'We had our hardships, and there were times that we didn't have a lot of food and didn't have a lot of money. But that didn't stop me having the time of my life.'
Making It is an inspirational memoir about beating the odds and turning things around even when it all seems hopeless. In this book, Jay shares the details of his life, from his childhood growing up sheltered and innocent on a council estate in Hackney, to his adolescence when he was introduced to violent racism at secondary school, to being brutalized by police as a teen, to finally becoming a beloved star of the hit primetime show The Repair Shop.
Jay reflects on strength, weakness and what it means to be a man. He questions the boundaries society places on male vulnerability and how letting himself be nurtured helped him flourish into the person he is today. An expert at giving a second life to cherished items, he speaks about how his role as a restorer mirrors his own life – if something's broken, you can always find a way to put it back together. Originally from Hackney in East London, Jay left school aged fifteen with no qualifications: his severe dyslexia was not diagnosed until he was an adult. He gained a degree in Criminology and Philosophy at Buckingham University in his thirties before finding his true vocation in restoration.
Jay is an inspirational motivator and co-founded award-winning social enterprises Out of The Dark and Street of Dreams. Working with disengaged and disadvantaged young people, Jay was able to mentor and support thousands of individuals over the years to realize their full potential. A moving, funny and inspirational memoir about finding success when the odds are stacked against you, from the beloved TV star of hit BBC One show The Repair Shop, which reaches almost 7 million viewers.
