The Great Pottery Throw Down Is Back
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2 days ago
...and we've got all the details
Pottery’s answer to The Great British Bake Off is back for 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about The Great Pottery Throw Down series 8.
The Great Pottery Throw Down Series 8: What To Expect
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12 New Potters
As always, 12 budding amateur potters will enter the studio at the beginning of The Great Pottery Throw Down series 8, with their number whittled down by one each week until only three potters remain in the final. This year’s contestants are:
- Chris, 36: A professional archer and military veteran who lost a leg during a deployment in Afghanistan
- Francesca, 28: A make up artist based in Bristol who found her pottery passion visiting her mother in India
- Diana, 62: A retired art, design and textiles teacher who runs a Dorset smallholding with her husband, rearing animals and growing vegetables
- Hayley, 55: A nature enthusiast and social worker who lived in Suffolk with her husband and two children
- Imy, 22: A model and deaf advocate who discovered a love for pottery after returning home from solo travelling around the world
- James, 42: A former cake maker turned project manager from Belfast who fell in love with pottery three years ago after taking a night class with his sister in law
- Jonathan, 61: A Scottish holiday let business owner who fell in love with clay after a cycling accident left him temporarily paralysed from the neck down
- Natalie, 41: A former dancer turned swimming and aqua aerobics instructor living in Derby whose pottery is inspired by her dancing costumes and travels
- Steve, 48: An animator from Herefordshire whose other hobbies include beer brewing, fishing, gardening and shoemaking
- Stephen, 58: An audio visual and IT technician based in Birmingham who also boasts a range of hobbies, including a Smurf collection, hula hooping and treasure hunting
- Victor, 31: A digital product designer from Hong Kong now living in London
- Olivia, 26: An art and design teacher and part-time cycle tour guide in her native city of Liverpool
Rich, Keith & Siobhán All Return
Pottery experts and Throw Down judges Rich Miller and Keith Brymer Jones have returned to the studio for series 8 to assess the work of this year’s contestants, joined by beloved presenter and Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney.
A New Kiln Technician
If series 7’s new kiln technician seems familiar, that’s because Princess Fingall appeared on last year’s series of The Great Pottery Throw Down. She may have departed from the studio in Week 5 of series 7, but now Princess has stepped into former technician Rose’s shoes after the latter decided to leave the show.
One of eight siblings, Princess was born in French Guyana and went to school in France before her family eventually moved to London. After a career as a pastry chef, Princess brings her experience working as a studio technician to The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Who Are The Previous Winners?
Last year, Donna Bloye from Bangor, Northern Ireland won the Throw Down trophy after bagging Potter of the Week a whopping five times. She joined six previous winners of The Great Pottery Throw Down.
- Series 7, 2024: Donna Bloye
- Series 6, 2023: Loïs Gunn
- Series 5, 2022: AJ Simpson
- Series 4, 2021: Jodie Neale
- Series 3, 2020: Rosa Wiland Holmes
- Series 2, 2017: Ryan Barrett
- Series 1, 2016: Matthew Wilcock
Where Is It Filmed?
The Great Pottery Throw Down is filmed at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton.
The Great Pottery Throw Down Series 8 Release Schedule
As always, The Great Pottery Throw Down series 8 will air weekly on Sunday evenings at 7.45pm for 10 episodes. Mark your calendar with the below release schedule:
- Episode 1: 5 January
- Episode 2: 12 January
- Episode 3: 19 January
- Episode 4: 26 January
- Episode 5: 2 February
- Episode 6: 9 February
- Episode 7: 16 February
- Episode 8: 23 February
- Episode 9: 2 March
- Episode 10: 9 March
WATCH
Catch up with all episodes of The Great Pottery Throw Down at channel4.com
