The contestants on Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker 2022 have been revealed.
Back for a second series, the competition to find Britain’s Best Woodworker sees Mel Giedroyc welcome ten of Britain’s top woodworking enthusiasts to the workshop.
Each week they’ll compete in a series of tasks to impress expert judges Sophie Sellu and Tom Dyckhoff. Who will carve out their place in the next round, and who will fail to make the cut?
Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker airs Wednesdays at 8PM on Channel 4 and All 4.
Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker series two contestants
Amina
Age: 39
Occupation: Academic developer
From: Greater Manchester
A former champion squash player, Amina’s desire to build things out of wood was born from her frustration of not being able to find furniture she’s drawn to, so she decided to start designing and creating her own furnishings.
Calum
Age: 31
Occupation: 3D designer
From: Glasgow
Leeds-born Calum works in spatial, exhibition and interior design and 3D rendering. After sitting at a computer all day at work, by night Calum can be found making things from wood in a communal workshop that he shares with like-minded young creatives.
Chloe
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
From: Brighton
Chloe is a Master’s student carving a path as a woodworker, designing unique pieces and favouring hand tools for a more personal touch. She is a strong believer in sustainability which is why wood is her favourite material.
Dafydd
Age: 47
Occupation: Civil servant
From: Bridgend
Dafydd is a self-taught woodworker. He uses BSL (British Sign Language) as his main form of communication and works as a civil servant. His current role is improving access for Deaf and disabled people within the organisation he works for. Dafydd uses BSL/English interpreters to communicate with people who can’t sign and will be using a BSL/English interpreter in the Handmade workshop.
Jacob
Age: 22
Occupation: Caretaker
From: Norfolk
Jacob is a part-time caretaker, while also being known locally as ‘the wood guy’ – building a reputation as a local handyman. He might still be young, but Jacob adapts and learns from project to project and now wants to show you don’t need to have 50 years of experience or a Master’s degree to be a talented woodworker.
Lauren
Age: 35
Occupation: Landscape architect technician
From: Kent
Lauren never stops. She works full time to allow her wife to be a full-time mum and she loves to always have a project on to go, whether it be woodwork or a fitness goal.
Russell
Age: 36
Occupation: Kitchen fitter
From: Kent
Russell got into woodwork at the age of 16 when he did an NVQ in carpentry and joinery. He is a carpenter by trade, fitting kitchens and building cupboards.
Sarah
Age: 45
Occupation: Consultant
From: Kent
Sarah took up woodwork after being made redundant in 2021. She decided to make a garden bar so purchased a mini circular saw along with some reclaimed wood and hasn’t looked back since.
Tanya
Age: 46
Occupation: Teacher
From: London
Tanya grew up in Northern Ireland and works as a product design teacher at a school in London. In 2017, Tanya was diagnosed with cancer which forced changes to her lifestyle which mean she has more time at home with her family and in her workshop. Now fully recovered, Tanya seizes every opportunity, including buying a campervan to custom renovate.
Tony
Age: 51
Occupation: Graphic designer
From: Liverpool
Tony worked as a creative director for 24 years before taking voluntary redundancy earlier this year. He got into woodwork as a hobby years ago after seeing a friend’s dad with a toolbox and realising he could fix things around the house too.
Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker airs Wednesdays at 8PM on Channel 4 and All 4.
More on: Channel 4
