The Repair Shop

BBC1, 8pm

As the dependable craft series returns, there’s a feast of stories about objects of great sentimental value – tales that reveal as much about their owners as they do about the artefacts themselves.

A beautiful banjo that needs a bit of TLC to be restored to tuneful health turns out to be an heirloom tinged with grief. Then, what appears to be simply a bedraggled piece of material is actually a wonderfully evocative prop from the golden age of motor racing: a vintage speedway bib that played a crucial role in one’s family’s history. And a doll whose owner hasn’t let go of it for 42 years is delightfully revealed to double up as a children’s book.

While it’s always engrossing to watch Jay Blades (right) and his team of brilliant experts at work, at heart this is a series that also restores – or repairs – one’s faith in mankind. ★★★★☆