''The Great Pottery Throw Down'' is a British television competition programme first broadcast on
BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...
from 3 November 2015. It is a contest in the style of ''
The Great British Bake Off
''The Great British Bake Off'' (often abbreviated to ''Bake Off'' or ''GBBO'') is a British television baking competition, produced by Love Productions, in which a group of amateur bakers compete against each other in a series of rounds, att ...
'' and ''
The Great British Sewing Bee
''The Great British Sewing Bee'' is a BBC reality show that began airing on BBC Two on 2 April 2013. In the show, talented amateur sewers compete to be named "Britain's best home sewer". A spin-off of the format of ''The Great British Bake Off ...
'', but with
pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and por ...
.
Format
In each episode, a group of amateur potters compete to complete two pottery challenges. In the "main make" challenge, contestants undertake a substantial multi-stage creative task: subject to given specifications, they must design a ceramic creation, build it from raw clay, and decorate it; the finished products are fired in the
kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay int ...
and presented to the judges for evaluation. In between stages of the main make, potters are given a "second challenge", a smaller-scale task testing a specific pottery skill, on which they are ranked from worst to best by the judges. At the end of each episode, the judges designate the best-performing contestant as "potter of the week". The contestant with the worst results is dismissed, and all others return for the following episode; the winner of the final episode is the overall winner of the series.
Broadcast history
For the first two seasons, the presenter was
Sara Cox
Sara Joanne Cyzer (née Cox; born 13 December 1974) is an English broadcaster. She presented ''Radio 1 Breakfast'' on BBC Radio 1 from 3 April 2000 until 19 December 2003. Since January 2019 she now hosts the BBC Radio 2 drivetime show, Monday ...
and the expert judges were
Kate Malone
Kate Olivia Malone (born 29 January 1959, in London) is a British ceramic artist known for her large sculptural vessels and rich, bright glazes. Malone is a judge, along with Keith Brymer Jones, on BBC2's '' The Great Pottery Throw Down'' present ...
and
Keith Brymer Jones. Also appearing in the first three series was "kiln man Rich", Richard Miller, who acted as the show's behind-the-scenes technician.
After being cancelled by the BBC in 2018, the show returned in January 2020 with a third series on
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
's
More4
More4 is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel launched on 10 October 2005. Its programming mainly focuses on lifestyle and documentaries, as well as foreign dramas.
Content
When ...
, with Brymer Jones continuing as a judge, new co-judge Sue Pryke, and
Melanie Sykes
Melanie Ann Sykes (born 7 August 1970) is an English television and radio presenter. She is best known for co-hosting '' Today with Des and Mel'' with Des O'Connor and '' Let's Do Lunch'' with Gino D'Acampo. She also co-hosted '' Going Out with ...
as new host. A fourth series started on Channel 4 in January 2021 with Brymer Jones returning along with new host
Siobhán McSweeney
Siobhán McSweeney (born 27 December 1979) is an Irish actress and presenter. She is best known for her role as Sister Michael in the teen sitcom ''Derry Girls''.
Early life
McSweeney was born in County Cork, Ireland where she grew up in Aherl ...
and Richard Miller stepping up to become a judge; Miller was replaced as kiln technician by
Rose Schmits.
In July 2020,
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...
secured the rights to distribute the show in the United States, where it premiered on 17 September 2020.
In December 2021 it was announced a fifth series would begin airing in January 2022, with Keith Brymer Jones and Richard Miller returning as judges, and comedian
Ellie Taylor
Eleanor Jane Taylor is an English comedian, television personality, actress, and writer. After appearing on ''Show Me the Funny'' in 2011, Taylor has appeared on numerous television shows, including ''8 Out of 10 Cats'' (2011–2017), '' Fake Re ...
joining Siobhán McSweeney as a host. The show's first Christmas special aired on 26 December 2022 and starred
Jenny Eclair
Jenny Eclair (born Jenny Clare Hargreaves; 16 March 1960) is an English comedian, novelist, and actress, best known for her roles in ''Grumpy Old Women'' between 2004 and 2007 and in '' Loose Women'' in 2011 and 2012.
Early life
Eclair was born ...
,
James Fleet
James Edward Fleet (born 11 March 1952) is an English actor of theatre, radio and screen. He is most famous for his roles as the bumbling and well-meaning Tom in the 1994 British romantic comedy film ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' and the dim-w ...
