The BBC’s hit series The Repair Shop, which attracts up to six million viewers, features a talented craftsman right from North Devon: luthier Becky Houghton.
In the final episode of the show’s 15th series, Becky meticulously restored a violin that had once belonged to a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. As a luthier, Becky specializes in making and repairing stringed instruments.
Based at her studio, Viva Violins, in Landkey, Becky carefully repaired the violin before performing The Blue Danube alongside two of her children for the instrument’s owner. The violin’s original owner was a survivor of the infamous Theresienstadt transit camp in Czechoslovakia, and the present owner is related through marriage.
Becky’s passion for string instruments began at age nine when she first picked up a violin, transitioning to the viola later on. By thirteen, she was certain she wanted to create and restore instruments professionally.
Despite entering a predominantly male industry, Becky persevered and later enrolled at the Newark School of Violin Making. With nearly 20 years of experience, she now repairs and creates violins, violas, and cellos for clients nationwide.
“There are more of us than people realize,” Becky noted, “but it’s all about finding someone you trust with your instrument because it’s so personal. Once they appreciate and like your work, that trust forms.”
Her journey with The Repair Shop began in 2020 after producers reached out when they needed a violin repaired. Inspired by previous violin restorations on the show, Becky was thrilled to be considered. Her audition was a simple video filmed in her workshop by her son, which earned her a spot on the team.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed her first project, but by August 2021, Becky resumed work on one repair per series and also appeared on the spin-off series, The Repair Shop on the Road. In 2023, she made a record three appearances and featured in the special The Repair Shop at Christmas, airing during the festive season.
The Christmas episode includes notable guests like Dame Helen Mirren, who brings a severely damaged cello for restoration. This cello, broken by soldiers as its young owner fled Nazi-occupied Europe, is now part of a care home supported by the actress. Dame Helen hopes the cello will once again bring joy to residents and their families during the holidays.
Becky described the challenging repair as intense but rewarding: “It nearly killed me with the workload, but the show is going to be fantastic.”
She attributes The Repair Shop‘s enduring success to its emotional core. “It’s about connecting with people who are no longer here,” she explained. “These items carry memories and energy, and restoring them helps more than just the object. It’s healing in a profound way.”
Musical instruments carry an added significance, Becky pointed out, because of their sound. “Music reaches deep inside you. When you listen to an incredible song, it moves your body and soul. Restoring instruments means ensuring they sound perfect, which is an extra layer of responsibility.”
Filming takes place at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in West Sussex. The conditions can be difficult for instrument repair due to temperature and drafts affecting adhesives. Becky recounted, “Sometimes I’m so focused on a tricky repair that when producers ask me to explain, I just can’t talk because I’m concentrating so hard.”
Looking ahead, filming is expected to resume early next year. Becky hopes to work on more instruments with deeply moving stories.
She concluded, “It’s all about the stories and human connections. People bravely share their personal histories on the show—it’s truly inspiring.”
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
