The Great Pottery Throw Down
The Great Pottery Throw Down is a British television competition programme first broadcast on BBC Two from 3 November 2015. It is a contest in the style of The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee but with the craft of pottery rather than baking or sewing.
The Great Pottery Throw Down | |
---|---|
Genre | Reality |
Presented by | Sara Cox (Series 1-2) Melanie Sykes (Series 3) |
Judges | Kate Malone Keith Brymer Jones Sue Pryke |
Opening theme | "I Can't Explain" by The Who (Series 1) "Making Time" by The Creation (Series 2-) |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 3 |
No. of episodes | 24 |
Production | |
Production location(s) | Middleport Pottery, Middleport, Staffordshire, England, UK |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production company(s) | Love Productions |
Distributor | BBC Worldwide |
Release | |
Original network | BBC Two (Series 1-2) More4 (Series 3) |
Picture format | 16:9 |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 3 November 2015 – present |
Chronology | |
Related shows | The Great British Bake Off The Great British Sewing Bee |
External links | |
Channel 4 Website | |
BBC Website |
For the first two seasons, the presenter was Sara Cox and the expert judges were Kate Malone and Keith Brymer Jones.[1][2]
Having been axed by the BBC in 2018, the show returned in January 2020 with a third series on Channel 4's More4, with Brymer Jones continuing as a judge, and Melanie Sykes as new host.[3][4][5]
Also appearing across all three series is 'kiln man Rich', Richard Miller, who acts as show's behind-the-scenes technician.[6]
Series overview
Series | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | Winner | Average UK viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | 3 November 2015 | 8 December 2015 | Matthew | 2.39 |
2 | 8 | 2 February 2017 | 23 March 2017 | Ryan | 3.34 |
3 | 10 | 8 January 2020 | 11 March 2020 | Rosa | TBA |
Series 1 (2015)
Potters
Potter | Age | Occupation | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
James | 31 | Vet | Bristol |
Jane | 40 | College tutor | North Wales |
Jim | 52 | Part-time painter and decorator | Bognor Regis |
Joanna | 42 | Parish Councillor | West Sussex |
Matthew | 23 | Teacher | Giggleswick |
Nigel | 52 | Builder | Bakewell |
Rekha | 49 | Conceptual artist | Buckinghamshire |
Sally-Jo | 33 | Interior designer | Petersfield |
Sandra | 52 | Project Manager | Leeds |
Tom | 41 | Retired Army Major | Gloucestershire |
Results summary
Elimination chart | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Matthew | BP | Winner | ||||
Jim | BP | Finalist | ||||
Sally-Jo | Finalist | |||||
Tom | BP | Finalist | ||||
Jane | OUT | |||||
Sandra | OUT | |||||
James | OUT | |||||
Joanna | LEFT | |||||
Nigel | OUT | |||||
Rekha | OUT |
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
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Stackable Kitchen Bowls | Pulling | Egg Cups | |
James | N/A | 6th | 23 |
Jane | 7th | 28 | |
Jim | 2nd | 32 | |
Joanna | 4th | 18 | |
Matthew | 5th | 28 | |
Nigel | 8th | 23 | |
Rekha | 9th | 19 | |
Sally-Jo | 3rd | 31 | |
Sandra | 10th | 20 | |
Tom | 1st | 36 |
Episode 2
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Decorative Hand Basin | Surface Design | Tallest Cylinder | |
James | N/A | 9th | 15 cm |
Jane | 2nd | 20 cm | |
Jim | 6th | 19 cm | |
Joanna | 7th | 17.5 cm | |
Matthew | 1st | 22 cm | |
Nigel | 8th | 13 cm | |
Sally-Jo | 5th | 12 cm | |
Sandra | 3rd | 18 cm | |
Tom | 4th | 20 cm |
Episode 3
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Long-necked Vases | Slip Decoration | Ornate Candlestick Copies | |
James | N/A | 4th | 6th |
Jane | 6th | 5th | |
Jim | 5th | 3rd | |
Joanna | — | — | |
Matthew | 3rd | 1st | |
Sally-Jo | 2nd | 7th | |
Sandra | 6th | 4th | |
Tom | 1st | 1st |
Episode 4
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Garden Sculpture | Strawberry Pot | Widest Plate | |
Jane | N/A | 5th | 33 cm 6th |
Jim | 1st | 36 cm 5th | |
Matthew | 4th | 36.5 cm 1st | |
Sally-Jo | 3rd | 32 cm 4th | |
Sandra | 6th | 34 cm 3rd | |
Tom | 2nd | 35 cm 2nd |
Episode 5
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Bone China Chandelier | Banding | Closed Sphere | |
Jane | N/A | 2nd | 4th |
Jim | 1st | 1st | |
Matthew | 5th | 2nd | |
Sally-Jo | 4th | 5th | |
Tom | 3rd | 3rd |
Episode 6
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
12-piece Porcelain Tea set | The Devil's Work | High-shouldered Jugs | |
Jim | N/A | 4th | 4th |
Matthew | 2nd | 2nd | |
Sally-Jo | 1st | 3rd | |
Tom | 3rd | 1st |
Series 2 (2017)
The second series began on 2 February 2017 on BBC Two. Some episodes will have a guest judge, these will include Emma Bridgewater (episode 1) and Johnny Vegas (episode 7).
