The Great British Sewing Bee will be back this spring 2024! We love the Sewing Bee and the chance to enjoy the sewists' highs and lows.
From outlandish made-to-measures to trickier-than-ever transformations, The Great British Sewing Bee offers lashings of sewing room drama with the eagle-eyed judging we've grown to love from Patrick and Esme.
Photos: BBC/Love Productions/James Stack / main image credit: @britishsewingbee on Instagram
Your complete guide to the 2024 Sewing Bee!
Looking for something specific? Jump straight to our Sewing Bee sections to learn more.
Everything you need to know about the Bee:
- When is the Great British Sewing Bee on?
- New book alert 2024! The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics
- Who is the new presenter of the Great British Sewing Bee 2024?
- The Great British Sewing Bee FAQ
The Great British Sewing Bee Season 10:
- Sewing Bee 2024 episode guide
- Sewing Bee patterns
- The Great British Sewing Bee's 2024 themes
- Download our free Sewing Bee sweepstake card!
- What can we expect from this year's Great British Sewing Bee?
Meet the Sewing Bee Season 10 cast:
Meet the Sewing Bee judges and presenters:
When is the Great British Sewing Bee 2024 on?
We don't know The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 dates yet but we know they will air on BBC One in spring - we think it's likely to be May or early June.
We will update this page as soon as we know!
What channel is the Great British Sewing Bee on 2024?
The Great British Sewing Bee is shown on BBC One.
Where can I stream the Great British Sewing Bee?
All the past Sewing Bee episodes are available on iPlayer shortly after they've aired. The show can also be streamed on the Sky Go app.
The BBC has made all of the past eight series of the Great British Sewing Bee available on iPlayer, so you can catch up on any series that you've missed.
Watch the Great British Sewing Bee
New book alert 2024! The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics
Get yourself a copy of the brand new The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics: Create Your Own Capsule Wardrobe With 23 Dressmaking Projects. The book is available to pre-order and is out on the 18th April 2024. Subscribe to Simply Sewing magazine today and receive a copy of this book with your subscription! Sign up today to receive a copy direct to your door.
Who is the new presenter of the Great British Sewing Bee 2024?
There's a new presenter in the Sewing Bee studio! The lovely Sara Pascoe is going on maternity leave (congratulations Sara!) so the incredibly talented Kiell Smith-Bynoe will be taking over the reins.
Kiell will be hosting the upcoming series 10 in 2024.
We got a new chum! The brilliantly hilarious KS-B, comin atcha for Series 10 (yes its true!) and this year's super lolz Christmas spesh. Enjoy.
Judge Patrick Grant on his Instagram
Kiell is a brilliant actor and you may recognise him from shows such as Ghosts, Stath Lets Flats and Taskmaster.
Keen Sewing Bee fans may remember he appeared on the 2021 Christmas special as a contestant. He was one of our favourite contestants and we will never forget him opting to use the fleece fabric the wrong way around... so he could stroke it!
We can't wait to see him present series 10 of the Great British Sewing Bee. Welcome to the Sewing Bee family Kiell!
2024 Sewing Bee episode guide
Watch this space! Every week we're going to be sharing our thoughts, feelings and favourites from each episode of the Sewing Bee.
We'd love to know what you thought of each episode too! Chat with us over on Simply Sewing or Gathered's Instagram.
Episode one: Coming soon!
Discover your favourite Sewing Bee patterns
Want to make garments like the ones you've seen on the show? Each week we'll be updating our Sewing Bee patterns roundup with projects inspired by the episode's theme.
The Great British Sewing Bee 2024 themes
This is where we'll update the themes from each episode!
Download our free Sewing Bee sweepstake printable!
Coming soon! Keep an eye out for our GBSB 2024 sweepstake printable.
If you're a Sewing Bee lover like us then you'll love our free printable sweepstake card. It brings a little friendly competition into your life and will have you rooting for the contestants more than ever.
Simply print out the PDF, cut the card along the dotted lines and dish out the contestants to your friends, family or colleagues. All that's left is to tune into the Sewing Bee each week and let the sweepstake commence!
Meet the Great British Sewing Bee 2024 contestants!
Once this years contestants have been announced we will update this section with everything you need to know.
What can we expect from this year's Great British Sewing Bee?
Series 10 of The Great British Sewing Bee sees 12 enthusiastic amateur sewers enter the sewing room to take part in a series of fiendish challenges, which will be judged by industry experts Patrick Grant and Esme Young (no pressure!).
Each episode has three challenges: the Pattern Challenge, the Transformation Challenge and the Made to Measure.
In the Pattern Challenge, they are assigned a specific pattern to make. For the Transformation Challenge, the sewers are given some secondhand clothes which they have to turn into a creative outfit. Finally, the Made to Measure puts their tailoring skills to the test, as they have to make a garment to fit a model.
Patrick and Esme set the sewing challenges as the sewers explore clothes inspired by art, travel, fashion icons, utilitarian clothing, West Africa as well as some old favourites such as – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week and Children’s Week.
The theme of Classics with a Twist Week kicks off the series, and the first Pattern Challenge is a top with a twist. The Transformation Challenge asks sewers to put their twist on a classic pencil skirt and blouse and the made-to-measure is an on-trend cut-out dress.
Ever wondered who composed the music for the Sewing Bee? Find out more about the Sewing Bee soundtrack with classical-music.com.
Who are the Sewing Bee judges?
