The Great British Sewing Bee

Host

Claudia Winkleman (2013-6)

Joe Lycett (2019-21)

Sara Pascoe (2022-, not 2023 series)

Kiell Smith-Bynoe (2023)

Jenny Eclair, Sara Cox, Anita Rani (guest hosts, charity editions)

Co-hosts

Judges:
Patrick Grant
May Martin (2013-15)
Esme Young (2016-)

Broadcast

Love Productions for BBC Two, 2 April 2013 to 2 April 2019 (34 episodes in 5 series + 2 specials)

as The BBC Children in Need Sewing Bee, 21 to 24 October 2014 (3 episodes in 1 series)

Love Productions for BBC One, 22 April 2020 to present (29 July 2022 and 18 June 2024 on BBC Two) (see Trivia)

Synopsis

Following the spectacular success of The Great British Bake Off, Love Productions branched off into another traditional craft, sewing. Eight amateur fanatics are asked to stitch, quilt, embroider, and tailor.

Each episode features three challenges. The first round is the pattern challenge in which the contestants have a pattern thrust upon them and have to make whatever they're given. The results are ranked from worst to best.

Part of an animated graphic showing the construction of a double-breasted waistcoat, a pattern challenge from the 2019 final.

Second comes the transformation challenge in which they have to recycle old clothes into something completely different. Sometimes it's not even old clothes they're given - particularly for the annual "reduce, reuse, recycle" week and the finals, their initial material has included things like bags, upholstery, parachutes, scraps from previous challenges, and even bouyancy aids. This round is judged "blind" with the judges not knowing whose is whose, and again a full ranking is given.

Claudia Winkleman and Patrick Grant look on as May Martin examines a jazzed-up skirt.

The final round is made-to-measure, for which the contestants are given a brief and source or create their own patterns beforehand. On the day they have to make up their garment from scratch to fit an actual human being (supplied). This round is not ranked. At the end, the judges select their "garment of the week" (usually, but not always, from the made-to-measure challenge) and send one contestant home. It's not explicitly stated that the maker of the garment of the week is immune from elimination, but it would feel a bit cruel to crown a "best in show" before immediately chucking them out, and this is very much not a cruel show.

Patrick and Esme judging a made-to-measure woollen coat made by contestant Leah.

Judges for the first three series were May Martin from the Women's Institute, and internationally-renowned tailor Patrick Grant. Esme Young took over from Martin for series 4. Claudia Winkleman hosted the first four series and Joe Lycett took over after a three-year break, presumably in order to let the air clear over The Great British Bake offing to Channel 4.

Joe and Patrick supposedly wearing each other's hand-me-downs in a visual gag from "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" week 2020.

Champions

2013	Ann Rowley
2014	Heather Jacks
2015	Matt Chapple
2016	Charlotte Newland
2019	Juliet Uzor
2020	Clare Bradley
2021	Serena Baker
2022	Annie Phillips
2023	Asmaa Al-allak
2024	Luke Iveson

Key moments

Given Esme Young's distinguished career in the costume business, it was inevitable that on occasion a contestant will mention being inspired by some iconic outfit or other, only to be surprised by Esme telling them it was one of hers.

Catchphrases

"Needles up, sewers!"

Trivia

The 2022 final was shunted to BBC Two due to overrunning coverage of tennis from Wimbledon on One. Episode 5 of the 2024 series also moved to the second channel, but scheduled in advance this time, to make way for international football.