The Great British Sewing Bee 2023 contestants: Meet the line up of sewers on series 9

The Great British Sewing Bee is back for its ninth series in 2023 – meet the line up of contestants on the cast!

Sara Pascoe is back to host with twelve of Britain’s most talented home sewers once again competing to win one of TV’s toughest creative challenges.

Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young also return, ready to decide who stays and who goes 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 9 of The Great British Sewing Bee below…

The Great British Sewing Bee 2023 cast

Maria

Age: 34
From: Fife
Occupation: A&E Nurse
Instagram username: @marzi_the_amble_stitcher

Costa Rica-born Maria is a self-taught sewer having first learned the basics of using a sewing machine from her mum.

 

Lizzie

Age: 49
From: Bristol
Occupation: Creative Director, Graphic Design
Instagram username: @thebettysilk

Lizzie was taught to sew by her mum, who sadly passed away when she was young.

 

Tony R

Age: 53
From: Cornwall
Occupation: Postman
Instagram username: @tonyr.maker

Tony began properly sewing three years after a career change saw him decide to pull out his wife’s old sewing machine to sew a bag for his knitting.

 

Matthew

Age: 30
From: Peterborough
Occupation: Dancer and Teaching Assistant
Instagram username: @hessewmatthew

Matthew learned how to sew when he was younger from his nan who was a tailoress.

 

Tony W

Age: 33
From: Essex
Occupation: Teacher
Instagram username: @house_of_tony_makes

Teacher Tony taught himself to sew, beginning with vintage ‘easy sew’ patterns before moving on to more complex patterns.

 

Vicki

Age: 30
From: Lincolnshire
Occupation: Police Dispatcher
Instagram username: @whatvickimade

Vicki first began sewing as a child with lessons from her gran and has even attempted to make her own wedding dress.

 

Catherine

Age: 34
From: West Sussex
Occupation: Senior Games Designer
Instagram username: @catmoomie

Catherine invested in a sewing machine after buying her first home and has been sewing ever since.

 

Lauren

Age: 30
From: Walsall
Occupation: Sales Assistant, Home Furnishings Company
Instagram username: @madebylaurentedstone

Mum Lauren first began sewing when she decided to make a quilted memory blanket, using her children’s baby clothes.

 

Mia

Age: 20
From: Surrey
Occupation: Student
Instagram username: @miasartyfarty

Mia fell in love with sewing during the pandemic and is now planning to begin a degree in costume design at university.

 

Fauve

Age: 26
From: Swansea
Occupation: Trainee Solicitor
Instagram username: @sew_fauve

Fauve began sewing five years after making a peg bag at a class and quickly became hooked.

 

Asmaa

Age: 46
From: Cardiff
Occupation: Consultant Breast Surgeon
Instagram username: @sewgical_endeavours

Asmaa would watch and learn from her grandmother who was a seamstress during the Iraq and Iran War, where she escaped from age 14.

 

Gillie

Age: 73
From: Nottingham
Occupation: Retired Secretary and HR Manager

Gillie started sewing at the age of seven after her mother taught her how to thread a needle.

 

The Great British Sewing Bee airs on BBC One on Wednesdays.