Veteran actor Bill Paterson has been the familiar voice of The Repair Shop since 2017, guiding viewers through the heartwarming BBC series.
As the show returns on Wednesday, November 27, Paterson, 79, takes a trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the most memorable moments.
With the Scottish star making a rare on-screen appearance, fans are keen to learn more about his life beyond the iconic barn.
Different careers
Born in Glasgow in June 1945, he was raised by his plumber father and hairdresser mother.
Before becoming an actor, Paterson explored alternative careers.
A school trip to the Citizens Theatre in the early 1960s sparked his interest in acting, however, he initially pursued a career in architecture, telling The Herald: "I spent three years as a quantity surveyor's apprentice before going to drama college.
"I love architecture but if you were keen on the preservation of buildings, the 1960s was not the time to do it. There was an awful lot of disappointment.
"I nearly joined the Navy because I really did like boats.
"I almost got caught up in that life but it is kind of lucky I didn't because I realise that if I had become an officer in the Royal Navy I filled out all the forms to apply I would have been reaching my heyday about the time of the Falklands War. I would have been there, rather than in Guys and Dolls.
"The thing about acting is that you can go on indefinitely provided all the faculties are still working.
"There is nobody saying 'Well, that's it, you have to stop now.' In many other jobs, you aren't going to be physically capable of some things, but you can get away with an awful lot of kid-on in acting."
Treasured item
During a chat with The Guardian, the star of Fleabag and Miss Potter revealed his "most treasured possession" was a handwritten postcard from author Enid Blyton.
He received the postcard after his father wrote to the famous writer, who personally responded to the young boy.
Sharing the message on Between The Covers, he said: "'I had such a nice letter from your father and instead of writing him, I'm sending you a card instead.
"'I love writing the stories as much as you love reading them. Give my love to your good father, very best wishes, love from Enid Blyton.' I've treasured it ever since."
Family
Paterson has been wedded to German costume designer Hildegard Bechtler since 1984, and they have a son and daughter together.
Hildegard, residing with her spouse in North London, reminisced about her initial impressions of Paterson in a 1994 interview with The Independent. She recounted their first encounter: "It was my first job, a crazy play called Ella which was a monologue by a man in a frock surrounded by live chickens.
"I was very attracted to him [Paterson] and I thought it was mutual. During rehearsal I saw him riding by on his bicycle - he didn't see me - and I felt such a thrill, I was on a high for the rest of the day."
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes, a close friend of Paterson and famed for her role in Harry Potter, met him on the set of The Lost Tribe in 1980. It was there that they formed a bond strong enough to lead to a joint financial venture.
In a conversation with The Sunday Post in 2021, while discussing her travel series with actor Alan Cumming, she said: "I must say I showed Alan the little house in Fordyce near Portsoy (in Aberdeenshire) that Bill Paterson and I bought.
We were in a television series (in 1980) called The Lost Tribe written by Jack Ronder. The cottage was the location and Bill and I bought it and did it up. It was going to be demolished. I like to think we saved it. It is still there."
The Repair Shop
Paterson lent his voice as the narrator for the inaugural season of the BBC's The Repair Shop.
However, he stepped away from the role for series two to four, with actor Robert Pugh stepping in as his replacement.
The voice behind The Repair Shop, while acknowledging his contribution to the beloved series, has shared a humble view of his role.
He reflected: "The joy really is to watch fantastically skilled people who are very articulate about what they do. Until you do it yourself you don't realise what a terrible hash you could make of it. But not one of them does.
"I don't do much, there's not a huge amount of narration in The Repair Shop. It's mostly down to these experts who happily do most of the talking, which is a lot more interesting than my voiceover overstaying its welcome.
"The good thing is you get to hear the real people who know what they're talking about speak."
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
