Series 10 Of The Great British Sewing Bee Is In Full Swing
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6 months ago
Here's what you missed
From cakes to pots to sewn creations, there’s nothing we love more than a very British competition series. And, while Bake Off is perhaps the loudest of the bunch, we have a soft spot for The Great British Sewing Bee. The series is in full swing, but if you need to jog your memory, here’s exactly what you missed.
The Great British Sewing Bee Series 10
Having debuted on BBC Two in 2013, The Great British Sewing Bee is another masterpiece from Love Productions, the production company behind the likes of The Great British Bake Off, The Great Pottery Throw Down and, most recently, Channel 4’s beloved talent show, The Piano. Now airing on BBC One, the Sewing Bee entices viewers with its consistent format, providing cosy comfort as contestants battle it out to create the ‘Garment of the Week’ and ultimately walk away with the series title.
Presenter Kiell Smith-Bynoe with judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. © Love Productions/James Stack
When Is The Great British Sewing Bee Back?
The Great British Sewing Bee series 10 kicked off on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 9pm on BBC One. It’ll air weekly until July, with 12 sewers gradually whittled down to one winner in the grand final.
How Does It Work?
The Great British Sewing Bee sees 12 contestants battle it out to prove themselves as Britain’s best seamster over 10 weeks. Much like Bake Off, each episode consists of three challenges: the Pattern Challenge, the Transformation Challenge, and the Made-To-Measure Challenge.
In the Pattern Challenge, the judges select a pattern that all of the contestants must follow as accurately as possible, much like a Technical Challenge in Bake Off or a Spot Test in Pottery Throw Down.
In the Transformation Challenge, the contestants are given an identical existing garment, and they are tasked with reinventing it into something else. The ‘something else’ is specified (so a tote bag could become a garment) but, other than that, the sewers have free reign over their creations.
Finally, the Made-To-Measure Challenge sees the sewers design and create their own garments under a theme; examples in series nine include ‘Crochet Blanket Outfit’, ‘Party Dress’ and ‘Smoking Jacket’. However, it’s not that simple: they must also adjust their patterns to fit human models.
Series 10 Challenges
Episode 1: Inspired By The First Ever Episode
- Pattern: A-line skirt
- Transformation: A t-shirt into a new garment
- Made-to-Measure: Casual day dress
Episode 2: Sports Week
- Pattern: Half-zip fleece
- Transformation: Cricket whites and protection
- Made-to-Measure: An outfit suitable to compete in a specific international sporting event
Episode 3: Travel Week
- Pattern: A summer blouse using an old tablecloth
- Transformation: A bag using nautical paraphernalia
- Made-to-Measure: An outfit inspired by the French Riviera
Episode 4: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week
- Pattern: A quilted bag using scraps
- Transformation: A brand new item from a mountain of textile waste
- Made-to-Measure: Repurposing a wedding dress into a party dress
Episode 5: India Week
- Pattern: Nehru jacket
- Transformation: An outfit using calico and Madras cotton
- Made-to-Measure: Evening war inspired by the sari
Episode 6: Children’s Week
- Pattern: Sequined bomber jacket
- Transformation: Animal themed fancy dress from beach towels
- Made-to-Measure: A new outfit inspired by the sewer’s own childhood photos
New Presenter Kiell Smith-Bynoe at The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special 2023. © BBC/Love Productions/Paul Andrews
Who Hosts The Great British Sewing Bee?
The Great British Sewing Bee’s new host Kiell Smith-Bynoe will take the reins for series 10, after debuting as presenter in the 2023 Christmas Special. Kiell is an actor and writer best known for his role as Mike in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom, Ghosts, but superfans might recognise him from the 2021 Christmas Sewing Bee, in which he competed.
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Kiell takes over from Sara Pascoe, who joined the series in 2022 and hosted series eight and nine; Sara left the series after the birth of her second child in October 2023. She was passed the baton by comedian Joe Lycett, who hosted the series from 2019 to 2021 (series five, six and seven). Before Lycett, The Great British Sewing Bee was hosted by none other than Claudia Winkleman for the series’ first four series, from 2013 to 2016 (there was a hiatus between 2016 and 2019, and Winkleman clearly moved onto pastures new).
Judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. © BBC/Love Productions/James Stack
Who Are The Judges?
Fashion designers Patrick Grant and Esme Young will return to judge The Great British Sewing Bee series 10. Grant, who is the director of Savile Row’s Norton & Sons, has judged the competition since it began in 2013, while Young took over from sewing expert May Martin in 2016.
The 2024 Contestants
The 2024 Great British Sewing Bee contestants are:
- Don, 84, a retired research physicist from Cheshire
- Alex, 32, copywriter from Derbyshire
- Marcus, 30, a teaching assistant from London
- Pascha, 20, a student from Guildford
- Luke, 33, a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Director from Manchester
- Lauren, 36, a finance administrator from Manchester
- Comfort, 33, a designer and business manager from Somerset
- Georgie, 40, a DJ from the Isle of Wight
- Janet, 75, retired from Doncaster
- Ailsa, 28, freelance events planner from Glasgow
- Suzy, 28, a waitress from Liverpool
- Neil, 52, a woodwork instructor from Leicester
Who Has Left The Competition?
The following contestants have sadly been eliminated from The Great British Sewing Bee 2024:
- Week 1: Neil
- Week 2: Comfort
- Week 3: Janet
- Week 4: Don
- Week 5: Lauren
- Week 6: Georgie
(L-R) Don, Alex, Marcus, Pascha, Luke, Lauren, Esme Young, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Patrick Grant, Comfort, Georgie, Janet, Marcus, Ailsa, Suzy. © Love Productions/James Stack
Where Is It Filmed?
The Great British Sewing Bee is filmed at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, Leeds. This famous woollen mill was founded in 1829, and has sat on the outskirts of the northern city ever since. Historically, Sunny Bank Mills was the world’s finest mills, specialising in fine worsted, high quality wool yarn used for fabric and dress making.
Leeds has a rich textile history, so it is fitting that The Great British Sewing Bee would be filmed here. As judge Patrick said in 2022, ‘Leeds is at the heart of the wool and textile industry, so it feels appropriate to film in a great big spinning mill.’ The Great British Sewing Bee has been filmed here since series eight (2022). Before then, the competition was filmed in and around London at locations such as The Chain Store on Trinity Boy, Tanner Street near London Bridge, and in Bermondsey.
Can You Visit?
Sunny Bank Mills is a creative space for small businesses, the arts and heritage, and it is very much open to visitors. There is a gallery, shop and tearoom open everyday except Monday, plus a museum and archive open every other Saturday. Otherwise, visitors can undertake courses or join workshops hosted by talented artists and makers from across the country.
Details: Visitors can find Sunny Bank Mills at 83-85 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ. Learn more and plan your visit at sunnybankmills.co.uk
Presenter Sara Pascoe, Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young with sewer Asmaa, with sewer Asmaa, Winner of The Great British Sewing Bee S9. © BBC/Love Productions/James Stack
Who Are The Previous Winners?
Last year, Asmaa Al-Allak – a breast surgeon who lives and works in Cardiff, but was born in Iraq and raised in Durham from the age of 14 – beat out her fellow sewers to win The Great British Sewing Bee series nine. She joined eight previous winners of the competition. They are:
- Series 9, 2023: Asmaa Al-Allak
- Series 8, 2022: Annie Phillips
- Series 7, 2021: Serena Baker
- Series 6, 2020: Clare Bradley
- Series 5, 2019: Juliet Uzor
- Series 4, 2016: Charlotte Newland
- Series 3, 2015: Matt Chapple
- Series 2, 2014: Heather Jacks
- Series 1, 2013: Ann Rowley
Where To Watch The Great British Sewing Bee
The Great British Sewing Bee Series 10 begins on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 9pm on BBC One.
If you can’t quite wait until series 10, or you’ve never watched The Great British Sewing Bee before, you can stream all nine series to date on BBC iPlayer. bbc.co.uk
