The Great British Sewing Bee will be back on our screeens on Tuesday, May 21! We love the Sewing Bee and the chance to enjoy the sewists' highs and lows.
The Great British Sewing Bee returns to Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds to celebrate its 10th series with a dozen more stitchers competing to be named Britain’s Best Amateur Sewer. Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe – himself an alumnus of the celebrity edition of the show – takes on hosting duties while our regular presenter, comedian Sara Pascoe, is on maternity leave. Designers Patrick Grant – part of the BAFTA-nominated reality favourite from the beginning – and Esme Young are back as judges.
From outlandish made-to-measures to trickier-than-ever transformations, The Great British Sewing Bee offers lashings of sewing room drama with the eagle-eyed judging we've grown to love from Patrick and Esme.
Photos: BBC/Love Productions/James Stack
Your complete guide to the 2024 Sewing Bee!
Looking for something specific? Jump straight to our Sewing Bee sections to learn more.
Everything you need to know about the Bee:
- When is the Great British Sewing Bee on?
- New book alert 2024! The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics
- Who is the new presenter of the Great British Sewing Bee 2024?
- The Great British Sewing Bee FAQ
The Great British Sewing Bee Season 10:
- Sewing Bee 2024 episode guide
- Sewing Bee patterns
- The Great British Sewing Bee's 2024 themes
- Download our free Sewing Bee sweepstake card!
- What can we expect from this year's Great British Sewing Bee?
Meet the Sewing Bee Season 10 cast:
Meet the Sewing Bee judges and presenters:
When is the Great British Sewing Bee 2024 on?
It's official! The Great British Sewing Bee Series 10 will return to BBC One on Tuesday 21st May 2024, 9pm.
What channel is the Great British Sewing Bee on 2024?
The Great British Sewing Bee is shown on BBC One.
Where can I stream the Great British Sewing Bee?
All the past Sewing Bee episodes are available on iPlayer shortly after they've aired. The show can also be streamed on the Sky Go app.
The BBC has made all of the past eight series of the Great British Sewing Bee available on iPlayer, so you can catch up on any series that you've missed.
Watch the Great British Sewing Bee
New book alert 2024! The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics
Get yourself a copy of the brand new The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics: Create Your Own Capsule Wardrobe With 23 Dressmaking Projects. The book is available to pre-order and is out on the 18th April 2024. Subscribe to Simply Sewing magazine today and receive a copy of this book with your subscription! Sign up today to receive a copy direct to your door.
Who is the new presenter of the Great British Sewing Bee 2024?
There's a new presenter in the Sewing Bee studio! The lovely Sara Pascoe is going on maternity leave (congratulations Sara!) so the incredibly talented Kiell Smith-Bynoe will be taking over the reins.
Kiell will be hosting the upcoming series 10 in 2024.
Kiell Smith-Bynoe – Presenter
Actor/writer Kiell Smith-Bynoe, 35, is best known for his role as Mike – Alison’s non-spirit-seeing husband – in the BAFTA-nominated sitcom Ghosts. And for playing no-nonsense estate agent Dean in BAFTA-winning comedy Stath Lets Flats. A contestant in last year’s 15th series of Taskmaster, he’s also starred in the crime drama Death in Paradise and the comedies Dreamland, Bloods and The Curse. At last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, he co-starred in the musical comedy String V SPITTA and had his own late-night improv show Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Friends: Kool Story Bro, which has since gone on to sell out multiple London runs. He also co-hosted the prestigious British Independent Film Awards in December. After competing in the 2021 Christmas special of The Great British Sewing Bee, he steps in for Sara Pascoe as the new host for Series 10. Kiell will also be seen in a brand-new production of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical masterpiece The Government Inspector this Spring at the Marylebone Theatre. Kiell lives in London.
How did it feel to be walking into the sewing room as the new boy?
Very nice. I was drawn back to the sewing machines, I can’t seem to leave them alone. It brought back memories – some fond ones and some fearful ones. When I did the Christmas special in 2021, I think it was the hardest day's work I've ever done, I really do. I was not in any way prepared for how difficult it was going to be and I really tried hard. I haven't concentrated on anything that much before or since.
You sound slightly traumatised by the experience…
Well, yes. LAUGHS I thought it would be a little bit easier if I wasn’t actually doing the sewing. I'm not sure if I was right. It was still hard work, but better to be an observer and a supporter of other people doing the sewing rather than at the business end of an overlocker. And to judge them… even if it was just internally. I stood there thinking: ‘Rather them than me…’ most of the time.
The job of host is sort of part-therapist, part-clown, isn’t it? How did you see your role?
That’s a very good way to describe it. You need a certain amount of likability, humour, tact… that was important to me. I’ve been in that position when someone comes over and starts asking a question when you've got five minutes left to make a dress. It was important to try to put people at ease as they're working rather than distract them. Make their life easier, rather than harder. That’s what I’m aiming for anyway. I was definitely keeping it light. And it was important to make it about the sewers. It was really nice to hear why people were making things and why they’re in the competition… especially as we got towards the final.
How did you come to take over hosting duties?
I have no idea! This is how it happened: Patrick sent me a DM on Twitter and said: ‘Please do the Sewing Bee job…’ My first reaction was I thought he’d tried to send this message two years ago about the Christmas special and it had only just come through. I responded with something like: ‘Again?’ And he was like: ‘No, stepping in for the main gig…’ I was like: ‘What?’ I hadn't heard anything about it. I contacted my agent and said: ‘Have you heard about this?’ And she said: ‘No…’ Then, the next day, she said: ‘They just sent me an email and said they’d like you to host…’ I was like: ‘What? Me?’
Can they not remember how I did in the sewing room?
LAUGHS Not just that… I've never presented before. It’s very new to me. I’ve presented some awards, but not like the whole ceremony, just a category. I was thinking of all sorts of reasons why they could have asked for me. I haven't got the answer yet, but it was nice to be there.
You obviously made an impression in the sewing room. It was your sparkling personality…
Oh, I see! Nobody told me that in the seven weeks we were filming… LAUGHS
Did anyone give you any advice?
Not really. Everyone was just like: ‘Do your thing…’ I was like ‘I don’t have a thing…’ because I've never presented before. LAUGHS. I guess that was the best advice I could have got, though. I'm not trying to play the role of presenter, I’m just myself.
What's been the reaction from family and friends?
Mostly confusion. LAUGHS Quite a lot of people don't really understand how or why I'm doing this job, but they are very excited to watch. We’ll see what happens. Quite a few of my family are keen watchers…
Have they said: ‘Do not muck it up. We love this show…’?
