Judi Dench, 89, emotional as BBC Repair Shop's Jay Blades delivers touching gesture amid personal struggle

In order to learn more about one another, both Dench and Blades took trips down memory lane to explain to the other what milestones shaped their lives.

For Blades, emotional trips to the Ridley Road Market in London’s East End and the Hackney Youth Club which he visited growing up were on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Dench enjoyed tearful trips to the Old Vic and the family home where she used to live with her late husband Michael Williams.

But it was at the Old Vic where a particularly poignant scene unfolded as Blades decided to show his appreciation for Dench by overcoming a personal struggle.

Blades - who split from his wife earlier this year - has been open with his struggles with dyslexia, not learning to read until he was 51.

But despite that, as Dench took to the stage at the Old Vic, Blades decided to treat her to a reading of a famous Shakespeare soliloquy.

"Performing here might be second nature to Judi but for me, it’s the complete opposite," Blades told Channel 4 viewers.

"I’ve lived with dyslexia my whole life and I learned to read and write at 51."

Speaking directly to Dench, Blades told her: "Coming here today, I wanted to read some Shakespeare but reading out in public... I just don't do it.

"It's never done but I thought seeing as I'm with you, I'm gonna give it a go."

Acknowledging the courage Blades showed, Dench clasped her hands to her mouth in anticipation as Blades scanned over the paper in front of him.

After a few moments to gain his composure, Blades read aloud a passage from Hamlet - as Dench helped him out along the way.

As Blades edged towards the end of the soliloquy, Dench stepped in to finish the words from her memory.

"Jay! Gosh," an emotional Dench said as Blades then made his way onto the stage where he planted a huge hug on his co-star.

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The Repair Shop star thanked the Bond actress for her support before she dryly quipped: "There are easier bits to learn than that!"

Blades let out a huge exhalation of breath as Dench continued to heap the praise on: "How fantastic!"