The Great British Sewing Bee
The Great British Sewing Bee is a BBC reality show that began airing on BBC Two on 2 April 2013. In the show, talented amateur sewers compete to be named "Britain's best home sewer". A spin-off of the format of The Great British Bake Off, the programme was presented by Claudia Winkleman for the first four series, with judges Patrick Grant, May Martin, and Esme Young. After a three-year hiatus, the series returned in 2019, with Joe Lycett taking over as presenter. The sixth series began airing on BBC One in April 2020.
Series format
The show format is similar to The Great British Bake Off in that each episode features three challenges within an overall theme. The series starts with 10 amateur sewers, with the weakest eliminated each episode. In the Pattern Challenge, the judges give them the same pattern, which they must follow as accurately as possible. In the Alteration Challenge, each sewer is given an identical existing garment to reinvent. In the third Made-to-measure Challenge, the sewers design and create their own garments, and must adjust their patterns to fit human models.Series overview
Series 1 (2013)
The first series of The Great British Sewing Bee started on 2 April and aired for four episodes concluding on 23 April 2013. The series was hosted by Claudia Winkleman and the judges were WI tutor May Martin and Patrick Grant of Savile Row. The all-female final was won by Ann, with Sandra and Lauren as runners up.Series 2 (2014)
A second series The Great British Sewing Bee began airing on 18 February 2014 on BBC Two. The series was filmed at Metropolitan Wharf in London, with Claudia Winkleman as host alongside May Martin and Patrick Grant as the judges. Once again it was an all-female final, which was won by Heather, with Chinelo and Tamara as the runners up.Series 3 (2015)
The third series of The Great British Sewing Bee began airing over six weeks from 5 February 2015 on BBC Two. It was once again filmed at Metropolitan Wharf in London, with Claudia Winkleman returning as host alongside resident judges May Martin and Patrick Grant. This time, the final involveed of one female and two males. After six weeks of fierce competition, the ten sewers were reduced to the three finalists from which Matt was declared the winner, with Lorna and Neil as the runners up.Series 4 (2016)
The fourth series of The Great British Sewing Bee began airing on 16 May 2016. May Martin was replaced by new judge Esme Young. The finalists were Jade, Charlotte, and Joyce, with Charlotte the winner.Series 5 (2019)
The fifth series began on 12 February 2019 on BBC Two. Joe Lycett took over from Claudia Winkleman as presenter, and Esme Young and Patrick Grant returned as judges. The series was shot at 47-49 Tanner Street. Exterior shots are of 1, Tanner Street, Bermondsey. The finalists were Juliet, Leah, and Riccardo, with Juliet winning.Series 6 (2020)
The sixth series began on 22 April 2020 on BBC One. Joe Lycett returned as presenter, and Esme Young and Patrick Grant also returned as judges. The finalists were Clare, Matt, and Nicole, with Clare winning.''The BBC Children in Need Sewing Bee''
The Great British Sewing Bee returned for three special episodes as 12 celebrities took to the sewing machines in a bid to raise money for Children in Need.Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Transmissions
Series
Special
International broadcast
- — The series premiered on 15 December 2014 on The LifeStyle Channel.
International versions
| Country | Local title | Host | Judges | Channel | Premiere |
| Denmark | Klar, parat, sy | Lene Beier | Jesper Høvring Jette With | TV 2 FRI | 14 March 2015 |
| France | Cousu Main | Cristina Córdula | Amparo Lellouche Julien Scavini | M6 | 30 August 2014 |
| Germany | Geschickt eingefädelt | Guido Maria Kretschmer | Inge Szoltysik-Sparrer Anke Müller | VOX | 3 November 2015 |
| Netherlands | Door Het Oog Van De Naald | Nicolette van Dam | Nelleke Rimmelzwaan Maik de Boer | RTL 4 | 28 January 2015 |
| Norway | Det store symesterskapet | Christina Hope | Tine Solheim Andreas Feet | NRK | 19 November 2014 |
| Portugal | Cosido à mão | Sónia Araújo | Susana Agostinho Paulo Battista Mariama Barbosa | RTP1 | 4 November 2017 |
| Spain | Maestros de la Costura | Raquel Sánchez Silva | Lorenzo Caprile María Escoté Palomo Spain | La 1 | 12 February 2018 |
| Sweden | Hela Sverige Syr | Linda Lindorff | Lisbeth Stålborg Frederik Andersen | Sjuan | 14 October 2014 |