All That Glitters: jewellery making the reality TV competition way

[Ellmau]

Anyone else watch this?

Presenter Katherine Ryan was UNBELIEVABLY irritating.

Watched it today with DM, thought it should be good to learn more about the craft and see some lovely pieces but we both hated it. KR is terrible - so grating and unfunny and the other two come across totally charmless and humourless.

The format just doesn't suit this craft, felt really sorry for the ones whose pieces went wrong, they look so stressed it was unpleasant to see.

I agree with you all: I REALLY wanted to love this but...

• the judges lacked any personality or character at all
• KR does not have the warmth to carry a show like this (and was cringeworthy at times)
• there was not enough coverage of the actual process of making jewellery
• like many of these types of shows, the short time given to complete the task ruins it; I don't want to see very talented people throw together 3 bangles in as short a time as possible - I'd like to see them given enouh time to do something well

It was such a disappointment.

I really wanted to like this as I’m a fan of Bake Off, Sewing Bee, Pottery Throwdown and the Interior Design one, but I just couldn’t warm to this for all the reasons PP mentioned.

No chemistry or warmth from the judges and KR, and the jewellery wasn’t shot in clear enough a way for me to be particularly impressed. Plus, as there wasn’t much explanation of what the contestants were doing or critique from the judges, I have no real idea if the contestants were doing something hard or not if you see what I mean. Can’t see me tuning in for the rest of the series.

Thanks, TodaysFish, I will listen later.

I didn’t realise how important the judges and presenters are in this kind of Format but this totally missed the mark due to a mixture of overbearing inappropriate KR, the miserable demeanour of Solange and the uninspiring and morose personalities of the judges. I was really looking forward to this as I love sewing, bake off, pottery but although I’ll give it another go, I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. I really liked the contestants though so that was something.

Saw a headline today that many complaints have been made about KR, specifically the straight, white, men comment she made to Tamara

Blackopal. Thanks for this. I’m really glad to hear that there were complaints about that comment. Totally inappropriate and it really jarred when she came out with it. The dour judges are one thing but KR is painful to watch.

I wonder why they put such ridiculous time limits on programmes like this - you never actually get to see what someone can really do. It's a shame with all of the creative programmes - there's not usually the need to rush to that extent. I do get it with Master Chef if someone's going to work in a restaurant, but I wouldn't expect three bangles to be made in three hours (unless they were going to cost virtually nothing.)

I didn't know there was a difference between a chain and a necklace!

@Maireas

I didn't know there was a difference between a chain and a necklace!

Clearly neither do the contestants.

Though I thought they were pretty clear at wanting interlocking, and yet half of them didn't bother.

Well Solange definitely thinks there's a difference 😂she's not the most interesting person!

That last one, it looked like a paper clip chain.

Solange is really hard work.

@jay55

That last one, it looked like a paper clip chain.

It did! I don't know why they didn't follow the brief? They should know the difference.

I agree, Jemima.
The sweetheart brooch is a nice idea.

I feel like KR is trying very very hard to inject some life into the show to make up for Solange's lack of energy

She is, although I didn't get her Prince Harry joke at first. Solange sounds like she's delivering terrible news.

The brooches are ugly as anything.

Still getting very flat vibes from this. For me it's Solange who puts a damper on it.. she sounds bored witless and disinterested even when she's praising someone's effort. The whole show feels like it needs a vitamin shot. I'm falling asleep watching and I absolutely love this type of programme and love jewellery.

She's certainly not sparking my inner jeweller. I don't understand how someone so flat and disinterested got through whatever pilot or screen test they did.

Solange is so so serious. It’s like she’s determined this should not in any way be fun. I think maybe she thinks this sort of TV show is a bit beneath her (in which case of course she shouldn’t be doing it).

I like seeing the process, but agree it's not got the same oomph as other craft shows. The guy judge really seemed to have it in for Kim, which I think is a shame. I get the impression they have already picked their final three before they even started making the jewellery, although I do think they picked the right winner each week, but not I'm not sure about who they are sending home.

I thought they had warmed up a fair bit tonight. We saw two consequences of the time constraint tonight: some poor finishing and things going wrong with no time to rectify them. KR needs to just be natural imho instead of trying to make her slightly off jokes.

I thought this week was better than last week, and I did enjoy learning about chain necklaces and the brooches were a bit...disappointing overall. The musical penguin was the best, although there was nothing to signify Holly (that I could ascertain).

Anyway, Sewing Bee is back on tomorrow .

@MotherOfGodWeeFella

I thought they had warmed up a fair bit tonight. We saw two consequences of the time constraint tonight: some poor finishing and things going wrong with no time to rectify them. KR needs to just be natural imho instead of trying to make her slightly off jokes.

Her jokes are the kind that friends who know each other very well might find amusing iyswim. Not really appropriate in this setting and they do fall flat.