Well, yeah. People were saying it’s their favourite show and I never knew. Some had their mouths open in shock. It's very different from what I’ve done before and very different from what I talk about doing or what I planned for my next steps. I’d never said: ‘Next up, I’ll think I’ll try to present…’
Sometimes that's the way the best things happen: by surprise…
Definitely. If I’d had more time to think about it, I don’t know if it would have been the same answer. I don't know if I would have done it in the same way. Maybe I would have overthought it, but I finished Edinburgh two days before we started filming, so I was kind of thrown into it rather than having a real plan.
Are any of your Ghosts co-stars fans of Sewing Bee?
A lot of the Ghosts lot don't watch TV. They’re too busy working or with kids or dogs. I’ve not discovered any secret sewers, but they’re all very excited about me doing it. Ben [Willbond, who plays the Captain] was the first one I told because I was with him when I was asked about it for the first time. I said: ‘I’ve just been asked about Sewing Bee…’ and he said: ‘Oh, fantastic!’ I was like: ‘Is it?’ It was good to see that reaction firsthand. I thought: ‘Well, he's responded positively, so maybe I should say yes to this unexpected offer.’
What's the standard of the sewers this year?
I just couldn't believe people had these ideas and could put them together from scratch in the number of hours they had… and to perfection. It really blew my mind.
Tell us about this year’s sewers. What’s the age range?
Oh, we’re talking from 20 to 84. That wide. There’s a huge range of life experience there. We have teachers, someone from uni, an office manager… all sorts, but they all really love sewing. I wouldn't say they were competitive. At all. If anything, it was too much the other way. People were always helping each other.
There's so much awfulness in the world, it’s nice to see people who are supposed to be in competition actually supporting each other, isn't it?
Definitely. You’ll notice people are really quite serious about the craft, but also about being nice and kind and looking out for each other. And the series will be full of emotion from early on.
What were your favourite challenges?
There’s a lot of very high quality stuff made across the 10 weeks. The transformation challenges always shocked me because seeing what they start with and what they end up with… it’s really rewarding. With that transformation challenge, it’s whatever is given to you on the table and that could be anything. One week there was loads of party paraphernalia: party hats, tablecloths, paper plates, stuff like that. To see them make dresses out of that was really impressive. And when they turned old nautical gear into a holiday bag, there was fishing nets, life jackets, rope… those sorts of things. It was extraordinary.
What about the made-to-measure challenges?
The stage outfit for a diva in Diva Week… that was cool. Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga… I could see those people wearing the outfits. Definitely. That was an incredibly hard episode to judge because everyone did so well. It’s really interesting to see different people's take on things like upcycling a wedding dress. That was the made-to-measure challenge in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week. It’s quite amazing they don’t end up with X amount of the same thing.
How much fun did you, Esme and Patrick have? We know Esme likes to play music in the green room…
Oh, Esme was dropping those bangers non-stop. It was like our own personal DJ in the green room. She’s really good at it. There’s a bit of a singsong, but it’s often interrupted by us being told they’re ready for us to film downstairs. I didn’t manage to socialise as much as I would have liked in the evenings… just because they were such long days and you’re shattered. I did have a lot of good food – that was a priority of mine. I found some really good restaurants in Leeds. I hunted those down.
Do people do a double take to see you out with Patrick and Esme?
Well, Patrick and I went to watch Judi Love in her stand-up show in Leeds and there was nobody who knew both our names. It was either they knew me and didn’t recognise Patrick or the other way around. People didn't work out why we were together. Well, I don't think so. I don’t think it’s obvious enough. You don’t see me and think: ‘He must be hosting Sewing Bee…’ Even I wouldn’t think it. It took me by surprise.
Did you find it hard to send sewers home?
That was the difficult bit, yeah. That was quite tough – especially as you get closer to the final. You’re learning bits about their lives and sharing stuff. Sure, it’s only a few hours a day, but you can build quite a bond in that time. When you realise they have to go home and it's you that has to tell them… it’s tough.
Ever get a tear in the eye?
I was very close. There was one exit, the week before the final, and this person's little speech before they left really got me. And to go out in the semi-final… you’re so close, aren’t you?
Is there anybody you’d love to see take part in Celebrity Sewing Bee?
Oh, loads of people. A lot of comedians. Lou Sanders, for example, is someone who seems to be able to turn her hand to anything. She’s quite fashionable, too. She makes good clothing choices. It could be something she'd be interested in and I’d love to see how she’d do. And Natasia Demetriou [his co-star in Stath Lets Flats]. I’d like to find out what her capabilities were.
We got a new chum! The brilliantly hilarious KS-B, comin atcha for Series 10 (yes its true!) and this year's super lolz Christmas spesh. Enjoy.
Judge Patrick Grant on his Instagram
Kiell is a brilliant actor and you may recognise him from shows such as Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats and Taskmaster.
Keen Sewing Bee fans may remember he appeared on the 2021 Christmas special as a contestant. He was one of our favourite contestants and we will never forget him opting to use the fleece fabric the wrong way around... so he could stroke it!
We can't wait to see him present series 10 of the Great British Sewing Bee. Welcome to the Sewing Bee family Kiell!
2024 Sewing Bee episode guide
Watch this space! Every week we're going to be sharing our thoughts, feelings and favourites from each episode of the Sewing Bee. We'll see the perennial favourites – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week, Holiday Week and Kids Week – alongside other themes. These include: sport, lingerie, design icons, diva, and India. Back to Basics Week kicks off the series with a new spin on the tasks from the very first episode of Sewing Bee which aired on 2 April 2013. The Pattern Challenge is a denim skirt. The Transformation Challenge asks the Bees to repurpose an oversized garment altering the neckline. And the made-to-measure is a dress with a vintage or summer festival look.
We'd love to know what you thought of each episode too! Chat with us over on Simply Sewing or Gathered's Instagram.
Episode one: Coming soon!
Discover your favourite Sewing Bee patterns
Want to make garments like the ones you've seen on the show? Each week we'll be updating our Sewing Bee patterns roundup with projects inspired by the episode's theme.
The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 themes
This is where we'll update the themes from each episode!
Download our free Sewing Bee sweepstake printable!
Coming soon! Keep an eye out for our GBSB 2024 sweepstake printable.
If you're a Sewing Bee lover like us then you'll love our free printable sweepstake card. It brings a little friendly competition into your life and will have you rooting for the contestants more than ever.
Simply print out the PDF, cut the card along the dotted lines and dish out the contestants to your friends, family or colleagues. All that's left is to tune into the Sewing Bee each week and let the sweepstake commence!
Meet the Great British Sewing Bee 2024 contestants!
Here's this year's Great British Sewing Bee contestants:
AILSA, 28 (she/her)
GLASGOW
Freelance Events Planner
Ailsa, a proud Scot, grew up in a small village in the Scottish Highlands with her Mum. Ailsa’s Mum worked as a seamstress and in the local greengrocers that was owned and run by Ailsa’s grandparents.