,
Jamie Laing
James Robin Grant Laing ( /ˈleɪŋ/ ; born 3 November 1988) is an English presenter, television personality and investor. He is the founder of the confectionery company Candy Kittens and best known for appearing on the reality television serie ...
and
Sunetra Sarker
Sunetra Sarker (born 25 June 1973) is an English actress and presenter, known for her roles as Nisha Batra in '' Brookside'', Anji Mittel in ''No Angels'', Zoe Hanna in '' Casualty'' and Kaneez Paracha in ''Ackley Bridge''. In 2014, she took p ...
as contestants.
Series overview
Series 1 (2015)
Potters
Results summary
Colour key:
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Potter walked from the series
: Potter got through to the next round
: Potter was one of the least favourite
: Potter was one of the favourites
: Potter was a series finalist
: Potter was the series winner
Episodes
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter walked from the series
: Top Potter
: Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Series 2 (2017)
The second series began on 2 February 2017 on
BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...
. Some episodes had a guest judge, including
Emma Bridgewater
Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985 which is named after Emma Rice (''née'' Bridgewater). It is run by her and her husband Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot design among others, the company "Emma B ...
(episode 1) and
Johnny Vegas
Michael Joseph Pennington (born 5 September 1970), better known as Johnny Vegas, is an English comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is known for his thick Lancashire accent, husky voice, overweight appearance, angry comedic rants, and us ...
(episode 7).
Potters
Results summary
Because the judges were unable to agree, no-one was eliminated this week. As a result, two potters were eliminated the following week.
Colour key:
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Potter walked from the series
: Potter got through to the next round
: Potter was one of the least favourite
: Potter was one of the favourites
: Potter was a series finalist
: Potter was the series winner
Episodes
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Series 3 (2020)
After almost a three-year hiatus, the third series began on 8 January 2020 on
More4
More4 is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel launched on 10 October 2005. Its programming mainly focuses on lifestyle and documentaries, as well as foreign dramas.
Content
When ...
with new judge Sue Pryke and new host
Melanie Sykes
Melanie Ann Sykes (born 7 August 1970) is an English television and radio presenter. She is best known for co-hosting '' Today with Des and Mel'' with Des O'Connor and '' Let's Do Lunch'' with Gino D'Acampo. She also co-hosted '' Going Out with ...
.
Potters
Results summary
Colour key:
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Potter walked from the series
: Potter got through to the next round
: Potter was one of the least favourite
: Potter was one of the favourites
: Potter was a series finalist
: Potter was the series winner
Episodes
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Rainna injured herself during the Throw Down and was unable to complete the challenge.
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Series 4 (2021)
In 2021 the series returned to the main Channel 4 network, on Sunday evenings. Broadcasts started on January 10, with Keith Brymer returning as a judge, and with Rich Miller moving from running the kilns to become the second judge. Siobhan McSweeney joined the series as the main presenter.
Rose Schmits took over running the kilns.
Potters
Results summary
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, filming ceased for 7 days to ensure the safety of the potters and crew. As a result, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone.
Colour key:
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Potter walked from the series
: Potter got through to the next round
: Potter was one of the least favourite
: Potter was one of the favourites
: Potter was a series finalist
: Potter was the series winner
Episodes
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Series 5 (2022)
Potters
Results Summary
Colour Key
: Potter won Pot of the Week.
: Potter was one of the judges' favourites of the week.
: Potter was safe and was through to the next week.
: Potter was one of the judges' least favourites of the week.
: Potter was eliminated.
: Potter was a finalist.
: Potter won the series.
Episodes
: Potter was eliminated
: Potter won Pot of the Week
: Winner
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Series 6 (2023)
Potters
Results Summary
Colour Key
: Potter won Pot of the Week.
: Potter was one of the judges' favourites of the week.
: Potter was safe and was through to the next week.
: Potter was one of the judges' least favourites of the week.
: Potter was eliminated.
: Potter was a finalist.
: Potter won the series.
Ratings
Series 1
Series 2
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Pottery Throw Down, The
2015 British television series debuts
2010s British reality television series
2020s British reality television series
Arts and crafts television series
BBC television game shows
BBC reality television shows
British television series revived after cancellation
Channel 4 reality television shows
English-language television shows
Pottery
Television series by BBC Studios
Television shows set in Staffordshire