Potters
Potter | Age | Occupation | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
Cáit | 31 | Quaker Meeting House worker | Reading |
Carole | 63 | Pottery Teacher | Hertfordshire |
Clover | 33 | Accountant and Part-time Illustrator | London |
Daniel | 55 | Mortgage adviser | Hampshire |
Elaine | 55 | Banana import business owner | Buckinghamshire |
Freya | 24 | Student | London |
James | 25 | Tour guide in National Glass Centre | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Nam | 27 | Cage fighter and Kick boxer | London |
Richard | 53 | Pub landlord | Banbury |
Ryan | 30 | Model | Ipswich |
Results summary
Elimination chart | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5[a] | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||||
Ryan | BP | BP | Winner | |||||||||
Clover | BP | Runner-up | ||||||||||
Richard | BP | Runner-up | ||||||||||
Freya | BP | OUT | ||||||||||
Cáit | OUT | |||||||||||
Nam | BP | OUT | ||||||||||
Elaine | BP | OUT | ||||||||||
James | OUT | |||||||||||
Daniel | OUT | |||||||||||
Carole | OUT |
[a] 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
Episode 1
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
16-Piece Dinner Set | Sponge Decorating | Tallest Cone | |
Cáit | Art Print Dinner Set | 7th | 10th |
Carole | Lake Dinner Set | 5th | 9th |
Clover | Chinese Dinner Set | 2nd | 7th |
Daniel | Flower Dinner Set | 10th | 8th |
Elaine | Fruit Dinner Set | 8th | 2nd |
Freya | Floral Dinner Set | 1st | 5th |
James | Industrial Dinner Set | 4th | 4th |
Nam | Gaming Dinner Set | 6th | 6th |
Richard | Royalty Dinner Set | 9th | 3rd |
Ryan | Motif Dinner Set | 3rd | 1st |
Episode 2
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Clock | Pulling Handles | Double-Walled Pot | |
Cáit | Owl | 6th | 7th |
Clover | Tree of Life | 8th | 3rd |
Daniel | The Cog Clock | 2nd | 9th |
Elaine | Patchwork Clock | 1st | 8th |
Freya | Mother Time | 4th | 4th |
James | Urban Decay | 9th | 6th |
Nam | Time Flies | 3rd | 5th |
Richard | 17th Century Harvest Jug | 7th | 1st |
Ryan | Geometric Clock | 5th | 2nd |
Episode 3
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Japanese Sake Set | Lantern Carving | Rice Bowls | |
Cáit | The Bottle Kiln | 8th | 6 |
Clover | Kyūdō | 3rd | 12 |
Elaine | Buttons | 2nd | 8 |
Freya | Simple Sake | 4th | 10 |
James | Japanese Tattoo | 1st | 6 |
Nam | Kung Fu Fighting | 7th | 13 |
Richard | Sake Spout | 6th | 8 |
Ryan | The Sake Trail | 5th | 11 |
Episode 4
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Water Feature | 12 Roses | Flower Pots | |
Cáit | Homage to Reuben | 1st | 7th |
Clover | The Lotus Flower | 2nd | 4th |
Elaine | Brighton Pavilion | 4th | 2nd |
Freya | The Fruit Tree | 3rd | 1st |
Nam | Sea Creatures | 5th | 3rd |
Richard | Aztec Temple | 7th | 6th |
Ryan | Seven Discs | 6th | 5th |
Episode 5
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Pit Fired Vase | Hand-building Jugs | Goblets | |
Cáit | Water Pot Vase | 1st | 4 |
Clover | Delicate Vase | 3rd | 6 |
Freya | African Drum Vase | 2nd | 8 |
Nam | Moon Jar | 5th | 8 |
Richard | Contemporary Vase | 6th | 6 |
Ryan | Round Belly Vase | 4th | 5 |
Episode 6
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Russian Dolls | Sgraffito | Widest Bowl Blindfolded | |
Cáit | There Was An Old Lady | 5th | 3rd |
Clover | Eco Animals | 1st | 6th |
Freya | Talking Heads | 6th | 4th |
Nam | Lotus Pods | 3rd | 5th |
Richard | Organ Jars | 4th | 2nd |
Ryan | Fisherman's Tail | 2nd | 1st |
Episode 7
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Toilet | Original Piece | 1-Minute Teapots | |
Clover | Stained Glass Toilet | 3rd | 3rd |
Freya | Mother Nature Toilet | 2nd | 1st |
Richard | Victorian Meadow Toilet | 4th | 2nd |
Ryan | Turtle Toilet | 1st | 4th |
Episode 8
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test | Throw Down |
---|---|---|---|
Porcelain Lights | Torso Sculpting | Japanese Lanterns | |
Clover | The Honey Bee | 3rd | 2nd |
Richard | Autumn Fall | 2nd | 3rd |
Ryan | The Church Organ | 1st | 1st |
Series 3 (2020)
After almost a three-year hiatus, the third series began on 8 January 2020 on More4 with new judge Sue Pryke and new host Melanie Sykes.