Sadly, her Mum passed away in 2016 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Ailsa loved the tiny village, but being queer she felt she hadn’t met her people and eventually moved to Glasgow to study Fashion Marketing. She has stayed there ever since and has an amazing group of friends around her who are like chosen family and all really support each other.
Ailsa learnt the basics of sewing as a young child from her talented Mum. After years of feeling self-conscious, sewing has helped grow her confidence in herself and her body by allowing her to make garments which suit and fit her needs and that reflect her identity. She describes her sewing style as contemporary, sustainable, modern and experimental. Sewing also allows Ailsa to make positive and sustainable choices through the clothes she wears. Most of the fabric she uses is dead stock or second hand. This year, Ailsa set herself a challenge of only buying second-hand or making her own clothes and has stuck to it so far!
Ailsa loves crafty workshops including life drawing classes and recently completed a ceramics course, making her own breakfast-themed fabric weights and buttons. As much as the Scottish weather will allow, Ailsa likes to roller skate as often as possible and enjoys cycling to Loch Lomond for wild swimming.
ALEX, 32 (she/her)
DERBYSHIRE
Copywriter/Editor
Alex was born in Manchester and moved to Cambridge when she was four with her parents and younger sister, where she lived until she went to university. Alex moved to London in 2012 after graduation and worked as a Copywriter for a fashion brand. Five years ago, Alex left London and moved to Derbyshire with her partner of 10 years, Ollie in a house they renovated together. She is a Copywriter/Editor for a major UK homewares brand and loves her job.
Alex has been sewing since she was very young, when she would make her own stuffed toys and fill them with rice and she hand-sewed a lot during her time in the Brownies and Girl Guides. Her Mum is also a very creative person and Alex’s biggest inspiration, known in the family as the ‘DIY Queen’. Alex is very passionate about sustainability and likes to reflect her personality through her clothing style. She loves to see a project progressing and gets joy and body euphoria from her sewing. She believes that comfort is key and sews oversized garments with androgynous looks. She prefers a plain fabric over patterns and likes to mix dark and light colours in her wardrobe.
Outside of sewing, Alex likes to keep fit, she loves and teaches yoga, wild swimming and running, she’s even taken part in ultra marathons. With her partner Ollie, they like to grow their own vegetables in their garden.
COMFORT, 33 (she/her)
SOMERSET (originally UGANDA)
Self-Employed Designer and Business Manager
Comfort grew up in Uganda and moved to Tanzania to study Architecture at University at 19. One of four siblings, her Mum died when she was six years old, and she was raised by her Dad and Step-Mum. Comfort met her husband Paul, whilst studying in Tanzania and they have two children together. It was Paul who bought Comfort her first sewing machine in 2018 and has encouraged her creativity ever since.
As a trained architect, designing and making is at the heart of everything Comfort does. She started to sew after giving birth to her first child as she felt she was lacking creatively. Comfort is incredibly proud of her East African heritage and strives to embrace every aspect of its vibrant culture. She is passionate about the art form Batik and designs her own fabrics. She has taught workshops in Uganda and nurtures new artisan makers. She loves how she can skillfully transform a plain-looking fabric into something with a dynamic pattern. Comfort aspires to showcase her East African heritage and love for vibrant colours and patterns.
Outside of sewing, Comfort’s priority is spending time with her young family and her relationship with God is what keeps her eternally upbeat.
DON, 84 (he/him)
CHESHIRE
Retired Research Physicist
Don grew up in the small village of Leuchars in Scotland but often moved around because his father was in the RAF during the Second World War. He went on to study Physics at St Andrews and then to Imperial College London for his PhD. He worked in scientific research for the electrical supply industry until he was made redundant at 57, so he retired early. Don met his wife, Karen, 25 years ago at a Quaker meeting and between them they have eight children and 11 grandchildren scattered across the world.
Don was taught to sew over 70 years ago by his mother on a hand-cranked sewing machine. He began sewing seriously around 60 years ago, initially making clothes for his girlfriend in university and continuing from there. Having four daughters kept him on his toes, and he would make their dresses for university formals and even made wedding dresses for three of them. He drafts many of his own patterns and considers himself to be an ‘advanced non-professional’. Don holds himself to a very high standard and aims to produce garments that are better made than store-bought clothing. He is a perfectionist, and likes to create things which are unusual, but still simple.
As well as sewing, he enjoys making jewellery through silver smithing and copper beating. He volunteers at the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester, helping in the costume department for their summer plays and Christmas shows and is also an avid amateur photographer. Don was a keen offshore sailor and acquired a Yachtmaster Ocean certification. He spent time sailing his own boat to the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, Ireland and even La Rochelle.
GEORGIE, 40 (she/her)
ISLE OF WIGHT
Club & Festival DJ
Georgie was born in Lewisham in South London and lived there with her parents and two sisters until she was 5 years old. Deciding the London life was not for them, they moved to the beautiful Isle of Wight where Georgie still lives with her partner of 17 years and two children. In a past life, Georgie was a police officer and although an incredible experience she much prefers her current job as a Club and Festival DJ.
Taught the basics by her mother and grandmother, Georgie has been sewing on and off for 10 years and has been consistently making garments for the last two years. She started out by making curtains and roman blinds followed by handbags and cushions. She describes her style as a smorgasbord of casual chic, grungy boho and ‘earth mother hippy’. She’s passionate about sustainability and not contributing to fast fashion. She often makes dresses and blouses out of tablecloths and jackets and trousers out of quilted blankets.
Outside of sewing, Georgie spends her time growing her own fruit and vegetables on her allotment and volunteering for her community as an elected Town Councillor. She also loves to knit and is slowly working towards making her entire wardrobe self-made or second hand. She’s been a local Radio DJ, done some part-time modelling with her family and also makes electronic dance music and even hopes to release tracks in the future.
JANET, 75 (she/her)
DONCASTER
Retired
Janet was born and bred in Yorkshire where she raised her 3 sons. She has taken on many roles throughout her working life including; a market trader, a dog groomer, doctor’s receptionist, and she owned a private hire taxi company, she is now happily retired. Janet met her partner, Adrian, at 68 at a dance and they are both enjoying retirement together.
Janet started sewing when she was 12 years old, as soon as her mother let her use the sewing machine. As a teenager she’d get a dress length of fabric for 10 shillings at the market and made shift dresses and her skills and creativity grew from there. Janet sewed for her family to save money when her sons were young and recalls making 6 pairs of trousers every month but now, she enjoys making nice clothes for herself. Janet loves making formal, glamourous dress for her dancing classes and holidays, and says there no such thing as being overdressed. Her Mum once told her, ‘Always dress up and never down!’
