The Odd Couple Review: Dench and Blades’ Real-Life Friendship Amazes

Some commissions are simply inevitable, and “Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple” stands as a testament to this notion. This unique pairing traces its roots to the unexpected friendship between nearly-nonagenarian national treasure Judi Dench and Jay Blades, a 54-year-old furniture restorer who has dyslexia and grew up on an East London council estate. Their bond was forged two years ago when Dench appeared on Blades’s show, “The Repair Shop”. And thus, the concept of a one-hour travelogue where each visits places that have significantly shaped their lives was born.

Blades introduces “the Dame”, as he fondly calls her, to Ridley Road market in Dalston. A significant part of Blades’s childhood, this market was frequented every weekend by his mother, who balanced collecting gossip and bargains. Dame Judi, an avid shopper, exclaims, “Oh, this is heaven!” as she picks up various trinkets, undeterred by Blades’s attempts to curb her enthusiasm. While their camaraderie, warmth, and the authenticity of their connection shine through, the show occasionally diverts to less engaging activities, such as the duo taking over a market stall to sell plantain to uninterested customers. Similarly, a pub quiz in a local boozer, where a young Dench and her husband Michael Williams spent much time, serves a similar minor purpose.

Amid these stunts, the program offers profoundly moving moments. Watching Dame Judi return to the Old Vic, where she first performed in London as Ophelia in Hamlet at 22, is poignant. Standing on that stage for the first time in over six decades, she is visibly emotional. Blades, who reveals he never heard of Shakespeare at school, asks her to perform a sonnet. When she recites Sonnet 18, her talent makes it feel new again, leaving both Blades and viewers in awe.

Conversely, Blades reads her the “To be, or not to be” speech. For those familiar with his documentary about learning to read at 51, this act carries significant weight. Dench offers subtle support through challenging words, creating a beautiful, intimate moment that feels reminiscent of an actor-director rehearsal. Unfortunately, such poignant instances are sometimes cut short to return to less interesting segments, like a speedboat ride past the MI6 headquarters, a nod to Dench’s role as M in the James Bond films.

The program also introduces viewers to Janet, the woman Blades credits with steering him away from a violent, crime-filled life. Despite having two children by 17, Janet founded a youth club providing food and a safe haven for kids like Blades. Blades expresses his gratitude, telling her, “You created this childhood that was unbelievable.” “That touches my soul,” she replies, smiling. Roy, another influential figure in Blades’s life, taught him that respect didn’t require trouble, a lesson that ultimately led him to repair and restore rather than destroy, shaping his current career. Dench, moved by these interactions, quietly acknowledges their impact, saying, “What two extraordinary people.”

Dench then takes Blades to the home she shared with Williams and their daughter, Finty, before visiting Williams’s grave nearby. She reads the poignant inscription, “‘You have bereft me of all words’. It means: ‘I don’t know what to say.’” They share a moment of peaceful silence. The show’s segments sometimes cut short these genuine moments, assuming viewers might lose interest, although the truth is quite the opposite. Unavoidable as this commission may have been, the potential for a truly enchanting program is evident, yearning for more time to unfold naturally.

Source: The Guardian