U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has ordered a one-off hour-long biographical travel documentary featuring Judi Dench and British furniture restorer and TV host Jay Blades (The Repair Shop), entitled Dame Judi & Jay: The Odd Couple.
“Despite being born nearly 40 years apart and taking very different journeys in life, stage and screen legends Dame Judi Dench and Jay Blades walked away with a friendship for life after a chance meeting three years ago,” a Thursday press release unveiling the project said. “Keen to learn more about each other’s backgrounds and upbringings, the nostalgic one-off will see the duo embark on a journey to explore the places and people that have shaped their vastly different lives.”
The project promises a “whistle-stop tour down memory lane” as the pair uncovers “secrets from each other’s past, sharing funny and heart-warming stories along the way,” according to a description. “Traveling together across the U.K., exploring London and Stratford-upon-Avon, Judi and Jay unveil anecdotes about the path to their incredible successes, introducing each other to special people, past times and places that have influenced who they are. From Hackney’s Ridley Road Market to The Old Vic theater, Judi and Jay head to some of London’s most memorable places, showcasing the city’s vast culture and diverse neighborhoods.”
Channel 4 said the program would also be “telling the story of class, race and social mobility in Britain through the years.”
Said Dench: “Sometimes if you’re very lucky you get to meet someone and find you’re totally on the same wavelength. What fun I had filming this program with Jay, sharing memories of our past, both so different, finding we have the same sense of humor. I could have gone on filming for days.”
Added Blades: “To learn about a new friend’s past really solidifies the future of your friendship. Going down memory lane with someone dear to you is something I would urge everyone to do.”
Deborah Dunnett, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: “It’s a real privilege to be afforded a glimpse into the lives of two wonderfully candid and talented people.”
The documentary is directed and produced by Tom Green for Hungry Jay Media.
