New host Sophie Willan presides over every stitch and seam
I’ve got a textile! Feeling lost over Love Island and fed up with football? Sewing Bee could be just the ticket, as 12 super seamsters gather in the hope to be crowned Britain’s best sewer. Read on, as we explain how to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 12 online from anywhere.
The biggest change this year is a new face at the helm in the form of actor and comedian Sophie Willan, who takes over from Sara Pascoe full time after making her debut in the most recent Christmas special. The ever reliable Patrick Grant and Esme Young return to judge every stitch and seam.
As ever, the contestants are a diverse bunch, with everyone from CFOs to Primary teachers, sopranos to engineers and care farm directors to chartered actuaries. Throughout the season, they’ll be tasked with the Pattern Challenge, in which they must follow a pattern as closely as possible, the Transformation Challenge, which sees the sewers reinvent existing garments and the Made-to-Measure Challenge, that gives the sewers freedom to create their own showstoppers.
The spiritual sister to The Great British Bake Off, Sewing Bee is a cosy treat, with moments that’ll leave you in stitches, and points so tense you could hear a pin drop. Read on and find out how to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 12 online and from anywhere.
Can I watch The Great British Sewing Bee Season 12 online for free?
Viewers in the UK can stream all seasons and specials of The Great British Sewing Bee, including the upcoming season 12, for FREE on BBC iPlayer. Not at home? Use a VPN to access you usual streaming services from abroad and watch the show for free.
For those away from home looking to watch The Great British Sewing Bee season 12 online, you’ll be unable to watch the show as normal if you’re outside the UK due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN allows you to stream geo-blocked services online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. Our favorite is ExpressVPN – it’s one of the best VPNs on the market.
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What you need to know about The Great British Sewing Bee S12
When is The Great British Sewing Bee S12 release date?
Season 12 of The Great British Sewing Bee will premiere on Tuesday, July 14 in the UK. US and Australia release dates are TBC.
How many episodes does The Great British Sewing Bee Season 12 have?
The Great British Sewing Bee Series 12 consists of 10 episodes.
- Episode 1 – British Summer Week
The competition begins with twelve brand-new contestants entering the sewing room for the first time. They create summer shorts in the Pattern Challenge, transform barbecue aprons into stylish bags, and finish by designing Made-to-Measure garments inspired by their perfect summer day. - Episode 2 – Prints and Colours Week
The remaining contestants return for a colourful week celebrating bold prints and vibrant fabrics. The challenges become more demanding as creativity, precision, and technical ability continue to separate the strongest sewers from the rest. - Episodes 3–10
Series 12 continues with eight additional episodes featuring new sewing themes and increasingly difficult challenges. The official titles and descriptions for these episodes have not yet been released, but each week brings fresh tasks, eliminations, and another step toward crowning the next The Great British Sewing Bee winner.
The Great British Sewing Bee S12 contestants
- Adele, 36, Primary school teacher, West Yorkshire
- Angie, 63, Retired, Warwickshire
- Anna, 27, Barista & waitress, North Yorkshire
- Beth, 24, Engineering Ph.D. student, Oxfordshire
- Dawn, 64, Chief Financial Officer, London
- Emma, 45, Classical soprano, Midlothian
- Heather, 28, Project manager, West Midlands
- Lewis, 29, Primary school teacher, East Sussex
- Minnie, 30, Full-time mum, Bedfordshire
- Rebecca, 27, Chartered actuary, London
- Sam, 31, Heating engineer, West Yorkshire
- Tim, 60, Care farm director, Suffolk
Who is the new presenter of The Great British Sewing Bee?
Actor and comedian Sophie Willan follows the likes of Claudia Winkleman, Joe Lycett, Sara Pascoe and Kiell Smith-Bynoe as the new host of Sewing Bee. On her appointment, Cal Turner, Commissioning Editor, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Sophie Willan to The Great British Sewing Bee. With her boundless enthusiasm and energy, Sophie will bring her own unique spark to the sewing room alongside Patrick and Esme.”
Is The Great British Sewing Bee suitable for beginners?
Yes. While experienced sewers will appreciate the technical challenges, beginners can also enjoy the competition and learn practical sewing techniques, garment construction, and creative design ideas throughout the series.