CRAFT TV SHOWS TO INSPIRE A NEW HOBBY AND PROVIDE FEEL-GOOD ESCAPISM
Whether restoration takes your fancy, DIY is your bag, or perhaps you have a love of pottery or aspirations to become a seamstress, whatever your chosen craft, there's bound to be a craft TV show to suit your skill.
From Sewing Bee to The Repair Shop with Jay Blades, there's plenty of inspiration out there to get you starting new hobby while enjoying some feel-good escapism.
We've rounded up some of the best craft shows on TV or catch-up below...
Great British Sewing Bee
The Great British Sewing Bee has become a staple yearly feature in our crafting calendar. It returned to our screens just a few months ago with much-loved judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant and presenter Kiell Smith-Bynoe, along with 12 ambitious home sewers who battle it out to be crowned the best amateur sewist in the country.
The feel-good competition is back for a tenth series – we'll see the contestants compete in three sewing challenges each week, which have been carefully designed to test each sewist's technical and creative skills.
The Great British Sewing Bee series 10 starts on Tuesday 21 May at 9pm on BBC One.
Money for Nothing
Entrepreneur Sarah Moore and designer Jacqui Joseph have returned for series 16 of Money for Nothing, as they transform unwanted household items bound for the skip into valuable pieces, making a nice little earner for their unsuspecting owners.
The duo love mending, reusing and upcycling old things and turning them into desirable items that they can sell for a profit.
The series also boasts a team of talented artisans as they rework unwanted objects into stylish and valuable pieces, with any profits handed back to the people who had no idea there was cash to be made from their trash.
Over the years, the show has seen more than 1,000 unwanted items being saved from the skip, given a new lease of life and sold on, with over £55,000 of profits returned to members of the public for their old objects. The largest single profit produced stands at a staggering £1,363 for an antique sewing table, which was scrubbed up and photographed to create printed tea towels.
Get inspired before you next spring clean...
Money For Nothing airs on weekdays at 2:15pm on BBC One.
The Repair Shop
Series 12 of The Repair Shop sees Jay Blades and his talented team bring loved pieces of family history and the memories they hold back to life.
So far we've seen the team breathe new life into a military bugle that is far from fit for parade, a portable radio that once filled a hair salon with musical memories, a Big Ben-shaped clock painstakingly built from matchsticks, and a pair of children's shoes that represent a family's story of survival.
The Repair Shop cast includes: upholsterer Jay Blades, metal worker Dominic Chinea, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, leather worker Suzie Fletcher, carpenter and cabinet-maker Will Kirk, toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay, painting conservator Lucia Scalisi, and antique photography specialist Brenton West.
The Repair Shop is on Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC One. Previous series are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
Stacey Solomon's Renovation Rescue
DIY queen Stacey Solomon is back with a new TV show: Stacey Solomon's Renovation Rescue. Each week, she helps a family who have been abandoned by builders and left partway through a renovation they can't complete.
Stacey will teach the family how to do the work themselves, including plumbing, electrics, decorating and interior design.
Stacey Solomon's Renovation Rescue is on Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.
Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr
Interior Design Masters sees Alan Carr host as 10 aspiring interior designers on the cusp of turning professional take part in the biggest design challenge of their lives.
Former Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decoration magazine Michelle Ogundehin awaits them. Highly regarded in the design industry, Michelle is someone all the designers look up to. They are competing to win an extraordinary prize of a commercial contract. It’s a life-changing opportunity for one of the 10 designers.
Every week Michelle sets the designers a different commercial design challenge and will then scrutinise their designs alongside some big-name industry specialists.
Interior Design with Alan Carr series 5 is on Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Series 1-4 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
The Great Pottery Throw Down
The Great Pottery Throw Down is one of our favourite craft TV shows – and it's fair to say it's an emotional watch.
The much-loved show sees 12 brilliant amateur potters from across the UK battle it out to be crowned the very best home potter in the country.
Each week, their moulding, shaping and pottery painting skills are put to the test with a series of gruelling challenges, judged by experts Rich Miller and Keith Brymer Jones and a host of guest potters. Derry Girls star Siobhan McSweeney presents the show.
And the new series of the show starts very soon – the first episode airs at 9pm on Sunday 7 January on Channel 4.
