Jay Blades’ beloved uncle was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour on a quiet residential street following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway, can reveal today.
The Repair Shop star, 54, announced on Monday that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, telling his fans the shocking bereavement had left him feeling ‘messed up’.
Richard Brathwaite, 72, was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley around lunchtime on March 21 after a neighbour, who lived on the same street, allegedly knifed him.
The incident is said to have blown up about items in the shared alleyway between their homes.
During the fatal incident, Mr Blades’ 71-year-old aunt Annetta was also injured and suffered cuts to her head and face.
Jay Blades (pictured) announced on Monday that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following death of his uncle
Richard Brathwaite, 72, (pictured) was found dead after a neighbour, who lived on the same street, allegedly knifed him
Mr Brathwaite was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley. Mr Brathwaite lived on the left of this picture with the brown door. His alleged killer lived on the right
The two men were embroiled in a long-running dispute over the use of the alleyway (pictured) between their two properties
The funeral for Mr Brathwaite is thought to have been held on Monday, with the BBC presenter paying tribute to his uncle, who he called a ‘really, super nice guy’ adding that the alleged killing ‘should never have happened to him’.
In an emotional video, still wearing his black suit following the service, he told his Instagram followers: ‘Hope you’re all well. This is kind of like a public service announcement. I’ve just been to my uncle’s funeral […].
‘Really, super nice guy, shouldn’t have happened to him, but it really affected me. I feel a little bit messed up. So what I’m intending on doing is this.
‘I’m coming off social media for a bit, and I’ll be back in a bit. Going to go and get some therapy and just chill out. Please, take care of each other, take care of yourself, and I’ll see you guys soon.’
Emergency services were called to the North London property in March but tragically pronounced Mr Brathwaite dead at 12.30pm. A man was later arrested outside Wembley Police Station.
A special post-mortem examination that took place two days later gave the victim’s cause of death as a stab injury.
A man appeared in court on March 26 where he was charged with murder, wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the Old Bailey in March the alleged murder took place following a ‘long-running neighbour dispute between the defendant and the deceased’.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC set a plea hearing for June 11, scheduling a three-week provisional trial from January 27 next year.
Neighbours living on the street told they did not know much about Mr Braithwaite who ‘kept to himself’.
Mr Blades’ video, which was captioned ‘good evening all, see you soon’, led to an outpouring of support from fans and those within the television community.
Mr Blades’ video, which was captioned ‘good evening all, see you soon’, led to an outpouring of support from fans and those within the television community
Jay, who is best known for presenting BBC’s The Repair Shop, was raised in Hackney with his mother Barbara (pictured)
BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury wrote: ‘Sorry to hear this Jay. Glad you’re taking some time out’.
Channel 4’s First Dates star Fred Sirieix posted a red heart emoji, while 5News host Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije said: ‘Look after you bro. So sorry for your loss.’
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin added: ‘I am so sorry to hear this, sending you love xx’.
Mr Blades, who is best known for presenting BBC’s The Repair Shop, was raised in Hackney with his mother Barbara and maternal half-brother.
The presenter, a furniture maker by trade, has seen his career flourish since BBC producers put him at the helm of the hit craft show, which restores family heirlooms to their former glory, in 2017.
He grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his much-loved mother Barbara and by the time he was in his twenties, he ended up homeless and wondering ‘is this what my life has come to?’.
The father-of-three, who’s married to fitness trainer Lisa-Marie Zbozen, previously said he could fit all his belongings in one carrier bag when he lived in a hostel before he was given social housing on the Victorian Peabody estate.
Jay was discovered by TV producers after they saw a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded that taught young people how to restore and sell old furniture, after previously running community groups for youngsters.
But he became homeless as his relationship disintegrated with his ex-wife – before being discovered and elevated to TV stardom fronting The Repair Shop on its debut in 2017.
Jay, 54, has taken up residency at the former Branston Pickle factory in Bermondsey, south-east London , which has been transformed into a modern residential and working space called The Pickle Factory
Jay’s latest TV show, David and Jay’s Touring Toolshed
Dyslexic and unable to read, it wasn’t until the star reached 51 that he began to tackle to the illiteracy problem that had haunted him all of his adult life – after he’d found fame on the show that tapped into the nation’s obsession with heritage crafting.
Speaking about when he was homeless, Mr Blades said: ‘At 21 I was all over the place, I had no direction, I left London because I was getting into loads of fights and there were people after me.
‘My mum moved to Luton and I lived up there with her for a bit.
I had my first child, and then split up with the missus, and moved back to London, then I ended up homeless and went into a hostel.’
Mr Blades was appointed an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours, for services to craft, with King Charles even appearing in a special episode.