The Repair Shop expert Lucia Scalisi has announced the death of a guest, who appeared on the BBC show in 2023
Abbie Bray Deputy Editor for Screen Time
09:32, 15 Jan 2026Updated 10:34, 15 Jan 2026
Lucia Scalisi, an expert from The Repair Shop, took to Instagram to honour a guest who featured on the BBC programme in 2023. Lucia had the privilege of restoring a painting belonging to Maria Kirk's family for many generations.
Maria was moved to tears when Lucia restored her Madonna and Child painting, a cherished possession of her late grandfather Joseph, originally from Ukraine.
Maria recounted that at the onset of World War II, her mother, Irena, grandmother Halyna, and aunt Stefania had to flee Ukraine, "escaping from the Russians [on] one side and the Germans [on] the other".
She detailed how their ancestors chose to take the painting with them following Joseph's death, rolling it up and concealing it within one of their coats.
However, Lucia shared the tragic news of Maria's passing in a poignant Instagram post. Alongside photos of Maria with her treasured restored painting, Lucia wrote, "It is with sadness I learned today that the wonderful Maria Kirk passed last night," reports the Express.
"You may remember the painting she brought into @therepairshoptv and her story. Her grandmother with her two daughters - one was to become Maria's mum - took it from their family Church in Ukraine during the war.
"The women ran the gauntlet of both Russian and German enemy, captured and sent to work camps. The painting was hidden inside her gran's coat. It was Maria's wish to get the painting back to the village where the exact space on the Church wall awaits - as do her family."
She added, "To this end Maria worked tirelessly spreading the word through exhibitions and talks in schools and community centres and at Londons @artinthecity @painterstainers Let us hope peace prevails to this end, it will be Maria's lasting legacy #life #love #art."
Lucia's supporters flooded the comments with messages of sympathy, with one person expressing, "We watched and remember that episode. May she rest in peace."
A second individual remarked, "So sad, but glad you were able to restore it while she was alive."
Whilst another person shared, "Ah, Lucia, I'm so sorry to hear this. This was a beautiful episode, and your handling of such a precious item was so sensitive."
A further comment read, "Ohhhh, I am saddened by this news. That episode of the Repair Shop was a favourite because of Maria's story and the painting. You made it come alive once again. The restoration was beautiful and the end product incredibly beautiful. May her deep desire be fulfilled at some time in the future."
The Repair Shop can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.