Saved and Remade

Very uneven range of skills from the cast. From bespoke master craftsmen to enthusiastic amateurs. The watching experience ranges from "Wow, that is creative and well executed" to "You've gotta be kidding me, this is a dumpster fire". I'm only three episodes in, but I'll keep watching for the "Oh no, what next?". It reminds me of people that watch NASCAR for the crashes. **Update** After watching some more episodes, 'Oh, the humanity!' I am convinced the guests must be being paid to gush and fawn over the butchered remains of their once recognizable items. They even have the 're-makers' bringing in their own stuff to get worked on by other cast members. Maybe they can't get enough volunteers from the public. The 'craftsmanship', particularly the 'woodworking' is heinous. Just awful.

The taste level on almost all the upcycles really is unacceptably low, which has always been the problem with upcycling. Who wants a grocery bag made out of old plastic grocery bags? Or a handknitted sweater out of pilly cheap yarn? Sow's ear still a sow's ear no matter how much labor someone has expended on it.

Unfortunately, the execution on many of these terrible ideas isn't very good either. There's one maker I'm a true diehard fan of, and what they make on this show is really bad. Really bad.

BTW, it is like The Repair Shop in that the intended theme is -- variously -- God doesn't make junk, and resurrection.

Unfortunately neither rubric applies to the creations in this program. Yikes.

If the last year or so of Lockdown has taught me anything, it's that the BBC have run out of ideas for decent programs and have flogged this particular dead horse of 'creative' programs to death so much that I never want to watch one again. This program is inhabited by some people who shouldn't be let anywhere near power tools........ever.

The only two decent pieces were the trunk plastered with family photos and an Ottoman both made by the same guy who did a decent job. The rest is re-made using rough cuts of wood which often don't match the original item, unironed fabric, misplaced enthusiasm and dodgy workmanship. I feel sorry for the people who have to smile and praise the final results of their repurposed (butchered) precious family objects. The gold & diamond rings re-make as mentioned in another review was shocking in its execution. If they're happy then fair enough but I hope there's no Series 2. 'The Repair Shop' is the Rolls Royce and this is Del Boy's Reliant Robin after it's been hit by a bus.

Why would anyone bring anything precious to be "upcycled" (destroyed!) on this hideous show? The transformations wrought on their objects are nothing short of butchery - ludicrously conceived and clumsily executed, often with scant regard for the history or intrinsic worth of the items - beautiful longcase clock, for example, had its guts ripped out and was turned into a light. Often the new creations are hideously ugly - chairs made from old bicycles and so on. The makers lack personality as cast members (and that metalworker seriously needs to be introduced to a comb!) and the presentation is dull. Ghastly all round.

Don't know what to do with your stuff? Give it to this lot to make some oddly contrived rubbish that you can throw away later. If the Repair Shop was Premier League then this is your local pub team playing on Hackney Marshes still hung over from the night before.