Janet is very active, she loves to dance and does Rock and Roll, Salsa, and Sequence dancing. Oil painting is also a passion of Janet’s and displays a lot of her artwork on the walls of her home. One day she’d love to create a masterpiece, to be able to leave something behind for her children and grandchildren.
LAUREN, 36 (she/her)
MANCHESTER
Finance Administrator
Finance Administrator Lauren was born in Hackney but has lived in Manchester since she was 5 years old. She currently lives in a flat in South Manchester and is single, she comes from a big family and boasts 15 nephews and nieces and a few godchildren.
Lauren has been creative from a young age and even used to make Cinderella dresses out of newspapers for her niece. She learnt sewing basics from her Mum, a reggae singer who used to make her own outfits for some of her shows. Lauren later found out that her grandmother also sewed, this inspired her to take her sewing more seriously around 6 years ago. Her skills ramped up in the lockdown of 2020 when she had lots of time to practice, and she taught herself how to draft patterns. Lauren now self-drafts the majority of her garments to make them truly unique, her sewing style is simple, but fun and classy with a pop of colour. She’s inspired by 1980’s fashion and loves the bold aspects of the era, like adding in shoulder pads to her garments whenever she can. Creating garments for all occasions (for herself and loved ones) for a fraction of designer prices is important to her.
Lauren inherited a huge passion for music from her parents and is a talented singer. She also enjoys keeping fit, knitting, making keepsakes as gifts for family and going out with her friends.
LUKE, 33 (they/them)
MANCHESTER
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Director
Luke grew up in Wilmslow, Cheshire, with their Mum Janet and sister, through whom Luke has a close relationship with their niece and nephew. Luke now lives in Salford, Manchester with fiancé Jesus, who is originally from Gran Canaria. They have been together for 5 years. Luke is queer and non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. Luke is extremely passionate about their job, they work with large organisations to make diversity, equality and inclusion a fundamental part of their business and not just performative, tokenistic or box ticking.
Luke is a creative force and was taught the basics of sewing at the age of 8 by their grandma and was always inspired by her to embrace arts and crafts. She helped Luke when they started to perform in drag in their early 20s, often helping to construct their outfits. Luke’s drag persona is called Selma Skreams, they perform at club nights and private parties both in the UK and internationally. Luke’s garments used to stick to a more neutral, muted colour palette but now they like to incorporate Selma into their everyday wear, using bold colours in outfits and designs. They also like to create impressive garments that have an element of surprise. Luke tries to break gender stereotypes with their garments and finds it uncomfortable that the majority of high street clothing is gendered and loves that sewing allows them to express their gender identity more authentically.
Luke is a classically trained musician, training at the Birmingham Conservatoire and plays both piano and clarinet. As well as playing they love to compose music, they also enjoy travelling and are currently learning to speak Spanish.
MARCUS, 30 (he/him)
LONDON
Teaching Assistant & Arts Award Coordinator
Marcus grew up in London and was raised by his parents who were both Philosophers of Music. He met his wife Juliet when he was 15 in school, and they haven’t been apart since. He is a passionate Teaching Assistant who helps children one-to-one with special educational needs. He has recently taken on the role of Arts Award Coordinator; giving children who struggle academically knowledge and insight into careers in the arts industries.
While living in Canada Marcus was looking for home comforts, which is how he discovered The Great British Sewing Bee and that inspired him to start sewing. Marcus started his sewing journey making womenswear for his wife, but now inspired by 90s streetwear mainly focuses on clothes for himself. He likes to adapt patterns and describes his garments as ‘jarring, garish or kitsch’ due to his desire to make loud, outlandish statement clothing. He’s made lot of jackets, waistcoats, hats, and shorts. He also tends to repurpose garments and transform them into something else.
Marcus has a variety of hobbies and enjoys rollerblading, writing, art, building Lego and playing videogames. He has an aquarium containing frogs, large fish, and shrimp in which he takes a lot of pride. Inspired by his parents, Marcus is a big lover of music having once played in a band he now enjoys DJing.
NEIL, 52 (he/him)
LEICESTER
Woodwork Instructor
Woodwork instructor Neil grew up in Sileby near Leicester with his Mum, Dad and older brother and sister. He met his partner Kathy on his 24th birthday and they had a civil partnership in 2020.
Neil has a general love of making things and learning new skills. He has a passion for all things vintage and started to sew out of necessity in 2014 after learning 1940s swing dancing. At 6’4” he was unable to find vintage clothing to wear, so with Kathy showing him the basics on the sewing machine, he started with a pair of trousers. Inspired by his love for 20th century vintage fashion he makes classic, stylish garments such as waistcoats and trousers and has even expanded into womenswear. To stay true to the style, he will use as close to pure cotton and wool as possible.
Alongside a long list of hobbies, Neil leads bike tours around Leicester telling the story of the Green Bicycle Murder of 1919. He plays the sitar and before teaching performed at weddings, events and even tutored. As well as the sitar, he is also learning Flamenco guitar and currently plays for a local dance class. As an extension to his job, he enjoys restoring furniture and has also made his own ventriloquist doll called Terry Pastry.
PASCHA, 20 (she/her)
GUILDFORD
Student
Pascha was born in Switzerland and then lived in Greece until the age of four, at which time she moved to the UK with her parents and younger brother where they settled in Surrey. Pascha is currently studying Psychology and Innovation at Bristol University. She also has two jobs, working as a commis chef in a gastro pub and in wine-tasting events, where she plans and runs events from tastings to festivals.
Creative from a young age, Pascha used to make fairy dresses out of rhubarb leaves from the garden and made paper dresses and handbags for the tooth fairy. She first got into sewing by recycling one of her Dad’s old shirts and has self-taught herself everything she knows. Her Great-Grandma was a seamstress and her old patterns and materials have been passed down to Pascha and she uses them in her sewing today. She is passionate about the environment and sustainable fashion and has created her own versions of items she loves from unethical brands. Pascha would describe her style as subverted basics. She takes a simple silhouette, adds funky materials, and loves to experiment with making items multiway and reversible. Pascha’s proudest creation is her Marie Antoinette-style 18th century ballgown made of silk, which required using lot of new techniques. Her dream would be to wear the dress to go to a ball at Versailles.
Nature lover Pascha loves plants, foraging and growing her own fruit and veg. She has a garden in her kitchen growing strawberries, chillis, fennel and potatoes. She’s very close with her family and enjoys going to concerts with her Dad and gardening with her Mum. Another hobby of Pascha’s is fencing, which she does at university.
SUZY, 28 (she/her)
LIVERPOOL (ORIGINALLY WIGAN)
Waitress
Suzy grew up in Wigan with her parents and two older brothers before moving to Liverpool to study Journalism at University. She met her fiancé, Christian, 7 ½ years ago, and they recently got engaged in New York. During a trip to one of many fabric shops, Suzy was approached by a shop assistant with fabric in all her favourite colours and to her surprise, Christian had designed it ahead of time and it said the words, “Suzy, will you marry me?”. He even ordered enough fabric for her to make a dress upon their return home. Suzy recently left her corporate marketing job to return to hospitality.
