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The Repair Shop star Suzie Fletcher burst into tears mid-restoration after she was tasked with bringing the life back to a beloved wooden horse. The master saddle maker was called in to put her talents to work on the BBC reality show to revive a childhood toy horse for the owner's grandchildren. In the 2020 episode, the expert revealed that Julie and her late husband, Paul Yates, had initially restored the horse when they had children, with Paul leaving his signature and date hidden under the saddle.

Years later, the couple decided to restore the prized possession to pass on to their grandchildren. Unfortunately, Paul was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away before he could complete the project.

As Suzie began her work, she was moved to tears when she discovered the Julie's late husband's signature still intact under the saddle which sparked a wave of support from viewers online.

It was at this point that the TV personality shared her own struggles, revealing she, too, lost her husband to cancer. Thankfully, her brother Steve was on hand to give some added support as she broke down in tears.

Years later, in her book, The Sun Over The Mountains, Suzie reflected on the moving moment. She wrote: "The handwriting of a loved one after they have gone is something very special. I have precious notes and cards from my late husband, Rob.

"Some of the words were scribbled on scraps of paper, but I cherish and take comfort from them when I look at them from time to time, so I understood Julie's request. 'I really hope it's here', I said as I peeled the leather away."

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She added: "As soon as I saw Paul's signature, I was biting my lip to keep back the tears. But sometimes there is no holding back grief, and that's when I revealed on camera the tragedy of my own life and how I had lost my husband to cancer.

"I didn't expect to break down like this, but the trigger was enormous and I'd kept things bottled up for so long." After restoring the family heirloom, Suzie presented her work to Julie when she returned to The Repair Shop.

Julie rushed to hug Suzie, thanking her for her hard work, gushing: "I can't tell you how pleased I am and wish Paul was here to see it. It's brought the story full circle."

Suzie joined The Repair Shop during its second series in 2018, accidentally joining the show on a whim. She recalled: "While I was packing to move back to the UK, my big brother Steve had started on The Repair Shop.

"During various video calls, he told me how much he loved doing it. 'Well, if they ever need a leather expert, tell them about me', I joked. It really was a throwaway comment, but Steve went away and asked the production team. I never ever imagined they'd say 'Yes' and that I'd be on the show."