Series synopsis
The Great British Sewing Bee is a British reality television series that premiered on BBC One on April 2, 2013. It stars Patrick Grant, Esme Young, Sophie Willan and May Martin.
Amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain's best home sewer.
Premise
Amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain's best home sewer.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Patrick Grant as Self - Judge
- Esme Young as Self - Judge
- Sophie Willan as Self - Presenter
- May Martin as Self - Judge
- Claudia Winkleman as Self - Presenter
- Joe Lycett as Self - Presenter
- Sara Pascoe as Self - Presenter
- Kiell Smith-Bynoe as Self - Presenter
Episodes
This series spans 13 seasons with 108 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 13 | December 15, 2013 | December 24, 2025 |
| Season 1 | 4 | April 2, 2013 | April 23, 2013 |
| Season 2 | 8 | February 18, 2014 | April 8, 2014 |
| Season 3 | 6 | February 5, 2015 | March 12, 2015 |
| Season 4 | 8 | May 16, 2016 | July 4, 2016 |
| Season 5 | 8 | February 12, 2019 | April 2, 2019 |
| Season 6 | 10 | April 21, 2020 | June 24, 2020 |
| Season 7 | 10 | April 14, 2021 | June 16, 2021 |
| Season 8 | 10 | April 27, 2022 | June 29, 2022 |
| Season 9 | 10 | May 24, 2023 | July 26, 2023 |
| Season 10 | 10 | May 21, 2024 | July 24, 2024 |
| Season 11 | 10 | July 15, 2025 | September 16, 2025 |
| Season 12 | 1 | July 14, 2026 | July 14, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Christmas Special Judges Patrick Grant and May Martin return for a Christmas reunion with the sewing competition's 2013 semi-finalists Stuart, Sandra, Lauren and Ann. |
December 15, 2013 |
| 2 |
Children in Need Episode 1 The Sewing Bee returns for three Children in Need specials. Jenny Eclair hosts the first episode as Dave Myers, Edith Bowman, Dr Dawn Harper and Wendi Peters battle it out. |
October 21, 2014 |
| 3 |
Children in Need Episode 2 The Sewing Bee returns for three Children in Need specials. Sara Cox hosts the second episode as Pam Ferris, Gaby Roslin, Louie Spence and Mark Watson battle it out. |
October 23, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Amateur sewers test their sewing and dressmaking skills. The contestants make an A-line dress, alter a high street top and create a made-to-measure dress under the clock. |
April 2, 2013 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The contestants tackle fly fastenings, patch pockets and made-to-measure silk - but two amateur sewers must be sent home. |
April 9, 2013 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 It is the semi-final and the sewers compete in three more challenges, including a made-to-measure jacket. |
April 16, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The contestants are tested on the three core fabrics in a dressmaker's cupboard: cotton, wool and silk. |
February 18, 2014 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The contestants are tested on their ability to match and combine patterned fabric, with a challenging pleated skirt. |
February 25, 2014 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The contestants are given a surprise pattern for a pair of leggings, and must turn a T-shirt into a completely new garment. |
March 4, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The contestants are tested on a core fabric found in every dressmaker's cupboard: cotton. |
February 5, 2015 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The nine remaining amateur sewers are tested on their ability to make clothes on a miniature scale. |
February 12, 2015 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Claudia Winkleman takes the eight sewers back in time to the 1950s, when home sewing was at its height. |
February 19, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Ten home sewers must follow a deceptively difficult pattern for a woman's top made up of four pieces. |
May 16, 2016 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Nine sewers return hoping to show the judges that they can make beautiful clothes on a miniature scale. |
May 23, 2016 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The sewers take on delicate lingerie, working with fiddly pattern pieces and the most delicate fabric. |
May 30, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Joe Lycett presents as the sewers create a 'wiggle dress' and transform three items of denim clothing, before having to fit real live models with made-to-measure jumpsuits. |
February 12, 2019 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Joe Lycett hosts as the nine remaining home sewers return to the sewing room for children's week. The garments are a mammoth challenge being fiddly to sew. |
February 19, 2019 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 With Joe Lycett hosting, the remaining home sewers head back in time to the 1970s, attempting to revive the glamorous, rebellious and sometimes ridiculous, style of the decade. |
February 26, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Joe Lycett kicks off ten weeks of the most perplexing patterns, eye-popping transformations and stunning made-to-measure garments yet. |
April 21, 2020 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The 11 remaining sewers return for holiday week and are challenged to create palazzo pants, beach cover-ups and colourful shirts. |
April 29, 2020 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 Joe Lycett welcomes the ten remaining home sewers back to the nation's most famous sewing room for children's week. |
May 6, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Week One sees judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young settling the contestants in with a trio of challenges based on everyday wardrobe staples. |
April 14, 2021 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Summer Week sees Esme and Patrick challenging the sewers to create paperbag shorts, cocktail outfits and button-down sun dresses. |
April 21, 2021 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 For gent's classics week, the sewers make baker boy caps, transform old jackets into outfits for a woman, and create a casual utility jacket. |
April 28, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Sewing Bee kicks off with 12 sewers creating a capsule wardrobe. They begin with a mini skirt, then make a going-out top from lockdown loungewear and finish with a fitted wrap dress. |
April 27, 2022 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The sewers make a pair of high-top trainers for Sports Week. They also create daywear from old netball kits, and they fit a sports jacket inspired by their sporting hero. |
May 4, 2022 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 It's summer week, and the sewers make light and airy outfits, including a summer dress, a creation from old hammocks and a two-piece trouser co-ordinated outfit for a man or a woman. |
May 11, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Twelve brand new sewers follow the pattern for a twist top, transform office wear and create cut-out, made-to-measure dresses. |
May 24, 2023 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 The sewers face three challenges inspired by travel. They are asked to create a rucksack and a swimsuit, and to transform windbreakers. |
May 31, 2023 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 The sewers celebrate West Africa over three challenges with batakari, adire fabric and boubous. |
June 7, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The Great British Sewing Bee turns ten as 12 brand new sewers follow the pattern for an A-line skirt, transform T-shirts and put their take on day dresses in the Made-to-Measure. |
May 21, 2024 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 It's Week 2, and there are three challenges inspired by sport. The sewers are asked to create a half zip fleece, an outfit from cricket kit and a national strip fit for the world stage. |
May 28, 2024 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 It's Week 3 of The Sewing Bee, and the sewers face three challenges inspired by travel. They are asked to create summer blouses from tablecloths, nautical bags and outfits fit for the French Riviera. |
June 4, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The Great British Sewing Bee returns as 12 new sewers tackle shape with tie-front blouses, transform circle skirts, and use pleats in a dramatic Made-to-Measure challenge. |
July 15, 2025 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 It's week 2 as sewers tackle activewear: a seven-panel cap, a cycling kit transformation and stylish athleisure to take you from gym to coffee shop. |
July 22, 2025 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 It's week 3, and we're celebrating design icons: Diane von Furstenberg, Vivienne Westwood and Versace. |
July 29, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 The Great British Sewing Bee returns as 12 new sewers get ‘summer ready’ with shorts, transform barbecue aprons into bags, and become models as they make outfits for their perfect summer’s day. |
July 14, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 2, 2013 |
| Last aired | September 16, 2025 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 20:00:00 |