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".[1] A spin-off of the format of The Great British Bake Off, the programme was presented by Claudia Winkleman[2] for the first four series, with judges Patrick Grant, May Martin (series 1–3), and Esme Young (since series 4). 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.

For the recently completed series, see The Great British Sewing Bee (series 6).

The Great British Sewing Bee
GenreReality
Game show
Presented by
Judges
Theme music composerIan Livingstone
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series6
No. of episodes26 (inc. 3 specials)
Production
Executive producerAnna Beattie
Producers
  • Susanne Rock
  • Suzanne McGairl
Production locations
  • Other Cafe and Gallery
  • Metropolitan Wharf
  • Bermondsey
EditorSusanne Rock
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLove Productions
Release
Original networkBBC Two
BBC One
Picture format16:9
Audio formatStereo
Original release2 April 2013 (2013-04-02) –
present
Chronology
Related showsThe Great British Bake Off
The Great Pottery Throw Down
External links
Website
Production website

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.[3]

Series overview

Series 1 (2013)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 1)

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)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 2)

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)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 3)

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)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 4)

The fourth series of The Great British Sewing Bee began airing on 16 May 2016.[4][5] May Martin was replaced by new judge Esme Young.[6] The finalists were Jade, Charlotte, and Joyce, with Charlotte the winner.

Series 5 (2019)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 5)

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.[7] Exterior shots are of 1, Tanner Street, Bermondsey.[8][9] The finalists were Juliet, Leah, and Riccardo, with Juliet winning.

Series 6 (2020)
Main article: The Great British Sewing Bee (series 6)

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 BBC Children in Need Sewing Bee
GenreSewing
Presented byJenny Eclair
Sara Cox
Anita Rani
JudgesMay Martin
Patrick Grant
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producersAnna Beattie
Susanne Rock
ProducerSuzanne McGairl
Production locationMetropolitan Wharf
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLove Productions
Release
Original networkBBC Two
Original release21 (21) –
24 October 2014 (2014-10-24)
External links
Website

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.[10]

  Winner

Episode 1
SewerPattern Challenge
(A Line Skirt)		Alteration Challenge
(Hawaiian Shirt)		Made-to-measure
(A Dress from their favourite era)		PresenterOriginally AiredViewers
(millions)[11]
Edith Bowman2Cape21950s Flared DressJenny Eclair21 October 20142.25
Dave Myers4Child's Dress31960s A Line dress
Dawn Harper1Tunic Dress41920s Flapper Dress
Wendi Peters3Sundress11950s V-Neck Dress

Episode 2
SewerPattern Challenge
(Pyjama Bottoms)		Alteration Challenge
(Onesie-Animal Costume)		Made-to-measure
(Childhood Story Skirt)		PresenterOriginally AiredViewers
(millions)[11]
Gaby Roslin3Dinosaur2Alice in Wonderland Tea PartySara Cox23 October 20141.87
Louie Spence2Ladybird3Ra-ra Skirt
Mark Watson4ZebrafishThe Emperor's New Clothes
Pam Ferris1Cockerel1London Skyline at Night

Episode 3
SewerPattern Challenge
(Jersey T-shirt)		Alteration Challenge
(Old Prom Dress)		Made-to-measure
(Child's Garment)		PresenterOriginally AiredViewers
(millions)[11]
Gemma Cairney4Covered Prom Dress4Silk Brocade CapeAnita Rani24 October 20141.86
Helen Lederer3Camden Lock '843Silk Party Dress
Kathryn Flett2Playsuit2Little Red Riding Hood Cloak
Timmy Matley1Gathered Skirt1Michael Jackson Pleather Jacket

Transmissions

Series
SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
12 April 201323 April 20134
218 February 20148 April 20148
35 February 201512 March 20156
416 May 20164 July 20168
512 February 20192 April 20198
622 April 202024 June 202010

Special
DateEntitle
15 December 2013Christmas Special
26 December 2020Celebrity Christmas Special
31 December 2020Celebrity New Year Special

