With the appearance of an unusual figure named George on tonight’s episode of The Repair Shop, fans received more than they bargained for.
But, we hope, George was not a human, but rather a ventriloquist doll born in 1898.
The doll, as the title implies, was in desperate need of a makeover – but even the results didn’t sit well with viewers, who labelled the doll scary as hell.
Although the pleased owner, Alison Gunn Robson, said George wasn’t everyone’s “cup of tea,” she was smitten with the rickety gentleman’ and kissed him goodbye as she left.
In reality, as a dyslexic 11-year-old, George assisted her through a “tough time” at school.
George instilled ‘confidence’ in Alison when she performed with him at school and forced him to speak snide remarks about the instructors without getting in trouble.
Pretty sure The Repair Shop just let a curse into the barn! #therepairshop #nightmarefuel pic.twitter.com/eJQiGZUFO1
— scott butterfield (@skullmunky) June 14, 2023
‘George could say what he liked, it wasn’t me saying it, it was George,’ explained Alison.
‘I think he helped me through quite a bad time. I was very dyslexic and so you have quite a big inferiority complex I think, and you’re shy, and I think having George meant I would talk freely and with confidence.’
‘And also when you live alone you’re not talking to yourself,’ she added, before admitting: ‘I know he’s maybe not everybody’s cup of tea but he’s just such a dear old fellow.’
But viewers didn’t quite share Alison’s sweet sentiments, as some even said they were going to turn off their TVs at the sight of him, while others worried George had ‘cursed’ the show.
One took to Twitter and said: ‘Was gonna watch The Repair Shop but just seen there’s a ventriloquist’s dummy on tonight’s episode. I just can’t…’
Another wrote: ‘I was going to watch The Repair Shop. But it’s swiftly turned into the stuff of nightmares.’
Did anyone else think the ventriloquist dummy ended up looking like mr Bean on the Repair Shop? pic.twitter.com/gjeTD4NGVC
— Paula R Page (@paulafoosp) June 14, 2023
It was a strong reaction, since many saw George as a murderous supernatural creature.
‘Ventriloquist dummy on The Repair Shop has clearly killed and will do so again,’ wrote one viewer, while another said: ‘I’m not saying that this ventriloquist doll on @BBCOne the repair shop is demonically possessed but I would suggest it is burnt, and the ashes are spread across the world. Just to be safe.’
‘Pretty sure The Repair Shop just let a curse into the barn!’ chimed in another.
George actually scared another viewer, as they said: ‘Oh my god. There’s a ventriloquists dummy on The Repair Shop. It’s horrifying, I’m going to check absolutely everywhere tonight to make sure it’s not hiding. Awful creature.’
However, the end product was not much better, with one person comparing George to Mr Bean, another to Charlie Brooker, and a third to Andrew Lloyd Webber.
‘I’m surprised George didn’t kill them all in their sleep,’ began one Twitter user as the doll re-entered the screen, good as, er, new.
‘Did anyone else think the ventriloquist dummy ended up looking like Mr Bean on the Repair Shop?’ asked another.
While we’re used to seeing tears from The Repair Shop, we’re sobbing for a different cause this time.
Of course, Alison ended up with George, and we couldn’t be happier for her.
The Repair Shop airs on Wednesdays 8pm on BBC One.
