight along with Fraserburgh, which will be screened on Wednesday, January 31.
The episode synopsis says: “David Jason and Jay Blades are in north east Scotland to meet and help talented and struggling tinkerers.
“First, they travel to the home of Rupert and Karen, who have lovingly made their own miniature railway around their garden near Fraserburgh.
“They explain that they would like to create an accessible wheelchair-friendly carriage for the train. Expert Roger is keen to help them.
Next, David and Jay park up beneath the Cullen viaduct, where they meet with talented local potter AJ Simpson, who has come to teach them some pottery skills.
“Together, they embark on a fun pottery crash course and attempt to make caricature pinch pots.
“Finally, the pair meet with father and son Derek and Oliver, who want to show off their extraordinary lockdown project – the 200ft long Cullen Tapestry.”
All episodes of the series can also be viewed on BBC iPlayer now.
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Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
