The Great British Sewing Bee is back for series 7 in 2021 – meet the line up of contestants here.
Joe Lycett is back in charge of hosting duties, with twelve of Britain’s most talented home sewers competing to win one of TV’s toughest creative challenges.
Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young return to cast an expert eye over the garments, in the contest to find Britain’s best amateur sewer.
The Great British Sewing Bee airs Wednesdays at 9PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Meet the contestants on Series 7 of The Great British Sewing Bee below…
The Great British Sewing Bee 2021 contestants
Adam Brooks
Age: 31
Job: Cruise Ship Entertainment Director
From: Leicester
Instagram username: @adamjamesbrooks_
Adam was taught to sew at the age of six by his nan. He currently knits for his eighteen-month-old nephew whose nickname for Adam is Abba because Adam is a self-styled ‘Dancing Queen’.
Adam loves the stage and studied Performing Arts at university before going on to work as a cruise ship entertainer and being promoted to Cruise Ship Entertainment Director.
Adeena Khatoon
Age: 40
Job: Student Engagement Officer
From: Birmingham
Instagram username: @deesewcialspace
Adeena currently provides welfare and support to the students in her job as a Student Engagement Officer.
As well as sewing, which sees Adeena fusing her Pakistani heritage with British style, her other hobbies involve painting, sketching and woodwork, and one of her crafty achievements includes a giant pencil she carved for a friend.
Andrew Aspland
Age: 54
Job: Maths Teacher
From: Hull
Instagram username: @andrew.aspland
Sewing was brought up in a sewing family with both his mother and grandmother making their own garments.
A busy hobbyist, when he’s not making vestments for his partner who is a priest, or a new shirt for himself, he’s likely to be found bellringing or making stained glass windows. He says: “One nice aspect of making things for churches is that they can be big, they can be showy, and are made from the best fabrics.”
Cathryn Waudby
Age: 57
Job: Post-Office Worker
From: Yorkshire
Instagram username: @cathrynwaudby
Cathryn has been sewing for over 50 years, often making new clothes from recycled fabrics.
As well as sewing, Cathryn loves spending time on her allotment. She’s also an ardent David Bowie fan with a cat named Ziggy Stardust while Stormzy is her favourite grime artist with Cathryn having previously sewed his lyrics into her garments.
Damien
Age: 39
Job: IT Installation Engineer
From: Bolton
Damien started teaching himself to sew three years ago after he needed to alter a pair of trousers for his work.
Describing his style as ‘practical’, Damien regularly makes casual clothes for himself together with an occasional dress for his partner, Jackie. As well as sewing, his hobbies include craft ale making, woodwork, riding his motorbike and playing the guitar.
Farie
Age: 34
Job: Accountant
From: Dunstable
Instagram username: @farie_zata
Farie studied Fabrics and Fashion at GCSE. Although she now works as an accountant she atoll has a passion for design with sewing providing a creative outlet that accountancy doesn’t.
Farie has two young daughters and regularly makes them colourful outfits they can guarantee their friends won’t have.
Jean
Job: Art Psychotherapist
From: County Down
Instagram username: @jeanandyoda
Jean was taught to sew as a child by her mother and today she creates clothes for herself and her partner Jo.
Currently working as an Art Psychotherapist – she uses the medium of art to help children, teenagers, and adults through difficult life experiences – Jean also loves walking and in 2018 spent seven weeks on a 500-mile pilgrimage between France and Northern Spain.
Julie
Age: 62
Job: Beauty Therapist
From: Rotherham
Instagram username: @juliepygot
Julie got her first sewing machine as a Christmas gift and has been sewing ever since, making her own clothes including prize-winning dresses for Ladies’ Day at the races.
Currently working as a Beauty Therapist, Julie used to be a part of a European dance troupe and high-kicked her way through Greece, Italy and Spain.
Lawratu
Age: 37
Job: Local Authority Officer
From: Surrey
Instagram username: @seamesew
Lawratu learned to sew around six years ago, starting to make her own clothes because she was unhappy with the fit of items in the shops. Self-taught, Lawratu’s designs are inspired by her West African heritage.
An active member of the local Women’s Institute, she wants to dispel the myth that people who attend the WI are “all fuddy-duddies sitting round eating scones and having cream teas.”
Raphael
Age: 34
Job: Textile Artist
From: London
Instagram username: @raph_sew_and_so
Raphael only properly learned to sew during lockdown having worked as a Textile Artist dyeing cloth for high-profile movies.
Still developing his sewing skills, he says: “I’m a DIY sewer, because I’m self-taught. So I don’t necessarily use pins. But then, I also don’t like unpicking things!”
Rebecca
Age: 23
Job: Customer Assistant
From: Scunthorpe
Instagram username: @rebeccamaydesigns
Rebecca was taught to sew from the age of four by her mum and nan, going on to study textiles at Level. A trained teacher, Rebecca finds making clothes the perfect way to relieve the stress of a working day.
As well as sewing, Rebecca’s hobbies include playing the piano and amateur dramatics – recently starring as the Good Fairy in a pantomime.
Serena
Age: 21
Job: Medical student
From: Edinburgh
Instagram username: @serenasews_
Currently studying medicine, Serena started teaching herself basic sewing skills from YouTube in her teens, and now creates her own designs as well as ‘refreshing’ charity shop garments.
She says Killing Eve’s iconic character Villanelle is her style icon, explaining: “She’s a bit androgynous and I’ve always been into wearing brogues and high waisted trousers.”
The Great British Sewing Bee airs on BBC One from Wednesday, 14 April.
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