As 12 new hopefuls trooped into The Great British Sewing Bee work room to be greeted by faithful judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young, there was an unfamiliar edge in the air among the smiling faces and good-natured jokes. I immediately had the distinct feeling that this year’s series would be..
. watchable. I have historically struggled with the staid sensibleness of the programme, now 10 series in – its neat stitches and church fête ambience.
And while it might be foolish to judge a whole series on just the opening episode, it already feels less tedious. Maybe even fun. What’s behind Sewing Bee ‘s resuscitation? Undoubtedly, new host Kiell Smith-Bynoe – who made his first appearance as presenter in last year’s Christmas special after competing in 2021 – has a lot to do with it.
His straight-faced silliness undercuts the programme’s inherent tweeness. One of his jokes actually made me snort with laughter: defining a “casual” dress, Smith-Bynoe explained: “That means you can wear other dresses and that dress can’t get jealous.” Another redemption comes in this year’s eclectic casting.
There’s 74-year-old retiree Janet from Yorkshire, who has a painting of her and her husband enjoying an “afternoon off” (wink wink) pinned to her station, and 52-year-old Neil from Leicester, who gives historical tours and comes accompanied by his horrifying ventriloquist dummy Terry Pastry. Never mind their sewing, both deserve credit for the sheer entertainmen.
