'The Repair Shop' star Jay Blades shares suicidal thoughts

The Repair Shop star Jay Blades says he considered driving his car into a motorway bridge to end his life.

Blades 51, has revealed the dark moment six years ago when he contemplated suicide following the breakdown of his marriage and his business citing an "inability to speak about it with anyone".

He told the Mirror: “I was unable to see tomorrow. I couldn’t see myself existing in the future.”

He says crash barriers on the motorway bridge are the reason he is still alive.

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The TV star, admitted that he "couldn’t even think straight" in regard to the impact his death would have had on his children.

Opening up about the dark moment he contemplated taking his own life, he recalled the cruel words of his careers teacher when he was 14, telling him that he was 'a failure' and that his life 'would always amount to nothing.'

After driving 100 miles to Wolverhampton he ran out of petrol and found himself in a car park where he stayed for almost a week.

Following his car park stay, Blades checked into a hotel where he was met by the police and a psychiatric nurse after his soon-to-be-ex wife Jade, had tracked his whereabouts and contacted them out of concern for his welfare.

Following some questioning, Blades was allowed to leave with friend Gerald Bailey, a businessman who Blades revealed had served as a trustee for his charity Out Of The Dark.

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In his new book Making It, The Repair Shop star recalled the moment he sat in Bailey’s car and began to cry 'gut-wrenching sobs.'

“When I stopped crying, I realised I’d got my feelings back. I was alive again.”

Blades comments come during Mental Health Awareness week.

For confidential emotional support at times of distress, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.