The Repair Shop’s Dom Chinea has swapped Kent for Cornwall in his new TV series Dom Chinea’s Cornish Workshop – but he has faced his fair share of challenges

Dominic Chinea is The Repair Shop’s resident metalwork expert (Image: BBC)

BBC The Repair Shop favourite Dominic Chinea will appear in an entirely fresh environment tonight (March 9) when he debuts his brand new television programme after relocating with his wife – though he confesses the Cornwall move certainly presented obstacles.

Dom, his wife Maria and their dog Wendy are embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime, exchanging Kent’s commuter chaos for West Cornwall’s untamed splendour. They’ve purchased a dilapidated stone farmhouse complete with an open-sided cow barn that Dom intends to convert into his ultimate dream workspace, a new Cornish Workshop.

The series – Dom Chinea’s Cornish Workshop – chronicles Dom as he establishes a new existence whilst undertaking engineering and construction projects, alongside assisting neighbours and his fresh community with their endeavours.

Throughout the series, Dom recruits Sam Lovegrove for general engineering support, plus a collection of charismatic local tradespeople who collectively assist Dom in realising his ambitious objectives.

Prior to the inaugural episode of the new series on U and U Yesterday, Dom discussed his significant relocation and acknowledged he certainly encountered difficulties “everywhere”. However, he also confessed they had already become enchanted with Cornwall’s “stunning” coastline, reports Cornwall Live.

Dom Chinea and Sam Lovegrove in the first episode of the new series set in Cornwall (Image: U and U Yesterday)

He said: “Cornish lanes are so narrow and so tight – especially round here, I’m always forced to drive into the bush, scraping the side of my van on brambles and bushes.

“It brings me to tears almost every time. The lane is constantly getting potholes –I had to use a rock crusher to breakdown rubble to fill the holes – it was actually quite satisfying using thatrare antique machinery.”

Dom and Maria have relocated from a former Post Office in Kent to what was once a dairy farm in Cornwall, complete with approximately two acres of grounds.

Dom has relocated to Cornwall with his wife (Image: BBC/Flabbergast TV Ltd)

It appears the pair have had their work cut out from day one. He said: “I had to start weatherproofing the derelict (and very smelly) cowshed. As well as making a workshop, I’m putting a pond in the garden. Our new home ha splenty of space – there’s two acres for me to spread out and start on new projects.

“We both love gardening and we know things take a long time to grow, so it made sense to get planting straight away.”

Despite the considerable effort required, Dom and Maria have already made themselves at home and are thoroughly enjoying their surroundings. He elaborated: “We have a lot more space at the new place – a two-acre garden – so I can really spread out, plenty of space for all of my projects and make the most of the open spaces we now have.

“The coastline is stunning in Cornwall, and I love learning more about the social history around local landmarks – like Geevor tin mine, near Pendeen, a working mine that officially closed in 1990, hitting the local community hard. I even used local tin to make a traditional workshop sign.”

In the opening episode on Monday, 9 March, audiences will witness Dom purchase a “battered” old Land Rover which he restores – even managing to utilise a jack he’s kept for more than 15 years without ever needing it. He also begins work on his new workshop venture but getting to the site proves problematic.

He says: “So I crush waste concrete to fill the potholes on my lane with a vintage tractor.”