Inside Jay Blades's ill-fated marriage to Lisa Zbozen as it breaks down beyond repair: How BBC star's fitness guru wife 'fell in love at first sight' and taught him to read and write... before calling an end to 18-month union
Jay Blades' wife Lisa Zbozen surprised fans on Friday when she confirmed she'd split from the BBC star after just 18 months of marriage.
Fitness instructor Lisa - who also goes by Lisa Marie - addressed her 141,000 Instagram followers with a lengthy post in which she admitted she'd never 'cried so much' and that she felt 'broken'.
It marked an abrupt end to the couple's whirlwind union, which saw them tie the knot in November 2022 with an intimate Barbados ceremony with loved ones.
While it's not clear when the couple first met, Lisa, 43, knew instantly she had found The One in Jay, 54, sharing in an Instagram post seven months before their wedding: 'The very first time I met him, I said: "I'm going to marry that man."'
Appearing to speak directly to Jay, she added: 'Thank you for challenging me to be better every day. I'm not perfect by a long way, but working together, we make it as perfect as it could be. I love you completely.'
Inside Jay Blades's ill-fated marriage to Lisa Zbozen as it breaks down beyond repair 18 months after their idyllic Barbados wedding in November 2022
Fitness instructor Lisa - who also goes by Lisa Marie - addressed her 141,000 Instagram followers with a lengthy post detailing her split from Jay
She doubled down on her declarations of love this year when she posted a sweet Valentine's Day tribute to the BBC presenter.
Alongside a black and white image of the pair passionately embracing, Lisa penned: 'My heart is where my husband is. Happy Valentines @jaybladesmbe.'
In response, Jay shared a picture of the pair on a photoshoot that he captioned: 'Happy Valentines Day @lisamariezbozen ❤️
'I'm far from perfect, but I'll be perfect for that imperfect person that's perfect for me. True Love is supporting others to grow.'
When not posting tributes to Jay, Lisa kept her followers entertained with a slew of challenging workout videos.
The trainer posts tough, high-intensity workouts on Instagram daily which show her lifting kettlebells, lunging and squatting.
She runs on-demand fitness app The Wkout, which offers programmes for fat burning, strength training and yoga.
A biography of Lisa on The Wkout's website describes her determination as 'no joke'.
It reads: 'Lisa brings the FIRE every-time. Lisa's workouts are dynamic, powerful & no two workouts are the same.'
The fitness company also describes itself as: 'No Fad Diets, No Gimmicks & No Excuses. Just hard work & sweat.'
On her Instagram profile Lisa shares her approach to fitness with her followers, proving she's a fan hard work, but also encourages people to be themselves.
Lisa, 43, knew she had found The One in Jay, 54, sharing in an Instagram post seven months before their wedding: 'The very first time I met him, I said: "I'm going to marry that man"''
She doubled down on her declarations of love this year when she posted a sweet Valentine's Day tribute captioned: 'My heart is where my husband is. Happy Valentines @jaybladesmbe'
On her Instagram profile Lisa shares her approach to fitness with her followers, proving she's a fan hard work, but also encourages people to be themselves
The Repair shop presenter Jay took to Instagram to announced he'd proposed to his girlfriend Lisa with a ring specially designed by his co-star and goldsmith Richard Talman
Lisa is usually spotted wearing workout gear - but she swapped her sports bra and leggings for a classic, classy bridal gown from Birmingham-based store Romantic Dreams Bridal for her exotic wedding with Jay.
Speaking about their intimate ceremony of just 15 guests, Lisa told Hello magazine: 'Once you get to a certain age, you realise what’s actually important on the day - and that is having the people around you that love you for who you are. So we made the day our day.'
During the ceremony, the couple exchanged bespoke wedding rings which had been created by The Repair Shop's Richard Talman - which Lisa said was one of her favourite touches.
READ MORE: Inside Jay Blades' week from hell as wife reveals she has left him after 18 months of marriage and uncle is stabbed to death in neighbour dispute
She said the rings, inspired by the Egyptian imperfect circle and containing each person's birthstone, meant more to her because they had been designed and made with 'care and 'love'.
Following their dream wedding, Lisa changed her name on her personal Instagram account to read 'Lisa "Tiny" Blades' - reflecting her married surname and her nickname.
Jay's wedding followed his marriage to ex-wife Jade, who he split from in 2015. The former couple share 17-year-old daughter Zola.
He is also father to Levi, 32, and Dior, 28, from previous relationships.
Jay and Lisa gave fans a glimpse into their relationship shortly before their wedding during BBC documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51.
The programme followed Jay - who received a late dyslexia diagnosis at the age of 31 - as he detailed his journey to learn how to read and write, having not been taught in childhood.
Lisa featured in the show and was seen helping him with his studies, with Jay admitting: 'I've mainly got by from the help from those around me, people like Lisa.'
Yet now Lisa has left the marital home and revealed why she had to 'grab her things and leave' in an emotive social media post.
It came just a day after it was revealed that Jay's beloved uncle was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Lisa said: 'I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up this story, but some parts have been definitely missed, so it's forced my hand...
'This was the whole post on a private forum: I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw.
'I probably should be really angry but I'm just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don't think I've ever cried so much.
'I wanted my husband to love me & keep me safe, and I would love him right back, but it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few thing's & I just left.
'Anyway, That's why there's been no new wkouts [workouts]. (I would never miss a wkout [workout] - I'd do it on the pavement bare foot & naked if I had to).'
Following their dream wedding, Lisa changed her name on her personal Instagram account to read 'Lisa "Tiny" Blades' - reflecting her married surname and her nickname
Now Lisa has left the marital home and revealed why she had to 'grab her things and leave' in an emotive social media posT
In another post, she said: 'I will admit I'm crying as I type this as I can't believe this is even real. I hope you don't mind if I just have a few days trying to figure out my life as I'm currently in a spare room with a few essentials.
'I don't know what else to say. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie x.'
Jay, who is best known for presenting BBC's The Repair Shop, was raised in Hackney with his mother Barbara and maternal half-brother.
The presenter, a furniture maker by trade, has seen his career flourish since BBC producers put him at the helm of the hit craft show, which restores family heirlooms to their former glory, in 2017.
He grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his much-loved mother Barbara and by the time he was in his twenties, he ended up homeless and wondering 'is this what my life has come to?'.
The father-of-three previously said he could fit all his belongings in one carrier bag when he lived in a hostel before he was given social housing on the Victorian Peabody estate.
Jay was discovered by TV producers after they saw a short film about Out of the Dark, a charity he co-founded that taught young people how to restore and sell old furniture, after previously running community groups for youngsters.
But he became homeless as his relationship disintegrated with his ex-wife - before being discovered and elevated to TV stardom fronting The Repair Shop on its debut in 2017.
Jay (seen on The Repair Shop) was discovered by producers after they saw a film about a charity he co-founded that taught young people how to restore and sell old furniture
Dyslexic and unable to read, it wasn't until the star reached 51 that he began to tackle to the illiteracy problem that had haunted him all of his adult life - after he'd found fame on the show that tapped into the nation's obsession with heritage crafting.
Speaking about when he was homeless, Jay said: 'At 21 I was all over the place, I had no direction, I left London because I was getting into loads of fights and there were people after me.
'My mum moved to Luton and I lived up there with her for a bit.
I had my first child, and then split up with the missus, and moved back to London, then I ended up homeless and went into a hostel.'
Jay was appointed an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours, for services to craft, with King Charles even appearing in a special episode.
