The Repair Shop's Richard Talman on fearing career was over and almost turning down BBC series
ok.co.ukWhen the 2008 financial crisis hit, The Repair Shop jeweller Richard Talman walked out of his Hatton Garden workshop and set up in his garden shed.The clients for his bespoke pieces in London’s high-end jewellery district were predominantly wealthy financiers and as the markets tanked, so did the jewellery business.
But fast-forward 16 years and Richard’s own business is flourishing and he’s become a regular favourite on the hit BBC One show The Repair Shop, which airs tonight (Wednesday, 3 April) and is presented by Jay Blades.
In an exclusive chat with OK! to celebrate the show and his new jewellery brand, Emelice, named in honour of his two young daughters, Richard, 44, tells us about his journey from “leaving school with nothing but a cycling proficiency certificate”, to becoming one of the most well-known jewellery makers in the country.
HIs dad Mike was a coppersmith and first introduced Richard to the joys of metalwork. And when that was combined with his childhood love of rocks and gems, it was a winning formula. “He taught me how to make metal things in our garage from an early age and I also had zero academia,” he says. “Secondary school was a struggle for me because I didn't have any real interest in it and the teachers had no interest in me.
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