It's nearly time for The Great British Sewing Bee to return to our screens for a brand new series on Tuesday 15th July, 9pm.
Your complete guide to the 2025 Sewing Bee!
Looking for something specific? Jump straight to our Sewing Bee sections to learn more.
Everything you need to know about the Bee:
The Great British Sewing Bee Season 11:
- Sewing Bee 2025 episode guide
- Sewing Bee patterns
- Download our free Sewing Bee sweepstake card!
- What can we expect from this year's Great British Sewing Bee?
Meet the Sewing Bee Season 11 cast:
Meet the Sewing Bee judges and presenters:
When is the Great British Sewing Bee 2025 on?
The Great British Sewing Bee will start on Tuesday 15th July, 9pm on BBC One.
The accompanying book: The Great British Sewing Bee: Pattern Drafting: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Dressmaking Patterns From Scratch was released on 8th May 2025 ahead of the release.
What channel is the Great British Sewing Bee 2025 on?
The Great British Sewing Bee is shown on BBC One.
Where can I stream the Great British Sewing Bee 2025?
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
2025 Sewing Bee episode guide
Watch this space! Every week when the show is on the air, we share the highs and lows of each episode, handy guides and patterns inspired by the latest theme.
We'd love to know what you thought of each episode too! Chat with us over on Simply Sewing or Gathered's Instagram.
There will be spoilers!
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 2025 sweepstake
Once the contestants for the Sewing Bee 2025 have been announced you'll find a printable sweepstake card here!
Meet the Great British Sewing Bee 2025 contestants!
We can't wait to meet this year's contestants! Keep an eye on this page for all the latest contestant news.
This year's contestants have been announced! Meet the 2025 Sewing Bee contestants.
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.
Find out what Patrick Grant thinks about the 2025 series of the Sewing Bee
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.
Read our 2024 interview with Esme Young
Who is hosting the Sewing Bee this year?
She's back! After a brief absence on maternity leave, comedian Sara Pascoe is back in the sewing room. And she's missed it: "I’d really missed everyone and had awful FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) not being there last year."
During her maternity leave, the show was hosted by comedian and Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
Sara Pascoe first hosted the show in 2022 and has been a warm, supportive presence in the sewing room. We're very excited to see her back on our screens!
Read our 2025 interview with Sewing Bee host Sara Pascoe
The Great British Sewing Bee FAQ
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2024?
Luke was crowned winner of the Sewing Bee in 2024. Take a look at our interview with Luke and find out their story.
We also caught up with runner up Pascha to hear about her experience in the competition.
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?
The Great British Sewing Bee is located in a former textile mill called Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, Leeds.
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.
Sewing Bee book 2025
The Great British Sewing Bee: Pattern Drafting: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Dressmaking Patterns From Scratch is the brand new Sewing Bee book for 2025.
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Get the Sewing Bee book 2024
Get yourself a copy of The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics: Create Your Own Capsule Wardrobe With 23 Dressmaking Projects 2024.
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Previous Sewing Bee bundle set of 3
The Great British Sewing Bee Collection 3 Books Set (Made to Measure, The Skills & The Techniques).
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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.