International versions

Broadcast
CountryLocal titleHost(s)JudgesChannelPremiere
DenmarkKlar, parat, sy[15][16]
(Ready, Set, Sew)		Lene BeierJesper Høvring
Jette With[17]		TV 214 March 2015[18]
FranceCousu Main[19]
(Hand Sewn)		Cristina CórdulaAmparo Lellouche
Julien Scavini		M6[20]30 August 2014
GermanyGeschickt eingefädelt
(Skillfully Threaded)		Guido Maria KretschmerInge Szoltysik-Sparrer
Anke Müller		VOX3 November 2015
NetherlandsDoor Het Oog Van De Naald
(Through the Eye of the Needle)		Nicolette van DamNelleke Rimmelzwaan
Maik de Boer		RTL 428 January 2015
NorwayDet store symesterskapet[21]
(The Great Sewing Championship)		Christina HopeTine Solheim
Andreas Feet[22]		NRK[20]19 November 2014
PortugalCosido à mão[23]
(Hand Sewn)		Sónia AraújoSusana Agostinho
Paulo Battista
Mariama Barbosa		RTP14 November 2017
SpainMaestros de la Costura[24]
(Masters of Sewing)		Raquel Sánchez SilvaLorenzo Caprile
María Escoté
Palomo Spain		La 112 February 2018
SwedenHela Sverige Syr[25]
(The Whole of Sweden Is Sewing)		Linda LindorffLisbeth Stålborg
Frederik Andersen		Sjuan[20]14 October 2014[26]

Etymology

Historically the word bee has been used to describe a get-together where a specific action is being carried out, such as a husking bee, a quilting bee, or an apple bee. In the USA, the Scripps National Spelling Bee champions have been held annually since 1925. Its etymology is unclear, but the word possibly derives from the Old English word bēn, meaning prayer.[27]

References
  1. "BBC One - The Great British Sewing Bee". BBC.
  2. Meltzer, Tom (10 April 2013). "Review: The Great British Sewing Bee". The Guardian.
  3. Bussmann, Kate (18 February 2014). "Behind the scenes of Great British Sewing Bee". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  4. "The Great British Sewing Bee 2016: Everything You Need to Know - Sewing Blog".
  5. "Basic Construction, Series 4, The Great British Sewing Bee - BBC Two". BBC.
  6. "New Judge for The Great British Sewing Bee". The Sewing Directory. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  7. "Ugly Duck - The Loft".
  8. "BBC Two - The Great British Sewing Bee, Series 5, Episode 1". BBC.
  9. "BBC Two - The Great British Sewing Bee, Series 5 Trailer: The Great British Sewing Bee". BBC. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  10. Fletcher, Harry (13 October 2014). "Edith Bowman and Louie Spence for Children in Need Sewing Bee specials - TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  11. "Weekly Top 30". Broadcasters Audience Research Board. 20–26 October 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  12. Higgins, D. (15 December 2014). "NEW THIS WEEK: The Newsroom finale, The Killing S3, Cordon, Test match cricket and Christmas programs". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  13. "ソーイング・ビー". NHK.
  14. "ソーイング・ビー2". NHK.
  15. White, Peter (18 July 2014). "Sewing Bee heads to Denmark's TV2". Broadcast. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  16. Sørensen, Sola Kruchov (21 August 2014). "Topdesigner i nyt program på TV 2 FRI". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  17. "Sewing Bee". Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  18. "Ups... Vi kan ikke finde siden! - TV 2 PLAY".
  19. "Cousu main en replay sur 6play : Rediffusion gratuite en streaming". 6play.
  20. Krewen, Nick (18 July 2014). "BBCWW sends "Sewing Bee" to Denmark". realscreen. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  21. "The Norwegian Sewing Bee - Willy Sews!". willy.foreviget.no.
  22. "NRK TV - Se Det store symesterskapet".
  23. "Cosido à Mão".
  24. "Lorenzo Caprile, María Escoté y Palomo Spain serán el jurado de 'Maestros de la Costura', que presentará Raquel Sánchez Silva". rtve.es. 26 October 2017.
  25. "Hela Sverige syr".
  26. "De kämpar med nål och tråd i Hela Sverige syr (They compete with needle and thread in Whole Sweden Sews)". 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  27. "noun] Merriam-Webster: bee [3".
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