What is Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple?
Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple is a new one-off Channel 4 documentary. It follows acting legend Dame Judi Dench and The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades as they revisit the places that are important to them.
When is Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple on TV?
Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple will be broadcast on Sunday 18 August 2024 at 9pm on Channel 4.
What is Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple about?
According to Channel 4: “Despite being born nearly 40 years apart, and taking very different journeys in life, stage and screen legends Dame Judi Dench and Jay Blades walked away with a friendship for life after a chance meeting three years ago. Keen to learn more about each other’s backgrounds and upbringings, the nostalgic one-off will see the duo embark on a journey to explore the places and people that have shaped their vastly different lives.
“Taking a whistle-stop tour down memory lane, the legendary pair uncover secrets from each other’s past, sharing funny and heart-warming stories along the way. Travelling together across the UK, exploring London and Stratford-upon-Avon, Judi and Jay unveil anecdotes about the path to their incredible successes, introducing each other to special people, past times and places that have influenced who they are. From Hackney’s Ridley Road Market to The Old Vic theatre, Judi and Jay head to some of London’s most memorable places, showcasing the city’s vast culture and diverse neighbourhoods.
“This biographical travel show is an intimate portrait of true friendship, whilst also telling the story of class, race and social mobility in Britain through the years.”
Who is Dame Judi Dench?
Dame Judi Dench is one of Britain’s most revered actors, delivering decades of iconic performances in theatre, film and TV. In 1998 she won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance as Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, and she is also famous for playing M in the James Bond films. On TV, she has starred in the sitcom A Fine Romance and the romantic series As Time Goes By. She also discovered a family connection to William Shakespeare herself when she appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? in 2021.
Who is Jay Blades?
Jay Blades is a furniture restorer who presents the BBC series The Repair Shop, in which craftspeople repair people’s cherished family heirlooms. He has also presented the Channel 5 local history series Jay Blades: No Place Like Home, Jay Blades’ East End Through Time, Jay Blades: The Midlands Through Time and Jay Blades: The West End Through Time. He has been awarded an MBE for his services to craft.