The much-loved National Geographic car renovation programme is returning for a 14th series

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Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend host the show

Dame Joanna Lumley is set to give a helping hand in an emotional instalment of Car SOS.

The National Geographic show is returning for its 14th series, with another batch of vehicle renovations and big reveals, and the actress takes part in the first episode.

The instalment, airing on March 12, sees “a show-stopping reunion” as Joanna helps return a lovingly restored Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite to its owner, whose romance with their late partner began in it more than 60 years ago.

The mission is one of the toughest yet for the show’s hosts Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend. They have to sneak the Frogeye Sprite out of its owner’s garage, where it’s been stored for over 50 years.

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Car SOS is returning for a new series

The car is John’s pride and joy, but family life forced him to sideline the little roadster, and years locked away has allowed rot to set in. The body is now riddled with rust, the engine is seized, the gearbox needs a full rebuild, and the interior is falling apart.

The TV stars are determined to save as many original components as possible – but John’s missing garage keys mean a locksmith could be called at any moment.

A synopsis says: “Can the Car SOS team complete the daring restoration in time for an emotional reveal at an English vineyard, with surprise help from Dame Joanna Lumley? The clock is ticking.”

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Joanna Lumley appears in the new series

The series will also see Tim and Fuzz tackle one of their rarest challenges ever with Lamborghini’s backing on an ultra-scarce Silhouette, undertake the programme’s first motorcycle rebuild for a former sub-postmaster affected by the Horizon scandal, and create a therapy vehicle from a Rover P4 to support men’s mental health.

“This season is on another level,” says Tim. “The cars are rarer, the builds are tougher, and the responsibility to get it right for the families is enormous. When you hear firsthand what some of them have been through, you’ll understand why these reveals mean everything.”

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Fuzz Townshend and Joanna Lumley in the Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite

Fuzz adds: “Every year we think we’ve taken on our toughest restoration, and every year the bar somehow is set higher.”