The judges on the Sewing Bee are Patrick Grant and Esme Young, who are both respected fashion industry experts. Read on to find out more about Patrick and Esme…
Patrick Grant
Patrick Grant, 49, is a Scottish fashion designer and famous within the industry. He's worked with multiple bespoke tailors including Norton & Sons of Savile Row and has a keen eye for sharp lines and crisp suits. He was awarded the Menswear Designer award at the British Fashion Awards in 2010 which means he is more than qualified to judge the Sewing Bee's contestants.
He bought ailing Blackburn clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg in 2015, saving the factory from closure, and launched social enterprise Community Clothing to champion UK-made quality, affordable and sustainable fashion. He's judged The Great British Sewing Bee since its start in 2013. He lives in London. Read our interview with Patrick Grant.
Esme Young
Esme Young is the powerhouse on Sewing Bee. She began her sewing career in Camden with her brand Swanky Modes and has been sewing ever since. Their most famous creation, the Amorphous dress, is in The V&A Museum.
What does Esme Young from the Sewing Bee do? As well as being a Sewing Bee judge and TV presenter, Esme also teaches at Central Saint Martins art school in London.
Fun fact: did you know that Esme has worked on a lot of movies including Bridget Jones and Romeo and Juliet? She had to make lots of identical Hawaiian shirts for Leonardo Di Caprio to wear in the movie. She was also responsible for Renée Zellweger's bunny costume in the first Bridget Jones film.
We're all big admirers of Esme's incredible jewellery on the show and she says she finds many of her vintage necklaces in markets, particularly from Ridley Road Market in Dalston. Read our Esme Young interview to get to know her better.
The Great British Sewing Bee FAQ
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2023?
The incredible Asmaa won The Great British Sewing Bee 2023. She wowed the judges throughout the competition with her skill, passion and creativity.
In the final of the Sewing Bee 2023, Asmaa's stunning two-in-one dress won her the trophy and we think she's a very worthy winner.
Read our interview with Asmaa over in our Meet the 2023 Great British Sewing Bee winner article. She shares all her thoughts and feelings on this year's show with us.
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2022?
It's Annie! Read our interview with the Great British Sewing Bee 2022 winner Annie to get to know the new sewing champion. You can also read our interview with the Sewing Bee 2022 finalists.
The celebrity Christmas special winner was Johannes Radebe.
Who won the Great British Sewing Bee in 2021?
Last year's winner was 21-year-old Serena Baker, who was a trainee doctor from Edinburgh. She was the youngest sewer of the series and produced some impressive makes during her time on the show.
What sewing machines are used on the Sewing Bee?
If you've been eyeing up the machines on the show, discover the exact make and model with our what sewing machines are used on the Sewing Bee guide.
Where is the Great British Sewing Bee filmed in 2023?
The Great British Sewing Bee is located in a former textile mill called Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, Leeds. This was the filming location for the 2022 series too.
Sunny Bank Mills was founded in 1829 and was a working textile mill right up until 2008. It's now a business space and is home to a wide range of companies – there's even a sewing school!
The Great British Sewing Bee was previously filmed at The Chainstore on Trinity Buoy Wharf for series 7 in 2021, which is just across the Thames from the O2 Arena.
The show's former warehouse setting for the 2020 series was located in London’s Bermondsey, in the heart of the capital's historical textiles quarter. For the truly geeky among you (we include ourselves in this category), the 2019 series was filmed at 47/49 Tanner Street (also the location of Dragon’s Den!), near Tower Bridge.
What happens to the clothes made on the Sewing Bee?
All the clothes on the Sewing Bee are returned to the contestants after filming. There's no waste in Sewing Bee studio!
Past contestant, Chinelo Bally also helped to clear up this mystery for us when she appeared on our We've Made It podcast. She also revealed that contestants receive a budget to buy the fabric needed for the show.
In the episode, Chinelo talked about her experiences on the show and shared some great tips for novice sewers. You can find We've Made It on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
What does the winner of the Sewing Bee get?
The winner of the Sewing Bee receives a golden mannequin award and the title of Britain's best amateur sewer. There's no cash prize, but many previous winners have gone on to write their own sewing books or set up their own craft businesses.
Do Sewing Bee contestants get paid?
No, Sewing Bee contestants do not get paid. They just do it for the honour of taking part and the chance to be the Sewing Bee champion!
Is the Sewing Bee filmed in one day?
No, Sewing Bee contestants have to commit to taking part in 20 days of filming spread over four months when they apply to be on the show.
Has a man ever won the Great British Sewing Bee?
Yes! Matt Chapple was the first male winner of the Sewing Bee in 2015. In recent years, we've seen more men taking part in the show such as Raph Dilhan who was a finalist in 2021.
Get the 2023 Sewing Bee book
A new book to accompany the series, The Great British Sewing Bee: The Skills - Beyond Basics: Advanced Tips and Tricks to Take Your Sewing Technique to the Next Level, goes on sale 13 April. This is a great way to predict that the hit show will almost certainly be airing on our TV screens around the same time!
Published by Quadrille, the 160-page techniques book, will help you find your confidence when tackling different sewing projects and achieve that perfect finish.
Why the Sewing Bee is one of our favourite craft TV shows
The Sewing Bee has got it all: kind contestants, beautiful clothes, loveable judges and lots of incredibly creative ideas. It's not surprising that it's one of the most popular craft TV shows out there.
The best part is that the Sewing Bee has inspired lots of people to take up sewing for themselves, with some of them even appearing as contestants on the show!
Start your sewing journey
If watching the show has inspired you to start sewing, you're probably wondering where to begin. We'd recommend starting with our best sewing machine guide, which is packed with expert tips and advice to help you enjoy this satisfying hobby!
All images from BBC/Love Productions.
