The Repair Shop has confirmed some huge special guests for its upcoming Christmas special. Among them is Dame Helen Mirren, who will be bringing in a Second World War-era cello for repair.
The "magical" episode will also see appearances from The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and Gavin & Stacey's Rob Brydon.
Oscar-winner Mirren's item is from care home Denville Hall, which looks after people who have worked in the entertainment industry, with the cello left by theatre director Martin Landau, who fled Germany on the Kindertransport just before World War Two.
However, the instrument was damaged by the Nazis before he boarded the train, and as such hasn't been played in over eight decades, with the care home hoping to restore it so it can be played to help perform Christmas songs for the residents.
Meanwhile, Donaldson and Brydon are teaming up to repair a toy farmhouse from the author's childhood, gifted to her by her grandmother, which was an inspiration for the location in some of her stories.
Related: Best streaming services
What to Read Next
On top of that, the Repair Shop team will get to work on a life-size mechanical Rudolph for the Leicestershire Fire service, as well as an 80-year-old sledge and a carol book.
Speaking about her item, Mirren said: "Denville Hall is a very special place and we’ve long talked about repairing Martin’s cello. As you can imagine to be able to restore the voice of his prized possession and hear it play once more’ will be the greatest Christmas gift for the community at Denville Hall."
"Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and this year’s Christmas special of The Repair Shop is guaranteed to be magical," added BBC Factual commissioning editor Julie Shaw.
"Full of warmth that audiences have come to know and love from The Repair Shop experts, it’s a real treat for audiences to sit back, relax and enjoy, and maybe even shed a tear or two this Christmas."
The Repair Shop airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Ariana & Witches in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
