I've watched the Great Pottery Throwdown as well as the Sewing Bee. One of the pottery judges is often overwhelmed by emotion by some pieces - and I always see why and sometimes share the emotion. In Sewing Bee, the judges are cooler but clearly very competent both on design and manufacture. Nobody goes to the next round or is dropped without if being clearly explained and fairly obviously right.
On Design Challenge, the judging criteria is inconsistent - a designer who delights the client is dropped yet a designer who gets strong criticism goes through to the next round on the specious grounds of the judge's confidence that the designer will learn from their mistakes and do better better next time. With just two judges there is no-one to arbitrate. Here we have the ferociously forceful former The Appprentice Dragon-Lady Kelly Hoppen MBE teamed with rather limp and eager to fit in, Daniel Hopwood. At last they have brought in a third judge - someone who clearly has an independent mind and complete willingness to fully explain her view.
The designer who disappoints her clients has just done it again. Without the new third judge, I think she would have won the series.
When a waiter asks a group at a table if they have enjoyed their meals, there is much nodding of heads and "Very nice" comments. As soon as the waiter is out of ear-shot, the group erupts with criticism. "Very Nice" is the polite default, not wishing to offend or spoil the occasion. But voiced criticism means real wont-come-here-again disappointment.
