The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC2: four things you need to know about Series 4 with new judge Esme Young

The craft competition is back with more ambitious amateurs and a new face on the panel
Ben Travis16 May 2016

Get your needle and thread ready – the Great British Sewing Bee is back for another series.

The Bake Off spin-off sees ten amateur sewing fanatics take on a series of challenges to impress the judges – but will they have the competition sewn up, or simply come undone?

Watching over proceedings is Claudia Winkleman, with a familiar face and a newcomer on the judging panel.

Here are four things you need to know about the show and its latest series.

1) There’s a new judge

As with previous years, Savile Row’s Patrick Grant is back to critique the couture and the techniques of the amateur competitors.

Joining him for 2016 is a new judge, Esme Young – the spitting image of The Incredibles’ Edna Mode.

With her distinctive bowl-cut hair-do, Young has been a designer to the stars (she’s worked for Cher and Grace Jones), and for the big screen (she made Bridget Jones’ bunny costume).

She’s tough but fair, expecting a lot from the contestants – but rightly praising them when they deliver.

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2) There are three weekly tasks

Just like Bake Off, each episode sees the contestants take on three separate tasks to prove their mastery of needlework.

In the first episode, the ten hopefuls are asked to create a woman’s top from four pieces of fabric, following a pattern that requires accuracy and steady scissoring. Next, they’re adding their own personal touches to maternity wear, and then have to create a bespoke skirt that perfectly fits a real model in the ‘Made to Measure’ round.

Those who impress stay in the running – and whoever lags behind is cut loose.

3) Claudia Winkleman is a great host

She was the perfect choice when Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down from Strictly Come Dancing, and Claudia Winkleman is equally great in the hosting role on Sewing Bee.

Like Bake Off’s Mel and Sue rolled into one, she’s hilarious, scattershot, and genuinely enthused by what she sees, bringing energy to the show – and plenty of laughs.

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4) It’s much friendlier than the Bake Off: Crème de la Crème

The most recent Bake Off spin-off to hit the screen was Crème de la Crème, a pastry competition for professional cooks. Despite the Bake Off branding, it wasn’t in keeping with the warm and friendly tone of its parent show.

If you’ve been put off, don’t worry – the Sewing Bee is much more like the original baking show, with determined amateurs taking part, a fun vibe, and a try-it-yourself positivity.

BBC Two, 9pm

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