Pottery Throwdown - 8th January

[NumbersStation]

Coming back - to channel 4. Let us hope that they don’t muller it like they did GBBO.

Melanie Sykes is hosting. I wish they’d kept Sara.

Let us hope channel 4 grab Fern and resurrect my allotment challenge too.

I have a friend the other side of the country who I make bets with as to how many times Keith will cry. It brings us together as we watch

Love the new presenter Sue's style. Very cool.

I only came across this by accident - couldn't work out why they tucked it away on More4.

With Sewing Bee this is one of my favourite shows - particularly because in both I l really like the experts/judges and I like the real skills and artistry shown by the contestants. I'd love to do pottery myself. I didn't mind Mel Sykes. Or the tears ( I didn't remember he did that!).

I like Sue’s hair. I’m trying to find a recent pic of her to show my hairdresser.

We have a family sweep - how many minutes in will Keith cry.

I don't see why the judges can't host it with a decent narrator.

Judges who are experts in their fields don't necessarily make good programme hosts. IMO the host/presenter is there to act as a link between the judges, contestants and viewers; asking 'inane' questions is fine as they tend to be the questions a lay viewer would ask. They communicate with the contestants in a way that wouldn't be possible with a narrator. In short, they humanise the whole thing.

I liked the weightlifter woman's set and the skyline one. Quite liked the splattery one by the ex-cyclist too, and there was something charming about Henrietta the hen, although the potter is mad as a spider plant.

This week was wonderful. The chess sets were clever.

I love this so much - I was so pleased when I found out it was starting last week.

Is it just me or is the young bleached blond lad a carbon copy of the young bleached blond lad from GBBO? Except this one is a bit better at what he does.

Also,I’ve just realised they have one less test each episode this series - I suppose it must be to make space for the adverts.

Is it just me or is the young bleached blond lad a carbon copy of the young bleached blond lad from GBBO?
Yes, he reminds me of him too!

The 'winning' chess set (can't remember the Scouse guy's name) was just fabulous. I liked Flea's as well, in a totally different way; sort of bonkers but delicate and beautiful. The master potter who judged the miniatures was a lovely chap; so gentle and kind.

I really fancied having a go at pottery but it looks so difficult! I can't find any local classes to teach the basics so where would I go to learn?

Anyone watching tonight. Not come across raku before, brutal! Arctic foxes , doves, ducks, elephants, penguins have worked well.

@ScapaFlo the evening classes held in our local school had pottery on their curriculum one year, I remember. Brmingham City Council publish leaflets of their evening classes, I think the local libraries hold copies.

you are very lucky if you can find local evening classes in pottery
we had fantastic provision, classes running day and evenings and sessions that parents and kids could attend together....all gone, teachers let go and all the equipment gone, so sad

Watching the repeat. it's not a bad show.

Rosalind seems a bit mad?

Rosalind seems a bit mad?

I wonder if she's just batty, or if she has learning difficulties or some other issue?

I liked her foxes, and whatisname's, the Scouse bloke. And the Danish woman's duck and duckling.

Oh, the duck and duckling - superb.

Rosalind is such a talented potter. Her knitting sheep this week were superb.

Rosalind's demented. She has a phony 'little gitrl' voice, her face is 25 years younger than her hands and she has the rictus grin of far to many facelifts.

Also, the sheep's fur? No one's that stupid, surely.

Amazing lamps though. (Not a euphemism)

just catching up on this and finished the raku episode last night. I didn't like the winning penguins - no emperor penguin ever has an egg and a chick that size at the same time. very annoying. but I loved the ducks and the first (non-corgi) foxes.

I loved the sheep lamps. I thought losing Flea was harsh. I'd have gone for Ronaldo or Rainna. Flea's writing challenge was good too.

Totally agree northernstars , Ronaldo has been pretty poor every week and iirc this is the second time that someone has gone after doing well in the second challenge, makes you wonder why they bother with it if it has no bearing on the result .

Nude people this week!

They would have never allowed that on the BBC

I found tonight’s episode very frustrating. The nudity was a distraction, mainly as I was worried for the models having regrets about participating, but also because this seemed so unnecessary. It was sculpture, not pottery. In contrast the amphora exercise was a great section, testing pottery skills in the best possible way.

Spoiler alert

And I was convinced Ronaldo would be out. He’s clearly struggling.

I’m proper gutted that the departee has gone. They were my favourite.