BBC The Repair Shop leaves 101-year-old veteran in tears during moving VE special

There wasn't a dry eye in the barn - or at home - as 101-year-old Royal Navy veteran John Holloway broke down in tears during a special VE episode of . John, who served as an aircraft mechanic on an aircraft carrier during WWII, brought in a cockpit clock he'd salvaged from a plane he once serviced. The clock held deep personal meaning - gifted to his beloved wife for Christmas in 1947. "She was the best wife and the best thing I ever had," John said through tears. "I was married for 66 years... I think of her often."

Viewers were left just as emotional, flooding X with tributes. One wrote: "I'm no crying, you're crying, shut up right!!" Another added: "What a wonderful episode. This 101-year-old vet and all the people on this episode deserve the spotlight." A third said: "He looks and sounds absolutely fantastic for his age. I'm already welling up here."

John, who joined the Navy at 17, added: "Every night I say goodnight Con, I love you, and that sort of thing. And that's why I'm asking your good services to put this thing together because for me, that is Con. She always kept this clock on the bedside table.

"Six years ago I moved from Devon and it all got broken and smashed up. Pretty devastated I was. That's a part of me and Con."

The reveal has John in tears as he gushed over the restored item.

The special VE episode marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, as the team took on four items with an extraordinary wartime story behind them, including a doll that belong to a young Jewish girl who evacuated Austria during World War II.

"She's been with me since I was two and a half years old, " said Ruth Haters, who was accompanied by daughter Charlie.

Restorers Julie and Amanda were tasked with brining the doll back to life, as Ruth revealed the had the child throughout foster care during the 1930s.

She was taken to England to avoid being taken to a concentration camp. "she was with me all the way. She was my security.

Fans applauded hte episode, dubbing it "fabulous."

"VE Day Special: Fabulous episode, worthy repairs, excellent skills, could have watched another hour, ending with a brass band," gushed one fan.

Another penned: "'m not crying, YOU'RE crying....."The talent and attention to detail of these wonderful craftspeople at never fails to amaze me," while more admitting being unable to hold back the water works: "WtF am I crying at. The talent and attention to detail of these wonderful craftspeople at never fails to amaze me."