Suzy has always been in love with fashion and wanted to make her own unique garments. 2 ½ years ago, after watching the Sewing Bee, she gave it a go. Regularly using charity shop curtains and bedsheets, key features of Suzy’s designs include big ruffles, lots of fabric and enormous sleeves. She made her entire wardrobe for her trip to New York. Suzy wants to create clothes that make a statement or spark a conversation and to be more like art than fashion.
Suzy considers sewing to be the first hobby she has ‘truly fallen in love with’. She also enjoys cooking and will happily spend an entire Saturday preparing to host for family and friends. She goes to the gym four times a week and ran her first marathon in 2021. Although having never danced before, Suzy recently tried adult ballet lessons. It wasn’t for her, so next up is Salsa dancing!
What can we expect from this year's Great British Sewing Bee?
Series 10 of The Great British Sewing Bee sees 12 enthusiastic amateur sewers enter the sewing room to take part in a series of fiendish challenges, which will be judged by industry experts Patrick Grant and Esme Young (no pressure!).
Each episode has three challenges: the Pattern Challenge, the Transformation Challenge and the Made to Measure.
In the Pattern Challenge, they are assigned a specific pattern to make. For the Transformation Challenge, the sewers are given some secondhand clothes which they have to turn into a creative outfit. Finally, the Made to Measure puts their tailoring skills to the test, as they have to make a garment to fit a model.
Patrick and Esme set the sewing challenges as the sewers explore clothes inspired by art, travel, fashion icons, utilitarian clothing, West Africa as well as some old favourites such as – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week and Children’s Week.
The theme of Classics with a Twist Week kicks off the series, and the first Pattern Challenge is a top with a twist. The Transformation Challenge asks sewers to put their twist on a classic pencil skirt and blouse and the made-to-measure is an on-trend cut-out dress.
Ever wondered who composed the music for the Sewing Bee? Find out more about the Sewing Bee soundtrack with classical-music.com.
Who are the Sewing Bee judges?
The judges on the Sewing Bee are Patrick Grant and Esme Young, who are both respected fashion industry experts. Read on to find out more about Patrick and Esme…
Patrick Grant – Judge
Patrick, 51,is a designer and creative director of bespoke tailors Norton & Sons of Savile Row and its subsidiary E Tautz. He won Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2010. He bought ailing Blackburn clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg in 2015, saving the factory from closure, and launched social enterprise Community Clothing to champion UK-made quality, affordable and sustainable fashion. Earlier this year, he presented the documentary Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King. He's judged The Great British Sewing Bee since its start in 2013. Patrick lives in London.
How did it feel walking into the sewing room for Sewing Bee’s celebratory 10th series?
Pretty good. It's funny when you reach certain milestones and they give you pause to reflect. It’s interesting to see how far the conversation around clothes has changed over a decade. And the conversation around our own abilities to make and mend and reuse both the clothes and the textiles we have in our homes. I’d be surprised if Sewing Bee hadn't had a fairly significant impact on people's awareness of the issues around the production and disposal of clothing. And, also, on their willingness to participate in doing things a better way. In this series, for the first time, there were a significant number of sewers wearing clothes they'd made out of non-new materials. Also, on various made-to-measure challenges outside of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week, they were voluntarily choosing to make clothes out of reclaimed or repurposed textiles. That is a fundamental change in thinking and we've had a lot to do with that.
Did any sewers taking part this year start sewing after watching the show, too?
Yes. There have been loads of them over the last few years. And, in a non-shouty way, we drop things into the conversation that often people find quite shocking. You know, little statistics about the clothing industry? I remember having a conversation with a researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London, and they’d calculated there was enough clothing on the planet at that time to clothe the next six generations of the human race – even allowing for exponential growth in population. I said that on the show and thousands of people mentioned it on social media. There has often been times where something has really struck a chord and made people think more carefully about their clothing choices. We were nominated for a BAFTA last year and BAFTA ran a bit of film about television’s positive influence on environmentally sustainable practices. There was a clip of me on Sewing Bee in this film. So, even though we didn't win a BAFTA, that was super nice. It reminded me that, in our quiet way, we are encouraging positive changes.
What's the standard of the sewers this year?
As good as the last three years – we’ve had a pretty consistent standard. Sometimes we've had people who are more technically capable, sometimes people who are more creatively capable. And not just creatively capable with time to prepare at home. Some people have been phenomenally good at picking up whatever pile of gubbins we throw in front of them in the transformation challenge and making something incredible. This year is no exception. It's not always the technically most competent person who wins. That’s what's made the show much more interesting over the last four or five years.
You have quite an age range this year…
Yes. We have a lovely retired research physicist who’s up into his 80s. He’s 84. The sewers are aged from 20 to 84. We have never lacked for interesting, warm, kind, open individuals on the show. Hats off to the team who find all these brilliant people we want to hang out with for weeks on end. They do such a fantastic job. The standard now – as it has been over the last four or five years at least – is so high. Their ideas are so good and everybody is so nice, it's really tough to send anybody home. My own rather brief appearance on Celebrity MasterChef brought home to me just how bad it feels to be that first person out, so I have great sympathy. Unfortunately, somebody has to go, but now those somebodies are all really good.
What are the most unusual day jobs of the sewers this year?
We have a retired research physicist – which seems an unlikely spot from which to garner a contestant for a creative sewing programme. LAUGHS We have a young woman who’s a DJ – mostly DJ-ing clubs and festivals on the south coast. We have a diversity, equality and inclusion director. And we had ourfirst non-binary contestant. As usual, a mix of genuinely nice and fun people.
You've got something special in week one. You’re harking back to the first ever episode…
Yes. The starting point for each of the challenges in this year’s first episode was the corresponding challenge in the first episode of the first series. It was really interesting to compare how far the challenges have come in terms of complexity. In that initial series, we asked people to make an A-line skirt. In this series, we’re asking people to make an A-line skirt, but it's a much more complicated A-line skirt. In the second challenge of the first series, we asked people to change the neckline on a tunic top. That seems improbably straightforward compared to today's transformation challenges.
Where you throw a bundle of fishing nets and rope on a table and say: ‘Make a holiday bag!’
Yes! For one transformation challenge this year, we went to a chandler’s and filled a wheelbarrow. LAUGHS The final challenge in the first year was just ‘Make a dress…’ This year, it was more specific – a dress with a vintage or summer festival look. Expectations now are higher. It was a nice way to cast everybody's mind back and demonstrated how far the capabilities of the general public have gone. We see more sewing schools now and we see more haberdasheries. Sadly, I don't think we're seeing much more sewing in school, although we should. The Environmental Audit Committee picked it up as one of the things we should do in this country to encourage more sustainable practice, but they've done nothing about it slightly unsurprisingly.
