The Repair Shop fans break down in tears as guest reveals heart-wrenching story behind stuffed animal which got family through ‘really dark times’

Repair shop viewers were moved by the heartbreaking story of a guest’s beloved stuffed animal.

Dominic Chinea has created an incredibly touching project in the latest episode of the spin-off series The Repair Shop: On The Road.

A guest named Robert brought along his beloved plush toy, Wappy, hoping the crew could repair it.

Robert has had Wappy since he was born six weeks prematurely in 1974; The toy faces wear and tear after fifty years.

Accompanied by his sister Chris, he explained to Dominic: ‘Robert was born in a special baby unit. But at the same time the teaching hospital Ninewells Hospital in Dundee was opened.

‘And so Robert became the first baby in the specialist baby care unit at Ninewells.’

Robert has had Wappy since he was born six weeks prematurely in 1974, and the adorable lamb holds a special place in his life.

Experts Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch, known as the Teddy Bear Women, set to work restoring Wappy.

Robert said: ‘I was born six weeks early and it must have been a nurse who brought Wappy in to look after me.’

Chris later admitted these were ‘really dark times’, adding: ‘We almost lost Robert.’

He continued: ‘He had a lot of surgeries until he was about eight years old. So it truly is a miracle. And meanwhile his little friend Wappy was with him.’

Meanwhile, Robert said of his lifelong friend: ‘He sleeps with me every night. And he’s been taking care of me ever since.’

Dominic brought Wappy to the stable; where Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch, known as the Teddy Bear Ladies, attempted to repair the adorable lamb.

In doing so, the duo had to wash and disassemble Wappy before fixing his nose and replacing some of the fabric.

Robert was reunited with Wappy later in the episode and seemed visibly excited by the transformation.

“I’m glad to see you again,” he said while hugging his beloved toy.

Towards the end of the episode, Robert was excited to be reunited with Wappy, who looked better than ever.

Taking to X, one viewer wrote: ‘Oh my god the way Robbie looks at and touches Wappy makes my heart skip a beat.’

Another added: ‘This made me cry, it was so sweet.’

A third said: ‘It brought me to tears.’

A fourth chimed in: ‘Bless them both.’

Elsewhere, an expert from The Repair Shop announced the heartbreaking death of a ‘wonderful’ BBC star.

Art conservator Lucia Scalisi paid tribute to Maria Kirk, who participated in the exhibition in March 2023, on her Instagram account earlier this week.

As part of the first episode of series 12, Maria brought in a very special painting from a Second World War labor camp survivor and Lucia managed to bring it back to life.

Meanwhile, Lucia took to social media to remember Maria and her ‘lasting legacy’ after learning she had passed away.

He said: ‘It is with sadness that I learned today that the wonderful Maria Kirk passed away last night. You will remember the painting and story he brought to @therepairshoptv.

‘Her grandmother and her two daughters, one of whom would become Maria’s mother, bought it from the family church in Ukraine during the war.

‘Women braved both Russian and German enemies, were captured and sent to labor camps. The picture was hidden inside his grandmother’s jacket.

‘It was Maria’s wish to take the painting back to the village, where the full space on the Church wall awaited, as did her family’s.

‘To this end Maria has worked tirelessly to spread the word through exhibitions and talks in schools, community centres, and at @artinthecity @painterstainers in London.

‘Let us hope that peace prevails to this end, it will be Maria’s lasting legacy.’

Garage Shop: On the Road is streaming on BBC One and iPlayer.