Great British Sewing Bee comes to the point

It may be the sixth series, but the latest run of The Great British Sewing Bee has picked up a lot of new fans and not just because it’s made the jump from BBC2 to BBC1.

There’s also the fact that it’s made perfect comfort viewing during lockdown.

Admittedly, it was a bit stressful watching contestant Matt’s gold, Dynasty-inspired dress go wrong during 1980s week, but at least presenter Joe Lycett can usually be relied on upon to lighten the mood.

And we also shouldn’t underestimate the appeal of the show’s judges, the straight-talking Esme Young and the suave Patrick Grant, who has become something of a TV pin-up.

It seems his fanbase has increased since the show made the move to BBC1. He told The Sun: “I certainly get a lot of messages now.

“I can’t even tell you the most extreme because some of them are genuinely obscene.

“I got a note from the daughter of a fan who… said, ‘Would you like to spend lockdown with my mum?’.

“It was hilarious. Her mum then had to get back in touch and say, ‘Erm, sorry about my daughter.’”

Sadly, for anyone who has been enjoying spending their lockdown with Patrick, even if it has only been for an hour a week, we’ve now reached the Sewing Bee final and the end of the series.

But at least it should be going out on a high as the remaining contestants battle it out.

The three finalists have all earned their place in the final – over the past few weeks and months, they’ve tackled everything from food-themed children’s fancy dress (the viewers were impressed, even if Esme struggled to work out what the outfits were supposed to be) to sleepwear, space-aged/recyclable attire, tea dresses and rugby shirts.

They’ve gone back to the 1980s, tackled fashions from Spain and the Philippines, and last week they brought a bit of Hollywood glamour to the sewing room for movie week.

But as you’d expect, the judges have saved the most difficult tasks for last – starting with a pattern challenge that doesn’t have a pattern.

The sewers are asked to make a kilt for a boy, and if anyone at home is thinking that all they really need is a piece of tartan fabric and a big safety pin, they will have to think again, as this going to test the stitchers pleating skills.

For the transformation challenge, they will be given party dresses to turn into carnival outfits, which will hopefully put them in a party mood for their final project – creating a unique gown with a cut-out element using luxury fabrics.

The pressure will be on, but at least they will have a familiar face to cheer them on – instead of the models, they will be making this dress for a friend or family member.

(Although perhaps they might be less forgiving if it doesn’t fit.)

But who will wow Patrick and Esme and be crowned the winner?

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