Sewing Bee has really gone from strength to strength…
There were about two million people who watched the first series. I imagine many of those are still watching and they've been joined by another three-and-a-half million more. Of course, our winner in the first series had been – until this series – our oldest ever contestant. [The late] Ann Rowley was 81 and phenomenal. She was sort of classically-trained on dressmaking, tailoring, embroidery… she could do absolutely everything meticulously. The way she sewed was the way professionals sew in places like Savile Row. Quite a few past sewers I still see or chat to occasionally. It’s nice to have built this network. We try very much to avoid becoming too friendly with contestants during the series. It's difficult enough for Esme and I to judge as it is, without having the added complication of personal favouritism and friendships. Luckily, we get opportunities to meet them afterwards and we're delighted to get to know them a bit better.
What were your favourite challenges this year?
They were genuinely the best set of challenges we've ever put together. I can't think of any I didn't really, really enjoy. My favourite pattern challenge… well, I really liked the fleece we did in Sport Week. It’s just such a brilliant, different and jolly array of outcomes. You had quite a bit of scope because there were multiple materials and you could place bits of colour in different places. That I really liked. I liked the Balenciaga-inspired challenge in Design Icons Week. It was a real mind-bender and an interesting thing to show just how innovative pattern cutters can be. It was just fun to be doing something that elevated on Sewing Bee. I don't want to give too much away, but it was a dress with a significantly challenging pattern. When you looked at that pattern on the board, it looked like no dress pattern you'd ever seen.
You had absolutely no idea how to put it together…
Absolutely none. There was no way your knowledge of everyday dressmaking would have got you to the end of that challenge… at all.
You do like to test the sewers…
We do give them instructions, but even then… LAUGHS Frankly, they managed it brilliantly.
What about favourite transformation challenges?
Reusing cricket stuff was fun. For years, Central Saint Martins art school has done a project for their first year students where they have to make outfits that are entirely white. And, because it is an Olympic year, we did Sport Week, so we reused cricket whites – including boxes, pads, gloves and all kinds of paraphernalia. That was fun. And I loved the challenge using nautical gear: nets, rope, old fishermen’s raincoats, welly boots and all that. That was really fun. The animal fancy dress in Kids Week was phenomenal and really difficult to judge. They were some of the best transformations. We gave them a bunch of beach towels and said: ‘You’re on holiday, your kid’s going to an animal-themed fancy dress. Away you go…’
Any particularly memorable made-to-measure challenges for you?
Turning a wedding dress into a party outfit was amazing. People have a difficult time imagining doing something else with a wedding dress. You’re never gonna wear it again, so why not turn it into something you can wear which brings back all the lovely memories you might have of your wedding day? If, indeed, you have lovely memories of it. If you haven't, it's even better because you can chop it up and turn it into something useful. It was a great challenge and they did loads of fun stuff to the fabric. They were allowed to dye it, print it and paint it before they came into the sewing room. And, again, because it's the Paris 2024 Olympics, we did a made-to-measure sports kit. You got to choose a country and a sport and had to make an Olympic outfit for that sport. Some of them would’ve been the best Olympic kit that team would’ve ever worn in that sport.
You've got a new host this year. How did Kiell Smith-Bynoe fit in with the gang?
Well, Esme and I both knew Kiell from his fabulous appearance on the Christmas Special in 2021 where he was the kind of understated linchpin of hilarity. When we heard he was in the frame for the job, Esme and I were both delighted he was being considered. He fitted straight in. He’s a very different character from Joe [Lycett] and Sara [Pascoe]. Obviously, like Sara, he'd been a contestant on a celebrity special, but he’s a comic actor, rather than a comedian. There’s a very different spirit. We had a lovely time. He was great with the sewers and brought his own personality. He was brilliant fun and did a fantastic job.
You did a bit of karaoke, we hear…
We did a bit of karaoke, yeah. That’s becoming something of a crew tradition now, the karaoke. It’s so nice we get to socialise because for three years we weren't allowed to outside of filming because of Covid. Not that there's an awful lot of time off-camera, but yeah…
What were you singing this time?
Oh God, I did a few things, but I made the terrible mistake of singing [Van Morrison’s] Brown Eyed Girl, which I’d forgotten goes on for about 15 bloody minutes. It felt like 15 hours by the time I got to the end. You’ve got to be fit to sing that song. I was exhausted at the end… my poor old diaphragm.
When you made the first episode of Sewing Bee with host Claudia Winkleman and fellow judge May Martin, did you think the show would catch on and still be around 11 years later?
No, I absolutely didn't. It just didn't cross my mind. That first series was not quite make-it-up-as-you-go-along because, obviously, we had a format, but the whole tone of the show was set. I remember talking at great length about the judging criteria and how we were going to show what was happening in the room on TV. We were absolutely engrossed in trying to get a good show out just that once. I think the BBC was hoping for a million viewers. It was on BBC Two at 8pm and a million viewers then was not like a million viewers today. Now, if you get a million viewers, you're really, really pleased. Then, a million viewers was a sort of average for the time slot. Far fewer people watch live TV now. We got double what they expected and, of course, they recommissioned a second series. We were in some funny little chapel just on the corner of Balls Pond Road in Dalston. We had a sort of caravan out the back that me, Claudia and May all shared as our green room. You could barely swing a cat in the whole place, but it was phenomenal fun.
How long do you think Sewing Bee can go on and how long do you want it to go on with you?
I'd be happy for it to go on until I’m… well, Esme is managing to smash through it in her mid-70s. That gives me 25 years of physical and mental capability. I'd be delighted. I love making the show. It's hard work because my day job doesn't stop when I go to Leeds to film Sewing Bee. And, almost always, my day job is incredibly demanding on my time and energy and brainpower. Who knows? Maybe one of these years, my day job might get a little easier. This year, I was trying to write two books and run Community Clothing while filming. Every moment I wasn’t on camera, I had my laptop out and was writing something, but I still love it. The atmosphere on set is terrific. We get on really, really well, they're such a nice crew. Half, at least, of the technical crew have done at least half the show, so it does feel like a family. And the sewers… they do such a good job of finding lovely people. It’s always fun. Also, it's an opportunity to put yourself in a room with people very different from the ones you might live and work with every day. It’s a real privilege to get a chance to hear what’s important to them in their lives. And it's a real joy to get to work with Claudia and Joe and Sara and now Kiell. I count myself incredibly lucky.
