The Repair Shop's Sonnaz Nooranvary: A Glimpse into Her Life and Childhood Trauma - OK! Magazine

The Repair Shop is back on our screens once more, with a new collection of invaluable artefacts waiting to be restored.

The show also includes Sonnaz Nooranvary, the resident expert in upholstery who thrills viewers with her skill to restore and upcycle anything, even a regal chair made particularly for King George VI's coronation.

This British-Iranian expert on The Repair Shop hails from Dorset and her interest in upholstery was ignited after she left university.

Initially studying law, she chose instead to undertake an apprenticeship in upholstery at Sunseeker yachts.

She is now the proud owner of her own business, Sonnaz Limited, which she has run since 2011.

This TV icon prefers to keep her personal life to herself, so her exact age is kept under wraps.

It is perceived that she is in her middle 30s, which makes her among the youngest experts on the television programme.

She began her apprenticeship role in 2003 and was likely in her late teens or early twenties at that point.

The television celebrity has previously opened up about her tough childhood, and how this led her to pursue her dreams.

In an interview with Hello!, Sonnaz said: 'We lost everything overnight while living in Iran and suddenly we were just a single parent with three children and no money, living in a council house – I'm saying literally no money.

'I really wanted to take charge of my life and understood that working and earning my own money was the solution. As long as I could work hard, I believed that I could achieve everything I wanted in my life and maintain control over it.'

Sonaz has a well-known passion for boats and the sea. She regularly gives her Instagram followers updates about her latest restorations, including sneak peeks from the show and pictures of her amazing work outside the programme.

She once posted a photo of a brightly coloured armchair she had transformed, stating: 'With careful planning and time-honoured skills, it is quite thrilling to see something that has been stored away or well used, or perhaps not in its best shape, completely transformed.'

She even has her own YouTube channel where she converses with other personalities from The Repair Shop. Earlier this month, she shared her enthusiasm for new episodes of the show, commending her fellow stars for their superb work.

She expressed: 'I truly enjoy seeing my fellow experts' items that I've seen in the barn myself beautifully come together on screen. The skill, the editing, the patience, the teamwork, and the big reveal.'

'I've been working on benches ever since my first time in the barn back in 2017. Now, I've established my place outside on a much bigger bench and can make all the noise I want?!

'Yet my laughter is loud enough to get reprimanded every now and then when they're filming inside the barn.

'I recall one item where I was inside, but that's one of my very last items within the barn.'

'I stay nice and warm outside, so there's no concern there.'

The star's work quickly sparked responses from fans.

One fan commented: 'It's always such a pleasure to watch you explain your skills while working on a magnificent project. This applies to all your colleagues at The Repair Shop.'

The Repair Shop is broadcast on BBC One on Wednesdays at 8pm.