Great British Sewing Bee 2026

[LIZS]

Back on 14th July at 8pm

I did wonder if Esmee was ill. She sounded wobbly, and she just didn’t come across as her incisive self.

If only they would bring back Claudia!

I still can’t remember who everyone is, even with the aid of the Radio Times article. But I never can at this stage. IMO each series gets better as the herd is thinned out so everyone gets more screen time. I usually watch til around the midpoint then go back through them backwards on iplayer to see what I missed!

I’m not ashamed to admit I find the format unavoidably soporific. All the pretty colours and lack of friction mean that I inevitably fall asleep briefly during almost every episode - then have to go back and re-watch.

So I’d be glad if they could give the show a bit more edge: tougher music, harsher colours, something … jagged to keep me awake!

None of these negative posts put me off one of the best shows on the TV. It's brilliant xx

The lack of friction is what I enjoy. It's a feel-good programme.

Esmee seemed a bit wobbly last year too.

I'm two eps in so far and like that there seem to be fewer bonkers creations, lol. I liked the last presenter and I like the new one too. They both have a pleasant light hearted way about them and don't seem to bug the contestants.

I like Sophie, the new presenter. She seems genuinely interested in the techniques ( even a bit surprised!). She was clearly nervous in Ep 1 but seems a much better fit to me than Kiell for example. Joe Lycett took a while to grow into the role too, as did Sara Pascoe.

I’m surprised at people citing Siobhan McSweeney as a good presenter as most people I know couldn’t stand her in the first few series of the Pottery Throwdown and bemoaned the disappearance of Ellie Taylor when she was the temporary stand in. Now I think she’s just right but it did take her a while to hit her stride. She is also primarily an actress and has some dire skits to work with.

Of course there’s only one anarchic, quick witted, genuinely warm Claudia - and that’s why she is a National Treasure and has gone on to ever more greatness.

I like Sophie too. I think SB needs a bit of light-hearted banter.

I don't really get the Claudia love apart from Traitors. Each to their own.

I dozed off during the middle of the programme and woke at the end,so I re watched it this morning!

Rebecca's posted some pics from her wedding on Instagram

And she and Patrick conveniently left out a lot of the facts around the 'story' she was telling.

Made me want to punch Patrick when he got all emotional at the end, and I'm usually a fan of him.

Have you done the Archive tour at the Mill? It's fascinating. Went to Scrap for the first time on Saturday but managed not to buy anything!

Yes! Holdyour, it is nearly not needed. But I guess they need a bod to wander and shout out how many minutes

But the judges on Masterchef manage to do that without needing an extra presenter, so the format can work.

I agree with the pp who said about Esme criticising colour choices, that really annoys me.

Now I know she is in Small Prophets I will definitely give her more time to bed in! I LOVED Small Prophets. They just need to write less horrendous links for her. I mean the links this week sound like everyone was off sick with Patrick’s shocking cold.

I do love the programme. It’s a brilliant idea. It’s just formula series can get a bit tired after this many series.

I am also just waiting with dread for the makes which are tributes to dead grannies…..and relatives who taught one to sew - kill me now - we have had too many now.

I miss Sara P and Joe and yes, you are right, they all took time to look easy didn’t they?

I wish they would do more denim re cycling as I have a ton in my house.

Same. (I find her very arch). It’s a minority view though, I suspect.
I actually liked Kiell in the presenter role - he was quite chilled, which worked well for this format.
But the forced “comedy” skits don’t really work for any presenter IMO - they just make me cringe.

How did you manage not to buy anything? I am in awe!

I haven't been there for years. It's an amazing space, with so much to offer. I need to make time for it.

Love the new presenter. Esme has been a bit shaky the last few years, I pointed it out last year and got slated on here!!

I’ve already bought 2 patterns based on this series-it’s going to bankrupt me!

I agree with this. Her transformation challenge was brilliant

Sophie is hilarious. She was brilliant on Taskmaster.

Bloody hell, it's a light entertainment programme 🙄

Given that Patrick does not typically get emotional and Anna has consistently demonstrated both sewing skill and design talent, why not accept his professional judgement that this was an exceptional garment?

We're never all going to agree with every judgement, but it makes me really uncomfortable to read some of the comments on this thread denying Anna's ability.

At no point did I comment on Anna's ability. However this particular episode's theme was meant to be a bit more serious. She chose a story, which was a large part of the brief and left out a LOT of it. That was relevant.

I think Anna is very talented at making flouncy skirts and Victorian themed clothes.

Do we all have to agree that Anna is the best on this thread or are we allowed different opinions? Because if we are not, I'm out.

I agree. It smacks of jealousy.

I suppose a pp is alluding to the slavery aspects of the cotton industry. Given that people write whole books on this and there are whole programme series on it the two minutes allocated on GBSB wouldn't really do it justice. There were also children taken from the East End of London to be apprentices in cotton mills in Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire then turned loose again without a job. And again the vast amounts of water used in fabric production. There really wouldn't be time to do the subject justice but it would be a good idea for a different series with time given to the alternatives - we can't no naked and we dont wear animal furs any more.