The latest episode of the BBC show, The Repair Shop (January 8), saw the team tasked with restoring a tiny dictionary, leaving viewers captivated.
The damaged pocket dictionary was owned by Stuart Taylor, who inherited it from his mother, Cherry, who had possessed it since she was 13 years old.
Unfortunately, Cherry passed away from leukaemia at the age of 38, leaving the dictionary to Stuart.
“My sister saved a few items that she could then pass on to me and my other siblings later on in life,” Stuart shared with expert Chris Shaw.
He confirmed that he received the damaged book when he was 15 but wanted it repaired, reports the Express.
The small pocket dictionary featured on The Repair Shop
(Image: (Image: BBC))
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“Goodness, well it’s a little book but with big problems,” Chris remarked as he began work on the dictionary.
He added: “I never knew a dictionary, they came like this. It is the smallest dictionary I’ve ever worked on, but it is in such bad condition.”
Upon closer inspection of the damaged pocket book, the bookbinder noted that it was damp and had a “huge amount of grime on the leather”.
Chris added: “There are so many complications with such a small book”.
Stuart was reunited with his cherished pocked book in The Repair Shop workshop
(Image: (Image: BBC))
However, Chris skilfully managed to restore the pocket dictionary to an incredible standard.
“I’m amazed that you were able to get it back to this condition,” Stuart expressed when he was reunited with his treasured book at the workshop.
Viewers of The Repair Shop were also impressed by the restoration, with one person commenting on X: “I love the book restorations #TheRepairShop.”
Another viewer was captivated, commenting: “Watching Chris repair books is just mesmerising. What he did to that dictionary was amazing! #therepairshop”.
A third joined in the praise, saying: “Wow that little dictionary.”
The Repair Shop airs Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer