The Great British Sewing Bee Is Back — And We Are Ready for It
There is something gloriously comforting about the return of the Great British Sewing Bee each spring. Like unpacking your fabric stash after a long winter, or finally finishing that UFO (unfinished object) you've been avoiding since January — it just feels right.
Series 12 is on its way to BBC One, and here at Charmingo Sews Academy, we are already dusting off the popcorn and pretending we aren't shouting advice at the telly. (We absolutely are.)
A Show That Changed Everything
Cast your mind back to 2 April 2013. The Great British Sewing Bee quietly premiered on BBC Two, and nobody could have predicted quite what it would become.
The format was simple and brilliant — a group of talented amateur sewers, a pair of expert judges, and a set of challenges designed to push their skills to the very limit. Sound familiar? That's because it borrowed the warm, wholesome spirit of The Great British Bake Off and applied it beautifully to the world of fabric, thread, and haberdashery.
Claudia Winkleman hosted the first four series alongside judges Patrick Grant and May Martin, filming from the rather gorgeous setting of Metropolitan Wharf in London. The show found its audience quickly — because it wasn't just about sewing. It was about creativity, calm, concentration, and the quiet pride of making something with your own two hands. Sound like anything we believe in here at Charmingo? We thought so too.
After a brief hiatus between 2016 and 2019, the Bee returned with a new buzz. Joe Lycett took over as presenter for series five through seven, bringing his wonderfully chaotic energy to the sewing room. Then came the move to BBC One — a promotion well deserved — and with it a new home: Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, West Yorkshire. A former working textile mill founded in 1829, it is honestly one of the most fitting filming locations a craft competition could wish for.
Sara Pascoe stepped in as host from series eight in 2022, bringing warmth and wit across three brilliant series. The tenth series saw Kiell Smith-Bynoe hold the needle (metaphorically speaking) while Sara took maternity leave, before she returned for series eleven in 2025 — which she bowed out of gracefully after the final.
Over the years the show has inspired a whole generation of people to pick up a machine, enrol in a class, or simply have a go. And honestly? That means everything to us.
So, What's New for 2026?
Series 12 brings a fresh face to the sewing room, and what a face it is.
Sophie Willan — comedian, actor, BAFTA winner, and creator of the brilliant BBC comedy Alma's Not Normal — has been announced as the new host. She actually made her debut on the show's Celebrity Christmas Special in December 2025, and now she steps fully into the role for the main series.
The BBC's commissioning editor Cal Turner put it perfectly: "With her boundless enthusiasm and energy, Sophie will bring her own unique spark to the sewing room alongside Patrick and Esme."
We couldn't agree more. Sophie is warm, funny, and genuinely brilliant — exactly the kind of presence a show like this deserves. She grew up in Bolton, which also means she's practically a neighbour to us here in Liverpool. We're claiming her.
The beloved judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young are of course returning, as reliable and razor-sharp as ever. Patrick with his encyclopaedic knowledge of tailoring, and Esme with her fearless approach to design — together they remain one of the finest judging duos on British television. No notes.
The show continues to be filmed at Sunny Bank Mills in West Yorkshire, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it — and that mill is genuinely stunning.
As always, the series will feature a fresh cohort of ten amateur sewers competing across the three classic challenge formats: the Pattern Challenge, the Transformation Challenge, and the Made to Measure. Each week, one sewer is eliminated until a worthy champion is crowned Britain's Best Amateur Sewer.
Series 12 is expected to air in spring 2026 on BBC One, and will be available on iPlayer shortly after each episode.
Why We Love This Show (And You Should Too)
Here at Charmingo Sews Academy, the Great British Sewing Bee holds a very special place in our hearts — and not just because it makes us want to immediately rearrange our cutting table and attempt a bias-cut slip dress at 10pm on a Tuesday.
It reminds us, beautifully and consistently, that sewing is for everyone.
The contestants are always a joy — people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities, united by their love of fabric and the courage to have a go. They make mistakes, they laugh, they sometimes nearly cry over a stubborn zip, and then they push through and produce something extraordinary. That is the reality of learning a craft. That is what we see every single week in our studio here in Liverpool.
There is also something deeply meaningful about watching people build confidence through making. The quiet focus required to cut a pattern. The small triumph of a perfect seam. The moment someone holds up a finished garment and realises — I made that. That is the experience we work to create at Charmingo Sews every single day.
If the Sewing Bee has ever made you think I'd love to try that, please know that you absolutely can. You do not need to be an expert. You do not need to be fearless. You just need a willingness to start — and we will take care of the rest.
Fancy Giving It a Go?
We offer sewing and dressmaking courses right here in Liverpool — from complete beginners through to more advanced dressmaking and garment construction. Our studio is fully equipped, our classes are small and supportive, and all materials are provided.
Whether you want to learn the basics, improve your skills, or finally make the garment you've been dreaming of — we'd love to have you here.
You can explore our courses and book your place at:
And in the meantime — get the kettle on, settle in, and enjoy every single stitch of Series 12. 🐝🧵
