Jay Blades is seen for the first time since marriage split as he goes without wedding ring during drive in Shropshire

Jay Blades makes his first appearance since his wife Lisa Marie Zbozen announced that the couple had split after 18 months of marriage.

The Repair Shop star, 54, was spotted driving in Shropshire, not far from where he runs his business Jay and Co.

The TV star was not wearing his wedding ring as he headed out in his black Land Rover Range Rover.

Jay looked dapper during the outing as he wore a crisp white shirt, dark vest and glasses.

He maintained a somber expression during the ride, just weeks after his divorce from Lisa was confirmed.

Lisa left Jay, 54, earlier this month, saying their 18-month marriage “just got worse and worse until I packed a bag with a few things and left.”

It was announced that Jay would be taking time away from TV in light of the divorce – which came shortly after his uncle’s murder.

On Instagram on Thursday, Lisa shared an emotional poem by Billie Brooks, in which she spoke of having faith that “someday soon the pain you feel won’t be so unbearable.”

Lisa announced her divorce from the TV star whom she married in November 2022 in an emotional post on social media on May 2.

She said: ‘I’ve been quiet so far but the papers seem to have picked up this story but some parts have definitely been missed so it’s forced my hand…

“This was the entire post on a private forum: I don’t know how to say this because it’s still very raw.

“I should probably be really angry, but I’m just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much.

“I wanted my husband to love me and keep me safe, and I would love him back right away, but it just got worse and worse, until I packed a bag with a few things and I left. Anyway, that’s why there haven’t been any new training sessions [workouts].’

In another post, she said, “I have to admit I’m crying as I type this because I can’t believe this is even real. I hope you don’t mind if I take a few days to make sense of my life, as I’m currently stuck in a spare room with a few essentials.

‘I don’t know what else to say. All my love, A very heartbroken Lisa-Marie x.’

It all came as Jay was expected to be back filming the hugely popular BBC show The Repair Shop but was reportedly absent from set.

Last week, MailOnline revealed that Jay would be given ‘the time’ he needed to address personal issues affecting his life.

Amid reports that Jay had thrown BBCAs filming of The Repair Shop descended into chaos, a source has confirmed to MailOnline that the presenter is being ‘given the space’ he needs to ‘get his head in order’.

The insider said: “Jay is a much-loved member of the team at The Repair Shop. It is a very close group, which is like a family.

“Jay gets the time he needs to get things done and figure out what he needs.

‘He has gone through a very difficult time with his uncle and now he has to deal with the breakdown of his marriage.

‘The BBC fully expects Jay to return, but they will not rush or pressure him to return before he is ready and he will be given the space to sort things out and get his head in order .’

Reports recently suggested that the Repair Shop Christmas special was in jeopardy due to Jay’s absence.

But MailOnline later understood that this was not the case.

The source added: ‘Filming for the Christmas show is almost complete. There’s no way it won’t work out. It is one of the jewels in the crown.’

Just a week before his divorce was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been murdered.

Jay announced he would be taking time away from social media to deal with his grief following the death of his uncle, Richard, 72.

Richard was stabbed to death in a quiet residential street in north London in March.

The Old Bailey heard the murder took place following a ‘long-running neighbor dispute’.