The Great British Sewing Bee

Love this show!!!! PLEASE COME TO AMERICA!!! If we have the GBBaking Show, why not the Sewing Bee!!!

It's simply well made. There's good balance of no-nonsense and encouragements for amateurs to be better. It's neither too critical nor too loose. The challenges are well thought out for amateurs and it is after all, a competition tele for amateurs. The background stories of the contestants and snippets of relevant history were a nice touch. Unlike other competition tele, there's less exaggerated hype, forced exclamations, forced comedy or tragedy and far less interference from the judges and presenter. The settings is simple. Simply setting it next to river makes it somehow relaxing. The bit of old songs are well placed. It is not titivating.

Amateur sewers compete and watch. Great to see skills improvement over the weeks but some episodes would benefit to a change in format where competitors and viewers get a masterclass in a particular technique which can then be used going forward.. cutting a difficult pattern, making a toile, draping, fitting. That would help competitors progress and provide inspiration for viewers. Previous competitors had some very skilled sewers but this group very different so lessons would have helped all to unskilled in this series and going forward. Of benefit to basic sewers in the audience this time round too.

This is a wonderful alternative to the mindless dross that is often passed off as entertainment. The presenters and contestants are friendly and fun and the sewing process is remarkably interesting even to a non-sewing person like me. This is an opportunity to relax, have a laugh and wind down. Excellent.

GBSB is just a lovely piece of tele and a panacea to many of the over-hyped competition shows that have multiplied in recent years. It borrows from the Bake Off format with a couple of challenges on day one (broken up by a nice bit of morning tea in the local caf) and a major challenge on day two. A small starting group is whittled down week by week across eight episodes by judges whose sewing expertise is matched by their delightful oh-so-British eccentricity. The contestant's backstories are light-touch, and largely without drama. Most importantly, the contestants are delightful, kind, considerate, polite and humble. There aren't any villains and the products of their sewing remain in focus the whole time. Wholesome, restful, entertaining tv without any octane, and that's ok.