Potters
Potter | Age | Occupation | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
Claire | 29 | Warehouse operative | County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
Flea | 33 | Full-time mother | London |
Jacob | 23 | Studio potter | Liverpool |
Kit | 19 | Home potter | Cornwall |
Leonard | 70 | Retired company director | Cornwall |
Matt | 30 | Professional cycling manager | Greater Manchester |
Rainna | 27 | Full-time carer | Kent |
Ronaldo | 31 | Art college technician and part time tutor | London |
Rosa | 43 | Full-time mother and former fashion designer | Buckinghamshire |
Rosalind | 59 | Retired antique shop owner | Essex |
Sampada | 26 | Craft assistant and illustrator | London |
Tom | 39 | Composer and music teacher | Sheffield |
Results summary
Elimination chart | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Potter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||
Rosa | BP | Winner | ||||||||||||||||
Jacob | BP | BP | BP | Runner-up | ||||||||||||||
Matt | BP | Runner-up | ||||||||||||||||
Claire | BP | BP | BP | OUT | ||||||||||||||
Rosalind | BP | OUT | ||||||||||||||||
Ronaldo | OUT | |||||||||||||||||
Rainna | BP | OUT | ||||||||||||||||
Flea | OUT | |||||||||||||||||
Leonard | OUT | |||||||||||||||||
Kit | OUT | |||||||||||||||||
Sampada | OUT | |||||||||||||||||
Tom | OUT |
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
Episode 1
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
Breakfast Set | Egg Cups | |
Claire | 'Lily Pads' Breakfast Set | 13 |
Flea | 'Moroccan' Breakfast Set | 20 |
Jacob | 'Liverpool Skyline’ Breakfast Set | 12 |
Kit | 'Cornish Crockery' Breakfast Set | 8 |
Leonard | 'Sailing' Breakfast Set | 12 |
Matt | 'Minimalist' and biking Breakfast Set | 14 |
Rainna | 'Cogs and Rivets' Breakfast Set | 13 |
Ronaldo | 'Coconut Trees' Breakfast Set | 13 |
Rosa | 'Flora and Fauna' Breakfast Set | 13 |
Rosalind | 'Chickens' Breakfast Set | 10 |
Sampada | Asian Illustrative Breakfast Set | 10 |
Tom | 'Songs' Breakfast Set | 15 |
Episode 2
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
Chess Set | 3 Miniature Vases | |
Claire | Classical Chess Set | 2nd |
Flea | Reef Chess Set | 5th |
Jacob | Chinese Dragon & Phoenix Chess Set | 6th |
Kit | Cornish and Devonshire Flags Chess Set | 3rd |
Leonard | Underwater Chess Set | 11th |
Matt | Abstract Black & White Chess Set | 1st |
Rainna | Garden Chess Set | 4th |
Ronaldo | Bajan Chess Set | 8th |
Rosa | Podgy and Snooty Chess Set | 10th |
Rosalind | Vintage Chess Set | 9th |
Sampada | Light & Dark Chess Set | 7th |
Episode 3
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test |
---|---|---|
2 Animal Figurines | Nerikomi | |
Claire | Elephant & Calf | 10th |
Flea | Dove & Hatchling | 5th |
Jacob | Fox & Cub | 4th |
Kit | Rabbit & Kit | 9th |
Leonard | Fish & Fry | 2nd |
Matt | Penguin & Chick | 1st |
Rainna | Penguin & Chick | 8th |
Ronaldo | Monkey & Infant | 7th |
Rosa | Duck & Duckling | 6th |
Rosalind | Fox & Cub | 3rd |
Episode 4
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
2 Slip Cast Multi-Coloured Vases | Widest Bowl Blindfolded | |
Claire | Feather | 5th |
Flea | The Flower Iris | 6th |
Jacob | Oriental Duo | 3rd |
Leonard | Dahlia Flower Vases | 2nd |
Matt | Marbles | 4th |
Rainna | Dover Coastline | 8th |
Ronaldo | Landscape Tower | 1st |
Rosa | Mother & Child | 7th |
Rosalind | Owls | 9th |
Episode 5
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test |
