The Great British Sewing Bee is back on BBC One on Wednesday (April 27th), and the 12 ambitious sewers taking part on the show have been unveiled.
Season 8 of the much-loved competition features new host Sara Pascoe taking over from fellow comedian Joe Lycett, and returning judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young.
The talented home sewers hoping to impress the judges with their creations are: Man Yee, Annie, Cristian, Brogan, Mitch, Marni, Steve, Debora, Richy, Gill, Chichi, and Angela.
Meet the sewers ????
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 18, 2022
This talented bunch will be joining @SaraPascoe, @PaddyGrant and Esme Young for a brand new series of The Great British Sewing Bee.
Wednesday 27th April. 8pm. @BBCOne #SewingBee pic.twitter.com/4cVWzqn5ca
They will have to compete in three challenges until one remaining contestant is crowned best seamstress. The tasks include the pattern challenge, in which they will chose fabric from the haberdashery to all make the same pattern. The second is the Transformation Challenge, which will test their creativity and imagination as they’re given 90 minutes to turn items of old clothing into something new and exciting. Finally, the ultimate test is Made to Measure, which will see the participants fitting to a real life model, having planned the outfit in advance.
We can’t wait!
Allow us to introduce the 12 contestants taking part below.
Angela
Angela...
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 19, 2022
???? Has 50 years of sewing experience
???? Was taught to sew by her mother, who was a dressmaker
???? Won an award for her work as a school nurse during the pandemic.#SewingBee pic.twitter.com/4JLb0kXIxZ
Instagram: @sewange
Angela, from Lancashire, has 50 years of sewing experience, and won an award for her work as a school nurse during the pandemic. She is an NHS health visitor and school nurse, which she balances with her hobbies of gardening, walking and sewing, obviously.
Annie
Instagram: @madeby_annie_
Annie, who lives in Surrey with her boyfriend, credits her grandmother as her inspiration to start sewing. She currently works as a buyer for a high street fashion brand.
Brogan
Brogan...
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 19, 2022
???? Started sewing after watching the first series of Sewing Bee as a child
???? Loves to make clothes for her sausage dog, Roger
???? Enjoys replicating high street garments, often throwing in a tier, ruffle or frill!#SewingBee pic.twitter.com/7RywqYXzAV
Instagram: @/the_crafty_pie
Brogan is originally from Edinburgh but now teaches Spanish and French at a secondary school in Derbyshire. she got into sewing after watching series 1 of Sewing Bee as a child, and loves making clothes for her sausage dog, Roger.
Debra
Instagram: @debragoldenzebra
Debra began sewing aged 9, and takes inspiration from luxury designers like Erdem, Gucci and Chanel. She works for a multinational company and likes to dress up in some of her more colourful designer-inspired creations to brighten up the workplace.
Cristian
Cristian...
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 19, 2022
???? Grew up near Transylvania as one of six children
???? Learnt to sew by watching his mother making her own garments
???? His parents gave him a sewing machine when he turned 18.#SewingBee pic.twitter.com/dDojeWC3Jy
Instagram: @cristian_mrsn
Cristian grew up near Transylvania as one of six children, and learned to sew by watching his mother making her own garments. He moved to the UK four years ago and he is now the manager of a high street store in London.
Chichi
Instagram: @saychichis
Chichi is originally from Zimbabwe and grew up in Somerset and Hampshire, before moving to London. She enjoys making creations from recycled fabrics and transforming vintage clothing. She has a penchant for animal print.
Gill
Gill...
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 19, 2022
???? Started sewing when her husband bought her a machine three years ago
???? Makes clothes for herself, her family and even her greyhound, Maureen
???? Works as an analyst and feels that her love for numbers helps her in her sewing.#SewingBee pic.twitter.com/BEat09h7qJ
Gill first tried sewing when her husband bought her a machine three years ago and it was love at first stitch and she’s never looked back. She taught herself to sew, and works as a public health intelligence analyst, insisting that her love for numbers helps her in her sewing.
Man Yee
Instagram: @manyee.woo
Man Yee was born in Hong Kong and moved to Portsmouth as a child. Her sewing journey began a decade ago when she and her friends wanted to dress up as Japanese anime characters for Comic Con, so she asked her aunt to teach her how to sew. She works as an actuary and lives with her boyfriend in London.
Marni
Marni...
— Sewing Bee (@sewingbee) April 19, 2022
???? Has been sewing for 35 years
???? Was born in Canada and is a Canadian First Nation member of the Maliseet tribe
???? Likes using unique embellishments such as discarded feathers combined with recycled clothing and charity shop finds.#SewingBee pic.twitter.com/8TlPQCN9DM
Instagram: @marnibettyvet
Marni was born in Canada and is a Canadian First Nation member of the Maliseet tribe, and has been sewing for 35 years. Her signature style is using unique embellishments such as discarded feathers combined with recycled clothing and charity shop finds.
Mitch
Instagram: @mitchbridgewater
Mitch taught himself to sew by reading books and studying online videos, and has a passion for loud fabric. . He now runs a university theatre in Cumbria, working behind the scenes and directing when he gets the chance.
Richy
Instagram: @the_back_stitch_boys
Richy enjoys creating historical garments, often burying himself in books or heading to a museum for research. His trademark is a homemade bowtie, of which he has over 50. He’s a professional baker at an independent cafe where he works with his partner of 15 years
Steve
Instagram: @szczepan_cowling
Steve took up sewing as a lockdown hobby and now sews for at least two hours a day. Growing up in Essex, he moved to Newcastle with his girlfriend of 16 years after giving up his office job and is now a full time running coach.
The Great British Sewing Bee returns to BBC One on Wednesday 27 April at 8pm. Find something to watch with our TV Guide or visit our Entertainment hub for all the latest news.
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