Esme Young – Judge
Esme, 75, joined The Great British Sewing Bee as a judge in 2016. A designer who’s made costumes for films such as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Trainspotting and Bridget Jones’s Diary, Esme is also a tutor at Central Saint Martins art school. With three friends passionate about fashion, she opened the iconic store Swanky Modes in Camden, London, in the 1970s and dressed stars such as Grace Jones, Siouxsie Sioux and Cher. Their most famous creation, the Amorphous dress, is in The V&A Museum. She’s guested on shows including: Richard Osman’s House of Games, Would I Lie to You? and The Wheel. Her autobiography Behind the Seams: My Life in Creativity, Friendship and Adventure was published last year. Esme lives in London.
Was there a celebratory atmosphere when you walked into the sewing room for the 10th series?
There definitely was – though it isn't the 10th series for me, it’s the seventh. I do think it's great Sewing Bee has gone on for 10 series and let's hope it goes on for another 10. I fully intend to be there in another 10 years… though I will be quite old.
Age doesn't stop Dame Prue on Bake Off…
How old is she?
84…
Oh, wow. No, it doesn’t stop her!
What's the standard of the sewers this year?
Well, always, the standard is good. I always go on about this, but what I absolutely love is how the sewers learn from each other. What often happens is one person stands out, but then – as the series goes on – it can change as people learn things. There are people who get better and better and better. I really like that. They inspire each other with what they're doing and become a real gang. They have a WhatsApp group. It's great.
And they come from quite varied backgrounds, don't they?
They have all sorts of jobs – there’s a retired research physicist, a DJ, a woodworker. Woodworkers are very good at sewing because it's a very similar thing. They’re good with their hands and with detail and at making stuff in 3D.
Were there heated discussions with fellow judge Patrick about who to send home?
Well, there always are. We have to have a really good conversation about it, but we never fall out. We always end up agreeing, but we’ll go through this, that and the other to get to the decision.
Do you have a tick list of things you want to see or things sewers have done wrong?
Well, I'm very good at finding a hole. LAUGHS If there’s a hole, I’ll spot it. For me, it's a combination of creativity and good sewing. The creativity is really important… part of that is to do with teaching and my background. All my life I've drawn and created. It's really important they bring their own vision to the room. The sewers are always very different. You can see from what they’re wearing. Everyone expresses themselves through what they wear. We all do. One of my brothers, Chris, wanted to be absolutely anonymous at work, so he’d wear absolutely anonymous clothes: no bright colours, nothing fashion. Now he's retired, he looks like Gandalf. It's absolutely hilarious. You should have seen his hair and beard!
How competitive were the sewers this year?
Well, they're always competitive, but they're never horrible to each other. They are competitive with themselves. Obviously, they want to win, but it's not a bloody fight to the death. Not at all. They help each other. The sewing has got better and better, so each year the challenges have to be a bit more difficult.
What weeks did you particularly enjoy this year?
Well, I liked Lingerie Week because I teach lingerie at college. I've got the most amazing collection of lingerie – modern day going back to the late-1800s. It's quite fascinating how lingerie creates the shape of a woman's body. Think of the 1950s, the 1930s, the 1920s. That week they had to turn shapewear and lace into a party outfit. The other week I really loved was Diva Week. They had to make a Tina Turner fringed dress for the pattern challenge. That look is so iconic. It was fringe beads. I was very worried they’d mess up, but they didn't. I was really impressed how well they did. The difficulty is sewing on the fringe – it has to be really precise and line up. And then, for the made-to-measure challenge, they had to make a stage outfit for a diva. I found it really interesting who they chose and what they did. Some really looked like the diva. Quite a few did Lady Gaga and there was a Beyoncé. Lady Gaga is never knowingly underdressed. And to dress a diva on stage, you have to make a big statement. That’s what we expected because you have to be able to see them from the audience. Some of them did really brilliantly. There was lots of impact. Lots of impact.
In past years, they’ve had to make surprising items such as trainers and rucksacks. This year, there was another first: gloves…
Oh, opera gloves. Gosh, yes. I was really worried about that.. I mean, I can make gloves – I’ve got a glove pattern – but it is tricky. You can only use tiny, weeny seams. And it was a stretch fabric, which makes it even trickier. They’d never done that before. It’s really fiddly to sew and you've got gussets between the fingers and they've got to fit well – they can't be like webbed feet. And there should be no holes! There was also a Design Icons Week and one of the challenges was a dress inspired by Balenciaga – one of the most amazing designers there’s been. I've made a few dresses inspired by him, but in cotton and in corduroy. It can be very hard to construct stuff in that sculptural form. It seems simple, but you do have to be very good at sewing. There was a Jean Paul Gaultier transformation challenge, too. A very interesting designer.
They had to turn cricket whites into a White Show outfit. How did they fare with that?
They did well. My cousin's son, Will Young, played cricket for New Zealand, so that challenge really had meaning for me. They were using cricket trousers and jumpers and came up with some very good outfits.
How did India Week go?
Oh, it went well. The made-to-measure challenge was a dress inspired by a sari. Every season, I work with an ex-student of mine called Ashish [Gupta], who comes from India. I cut patterns for him. Every year, we do variations on the sari. Sari fabrics are extraordinary. They’re so beautiful. They had to make a Nehru jacket as well for the pattern challenge. That neckline can be quite tricky. At Swanky Modes, we used to buy a lot of Indian fabrics from Southall, and we’d go to Bradford to buy Indian fabric for collections. That brought back a lot of memories of my Swanky Modes days.
You've got a new host. Did you have fun with Kiell Smith-Bynoe?
Oh, we really had fun. He's such a nice bloke and really funny. We got on really, really well. But, you know, every presenter has been great. They have different personalities, but Claudia, Joe, Sara and now Kiell…have all been great. I still see Joe Lycett. We hang out a bit.
Do you still go for boozy nights out with him?
LAUGHS Yes. I went to Birmingham to see one of his shows and we did have a few drinks.
Was Kiell nervous?
He didn't seem to be, but then he’s an actor, so he's probably very clever at covering it up, don’t you think? He’s no stranger to the sewing room, of course. He did the celebrity special a couple of years ago and wasn’t so scarred by the experience that he didn’t want to set foot in the sewing room again. I’m sure it’s easier to be an observer. He’s definitely interested in clothes and I'm sure he learned from the sewers.
Did the three of you have some fun nights out after filming in Leeds?
Well, Kiell was working so hard and had so many things to do that we didn't really go out with him because he had to go back to London or somewhere else to film. He was juggling a lot of work at the same time. And, for me, if you're filming the next day, I don’t want to have a long night out…
Or a hangover the next day…
Yes. LAUGHS I'm very very careful about that. Very careful. I don't drink the night before we're filming. Definitely not. Patrick and I did go to a karaoke night. It was great fun.
Were you both singing?
I don’t sing because I sing so flat. It’s because I was a partially deaf child, so sound has always been quite tricky, though I do like music and a dance. Even reading… I read by recognising words not by sound.