Series 1-7 of The Great Pottery Throw Down are available to stream on Channel 4.
Sort Your Life Out
Stacey Solomon is returning with a new series of Sort Your Life Out very soon. The BBC show sees our favourite tidying extraordinaire as she and a team of experts challenge families to sort their lives out in just seven days.
Throughout the week the team – made up of organiser Dilly, carpenter Rob and cleaner Iwan – help families to transform their messy homes through a life changing declutter, budget-friendly makeover and supersized spring clean, as they upcycle and recycle their way to a new home
Series 1-4 of Sort Your Life Out are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Jay and David's Touring Toolshed
The Repair Shop's Jay Blades teams up with acting legend Sir David Jason, as they tour the country helping members of the public with their craft projects.
In each episode, they park up their mobile toolshed at an engineering or craft fair to help tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts with their makes, and call in expert help for advice on some of the nation's favourite craft hobbies.
Jay and David's Touring Toolshed is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Landscape Artist of the Year
Stephen Mangan and Joan Bakewell returned to host series eight of Landscape Artist of the Year, which returned to Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW at the start of the year.
The eight-episode series features the aspiring artists take part in five heats, a semi-final, a final and a prize commission. The competitors have to create a beautiful piece of art capturing the scene in just four hours using their preferred medium, including acrylic and watercolour, in each of the five heats.
The judges are award-winning portrait artist Tai Shan Schierenberg, curator Kathleen Soriano and art historian Kate Bryan.
Landscape Artist of the Year is available to stream on NOW.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas
Every Christmas since 2011, Kirstie Allsopp provides a flurry of jovial festive fun – with enough competitions, makes, decorations, gifts, food and drink to inspire every kind of crafter.
In Kirstie's Handmade Christmas, Kirstie presents her ultimate guide to making beautiful Christmas decorations and gifts, with help from a host of expert crafters.
Kirstie's Handmade Christmas is available to stream on All4.
Make It At Market
Make It at Market pairs craft and business experts with budding entrepreneurs who are hoping to make a living from their crafting hobby. With crafts ranging from woodworking to weaving and everything in between, each week contestants tackle a range of challenges designed to asses their ability as well as the money-making potential of their business idea.
Series one of the show was filmed at Stoneywell in Leicestershire and gave viewers a real insight into some niche and unique crafts. Series two has been confirmed to have started filming and we can't wait to add it to our watch list!
Series 1 and 2 of Make It at Market are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker
Mel Giedroyc hosts Channel 4's competition Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker, which welcomes 10 of Britain's top woodworking enthusiasts to the workshop where, in each episode they have just two days to saw, turn and joint their way to producing a project of the week. The aim is to create something strong and beautiful that will impress the judges and keep them safe from elimination.
The woodworkers also have the chance of a lifeline. The winner of the skills challenge is guaranteed survival if they can impress expert judges Sophie Sellu and Tom Dyckhoff.
Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker series 1-3 is available to stream on All4.
Portrait Artist of the Year
Portrait Artist of the Year is back – and before the new series starts, viewers are being treated to a special episode starring Dame Judi Dench. Portrait Artist of the Decade celebrates ten years of the painting competition, with the previous series' winners invited back to paint Dame Judi's portrait. The tenth series of Portrait Artist of the Year will then follow, with celebrities including Shirley Ballas and Susanna Reid.
Portrait Artist of the Decade and Portrait Artist of the Year series 10 is available to stream on Sky Arts and Freeview.
Ultimate Wedding Planner
This new BBC2 show sees eight aspiring wedding planners battle it out to be crowned the Ultimate Wedding Planner, as six couples allow them to organise their big day.
Each week, the planners have just three days to make the couples’ wedding day dreams come true - and these aren't you're standard low key functions. With themes including a 1950s vintage Hollywood glamour wedding, a Caribbean-infused autumnal fantasyland and a sustainable farmyard festival, the couples are putting a lot of faith in the wedding planners.
Judging the finished wedding day ideas are crafting queen and businesswoman Sara Davies, hospitality expert and First Dates star Fred Sirieix and wedding planner to the rich and famous Raj Somaiya.
With plenty of craft inspiration in each episode as the planners hand-craft flower displays and table centre pieces, it's sure to become a weekly must watch.