---|---|---|
2 Lamp Bases | Handwriting | |
Claire | Grecian | 8th |
Flea | Calabashes | 3rd |
Jacob | Shipwrecked | 4th |
Matt | Chattering | 5th |
Rainna | Wild West Heads | 2nd |
Ronaldo | Diamonds | 7th |
Rosa | Beach Pebbles | 1st |
Rosalind | Knitting Sheep | 6th |
Episode 6
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
Nude Greek Sculpture | Amphora | |
Claire | Aphrodite Statue | 1st |
Jacob | Adonis Statue | 3rd |
Matt | Aphrodite Statue | 2nd |
Rainna | Adonis Statue | N/A[a] |
Ronaldo | Aphrodite Statue | 5th |
Rosa | Adonis Statue | 4th |
Rosalind | Aphrodite Statue | 6th |
[a] Rainna injured herself during the Throw Down and was unable to complete the challenge.
Episode 7
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
40 Fireplace Tiles | Chimney Pot | |
Claire | Art Deco Style Fireplace Tiles | 3rd |
Jacob | Chinese Proverb Fireplace Tiles | 2nd |
Matt | Manchester Bee Fireplace Tiles | 1st |
Ronaldo | Golden Ratio Fireplace Tiles | 4th |
Rosa | Scandi Fireplace Tiles | 5th |
Rosalind | Pond Life Fireplace Tiles | 6th |
Episode 8
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test |
---|---|---|
2 Pit-Fired Ginger Jars | Sgraffito | |
Claire | Scalloped Classic Ginger Jars | 1st |
Jacob | Classic Ginger Jars | 3rd |
Matt | Geometric Ginger Jars | 5th |
Rosa | Male and Female Carp Ginger Jars | 1st |
Rosalind | Oriental-style Ginger Jars | 4th |
Episode 9
Potter | Main Make | Spot Test |
---|---|---|
Toilet | Tissue Transferring | |
Claire | Trophy Toilet | 3rd |
Jacob | Toadstool Toilet | 4th |
Matt | Teacup Toilet | 1st |
Rosa | Garden Toilet | 2nd |
Episode 10
Potter | Main Make | Throw Down |
---|---|---|
Mad Hatter Tea Set | 3 Rimmed Bowls on Kick-Wheel | |
Jacob | Jabberwocky Tea Set | 1st |
Matt | Topsy-Turvy Tea Set | 3rd |
Rosa | Alice in Wonderland Tea Set | 2nd |
Ratings
Series 1
Episode no. | Airdate | Viewers | BBC Two weekly ranking[7] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 November 2015 | 2,245,000 | 8 |
2 | 10 November 2015 | 2,402,000 | 10 |
3 | 17 November 2015 | 2,437,000 | 7 |
4 | 24 November 2015 | 2,160,000 | 11 |
5 | 1 December 2015 | 2,354,000 | 7 |
6 | 8 December 2015 | 2,530,000 | 7 |
Series 2
Episode no. | Airdate | Viewers | BBC Two weekly ranking[8] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 February 2017 | 2,197,000 | 5 |
2 | 9 February 2017 | 2,387,000 | 5 |
3 | 16 February 2017 | 2,373,000 | 4 |
4 | 23 February 2017 | 2,578,000 | 3 |
5 | 2 March 2017 | 2,604,000 | 4 |
6 | 9 March 2017 | 2,576,000 | 4 |
7 | 16 March 2017 | 3,140,000 | 1 |
8 | 23 March 2017 | 3,340,000 | 1 |
References
- Alastair McKay (6 November 2015), "Catch up TV: The Great British Pottery Throw Down", Evening Standard
- Tim Dowling (11 November 2015), "The Great Pottery Throw Down review: if your pot doesn't make the judge cry, you aren't trying hard enough", The Guardian
- Methven, Nicola (20 July 2018). "The Great Pottery Throwdown has been axed by the BBC amidst 'sour grapes' rumour". mirror. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- "The Great Pottery Throw Down | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- Ault, Richard (22 May 2019). "The Great Pottery Throw Down is coming back (& you could be on the show)". stokesentinel. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- "When pottery gets political…". Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 24 February 2017.