Did you manage to explore Leeds and Yorkshire on your days off?
I did. I really love Leeds. I do a lot of walking there. My brother Chris came to stay and he's got a car – my mum’s old Austin that’s 30 years old and has moss growing on it and all sorts. It's hilarious. We went to various different places: Hebden Bridge, Haworth, Castle Howard. We also went to The Piece Hall in Halifax … a big, big square built in the late 1700s for the textile industry to store cloth. That was interesting. Oh, the countryside is amazing, absolutely amazing. It's just a fabulous patchwork of green. And I went to Salts Mill in Saltre – a former mill with art galleries. David Hockney’s got exhibitions there. The history of textiles, I just find so interesting and how, in Yorkshire, it was such a big deal.
When you joined Sewing Bee, did you imagine you'd still be doing the show seven years later?
I don't look far ahead. I'm one of those people who always says yes to things and takes a risk because I think: ‘Does it matter if it's a disaster? No.’ I’m not a worrier. I live in the moment and just grab opportunities.
What impact do you think Sewing Bee has had on the country?
It's had a big impact on people. I’m sure the show has encouraged people to recycle clothes and make things. Loads of people have bought sewing machines and taken up sewing. Sewing is really good for mental health: you’re creating things, you’re doing something 3D, you're learning… You know, everyone's on computers now, but – with sewing – you can feel the fabric and create something. You might put it on and say: ‘Well, I don't like that…’ but you've learned loads from making it and that’s just great. It’s a huge boost when you look at something and think: ‘I made that…’ It’s a real positive. A real positive.
It’s lovely to be involved with a show held so dear in people's hearts and which has changed lives…
Definitely. At events, I see how much the show has inspired people to make stuff and I get tagged in people’s photos on Instagram. There are so few fabric shops and haberdasheries compared to when I was young – which is a big shame – but a lot more have opened because of Sewing Bee. Long may it continue. In Leeds, there are quite a few fabric shops and there are sewing groups based out of some of those shops. In fact, near where we film, there’s a group where they teach sewing. It’s fantastic. I just feel it's so positive, sewing. Having that vision and seeing how it all fits together. Everybody should do it.
Everyone loves watching each week to see your necklaces. How many have you got? Loads and loads. I bought these cabinets and they're absolutely stuffed. I can hardly open them. Then, there are things on the floor in one area in my bedroom. And there’s a display case we had at Swanky Modes that’s full of jewellery as well. I don't think I made anything new for this series. My sister Fiona made the necklace that looked like scourers last series – the pearls in it were from one of my mum's pearl necklaces. Obviously, not real pearls. My sister made that for me and she made another for me this series. A longer necklace that’s turquoise-y blue and knitted and different shapes. We’re all creative.
The Great British Sewing Bee FAQ
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2023?
The incredible Asmaa won The Great British Sewing Bee 2023. She wowed the judges throughout the competition with her skill, passion and creativity.
In the final of the Sewing Bee 2023, Asmaa's stunning two-in-one dress won her the trophy and we think she's a very worthy winner.
Read our interview with Asmaa over in our Meet the 2023 Great British Sewing Bee winner article. She shares all her thoughts and feelings on this year's show with us.
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2022?
It's Annie! Read our interview with the Great British Sewing Bee 2022 winner Annie to get to know the new sewing champion. You can also read our interview with the Sewing Bee 2022 finalists.
The celebrity Christmas special winner was Johannes Radebe.
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2021?
Last year's winner was 21-year-old Serena Baker, who was a trainee doctor from Edinburgh. She was the youngest sewer of the series and produced some impressive makes during her time on the show.
What sewing machines are used on the Sewing Bee?
If you've been eyeing up the machines on the show, discover the exact make and model with our what sewing machines are used on the Sewing Bee guide.
Where is the Great British Sewing Bee filmed in 2023?
The Great British Sewing Bee is located in a former textile mill called Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, Leeds. This was the filming location for the 2022 series too.
Sunny Bank Mills was founded in 1829 and was a working textile mill right up until 2008. It's now a business space and is home to a wide range of companies – there's even a sewing school!
The Great British Sewing Bee was previously filmed at The Chainstore on Trinity Buoy Wharf for series 7 in 2021, which is just across the Thames from the O2 Arena.
The show's former warehouse setting for the 2020 series was located in London’s Bermondsey, in the heart of the capital's historical textiles quarter. For the truly geeky among you (we include ourselves in this category), the 2019 series was filmed at 47/49 Tanner Street (also the location of Dragon’s Den!), near Tower Bridge.
What happens to the clothes made on the Sewing Bee?
All the clothes on the Sewing Bee are returned to the contestants after filming. There's no waste in Sewing Bee studio!
Past contestant, Chinelo Bally also helped to clear up this mystery for us when she appeared on our We've Made It podcast. She also revealed that contestants receive a budget to buy the fabric needed for the show.
In the episode, Chinelo talked about her experiences on the show and shared some great tips for novice sewers. You can find We've Made It on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
What does the winner of the Sewing Bee get?
The winner of the Sewing Bee receives a golden mannequin award and the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. There's no cash prize, but many previous winners have gone on to write their own sewing books or set up their own craft businesses.
Do Sewing Bee contestants get paid?
No, Sewing Bee contestants do not get paid. They just do it for the honour of taking part and the chance to be the Sewing Bee champion!
Is the Sewing Bee filmed in one day?
No, Sewing Bee contestants have to commit to taking part in 20 days of filming spread over four months when they apply to be on the show.
Has a man ever won the Great British Sewing Bee?
Yes! Matt Chapple was the first male winner of the Sewing Bee in 2015. In recent years, we've seen more men taking part in the show such as Raph Dilhan who was a finalist in 2021.
Get the 2023 Sewing Bee book
A new book to accompany the series, The Great British Sewing Bee: The Skills - Beyond Basics: Advanced Tips and Tricks to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level, goes on sale 13 April. This is a great way to predict that the hit show will almost certainly be airing on our TV screens around the same time!
Published by Quadrille, the 160-page techniques book, will help you find your confidence when tackling different sewing projects and achieve that perfect finish.
Why the Sewing Bee is one of our favourite craft TV shows
The Sewing Bee has got it all: kind contestants, beautiful clothes, loveable judges and lots of incredibly creative ideas. It's not surprising that it's one of the most popular craft TV shows out there.
The best part is that the Sewing Bee has inspired lots of people to take up sewing for themselves, with some of them even appearing as contestants on the show!
Start your sewing journey
If watching the show has inspired you to start sewing, you're probably wondering where to begin. We'd recommend starting with our best sewing machine guide, which is packed with expert tips and advice to help you enjoy this satisfying hobby!
All images from BBC/Love Productions.