All episodes of the Ultimate Wedding Planner are available to watch now on iPlayer.
Bill Bailey's Master Crafters: The Next Generation
If you love learning about and getting an insight into true craftsmanship then this is the series for you! Follow nine junior crafters, who specialise in three heritage crafts, take part in bespoke masterclasses to help them improve in their chosen fields.
Each episode focuses on a master class being taught by a leading expert in the chosen heritage craft. As explained by the host Bill Bailey, the main difference between this and other crafting shows is that "It’s really a celebration of the crafts, it isn’t a competition – no one gets voted off, it’s very much about celebrating each craft and encouraging people to learn more about the crafts and take it up themselves."
Bill Bailey's Master Crafters: The Next Generation is available to stream on Now TV
All that Glitters
Katherine Ryan searches for Britain's next jewellery star as eight talented jewellers compete to bring the bling and prove they are the next big name in jewellery in All That Glitters.
To impress expert judges Shaun Leane and Dinny Hall, the contestants face two real-world challenges: The Bestseller, where they'll have to make the latest must-have piece and The Bespoke, where they're charged with creating a one-off piece for a special client.
Gleaming with gemstones and precious metals, All That Glitters gives a fascinating insight in to the craftmanship and hard work that goes into creating stunning bespoke jewellery that will last forever.
Series 2 is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Amanda and Alan's Italian Job
Amanda Holden and Alan Carr joined forces to renovate a crumbling property in Italy – and the BBC recently confirmed that the dynamic duo will be back. This time, they'll be purchasing their 'One Euro' house in the sun-kissed hills of Tuscany.
Alan and Amanda will be embracing local life, exploring the rich culture and throwing themselves headfirst into a new adventure in one of Italy’s most idyllic regions. The warmth and humour of their friendship will once again be in abundance as they face inevitable build hiccups and design dilemmas while aiming to breathe new life into an undiscovered corner of Italy.
Amanda said: "I’m obviously absolutely delighted that Alan and I have been given a second series of a show that we created together. This time I’m considering ditching my nail extensions but I’ll certainly be keeping the lashes! I’ve got the Aperol Spritz on ice and I’m being fitted for a new boiler suit as we speak! I adore Alan and this job suits us both perfectly. The sweetest thing about it all is that we can continue to raise more money for charities that make a huge difference to the lives of so many.”
Alan Carr added: "So excited to be returning to Italy with my good friend Amanda for more blood sweat and tiles. Can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and transform another Euro house. What could possible go wrong?!!"
Watch series 1 of Amanda and Alan's Italian Job on BBC iPlayer now.
The Big Flower Fight
Vic Reeves, Natasha Demetriou and Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht oversee 10 teams of florists, sculptors and garden designers as they compete to create extravagant floral installations for a chance to display at London's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Gardeners from around the world push their skills to the limit as they compete to create stunning, supersized floral sculptures. Think Chelsea Flower Show – if they displayed giant squirrels made out of blooms.
Available to stream on Netflix now.
The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge
Calling all miniaturists! Sandi Toksvig hosts as amateur crafters put their miniature-making skills to the test and compete to transform a derelict mini mansion into the ultimate fantasy house.
Channel 4 shares: "This epic competition will challenge designers to renovate an entire derelict mansion, inspired by real-world designs. The catch is that the luxury fantasy home they must renovate is doll sized.
“Whilst the projects may be tiny, the task is huge. Our cast of miniacs (people who create all things miniature) will be set a series of challenges to test their design and practical skills. From crafting a Regency inspired dining room, complete with a dinner service and spread to die for to designing an Art Deco Bathroom, fitted with a a fully plumbed bath. Many of the installations they create in each mini build will need to function and fit the brief to pass the judges’ critical eye."
Judges include Laura Jackson and Willard Wigan.
Series 1 is available to stream now on Channel 4.com.
Blown Away
Ten master artists turn up the heat in glassblowing challenges for the chance to win big cash prizes and the coveted title of champion.
The glassblowers aim to impress the judges with pieces that tell the story of their evolution as artists, while other challenges include creating six glasses for different beverages and a circus-themed task filled with whimsical creatures.
Blown Away seasons 1 - 3 are available to stream now on Netflix.