The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special welcomes four accomplished celebrities into the iconic sewing room for festive competition under the guidance of brand-new host Sophie Willan. The special marks Willan’s debut as the show’s presenter (taking over from Sara Pascoe for the Christmas episode and continuing into the main series), introducing her warmth, humor, and genuine engagement to proceedings. Professional dancer and Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke, comedian Lucy Beaumont (fresh from Celebrity Traitors participation), actress Susan Wokoma, and Gladiator Tom Wilson (known as Hammer) will showcase their sewing skills across three festive-themed challenges under the expert evaluation of returning judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young.
Airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during the Christmas 2025 festive period (exact date to be confirmed), the special promises the beloved combination of genuine competition, expert craftsmanship evaluation, and celebrity humor that has made The Great British Sewing Bee an annual Christmas tradition.
The Format: Three Festive Challenges Celebrating Needlework Excellence
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special maintains the show’s established format while introducing Christmas-specific creative challenges:
Challenge One: The Festive Present Sack
Celebrities receive a pattern for a festive present sack and must “put their twist” on the design. This initial challenge tests fundamental sewing competence—pattern comprehension, measurement accuracy, seam construction, and finishing quality.
The “twist” element encourages personal creativity within technical parameters, allowing celebrities’ personalities to emerge through fabric selection, embellishment choices, and decorative additions.
Challenge Two: The Twelve Days of Christmas Transformation
Celebrities receive second-hand party wear (likely evening gowns, dresses, or formal clothing) and must transform it into “an outfit inspired by The Twelve Days of Christmas.” This transformation challenge combines upcycling principles with creative interpretation, requiring contestants to visualize the traditional carol’s imagery (partridges, turtle doves, golden rings, etc.) through fabric, construction, and design choices.
This challenge particularly tests creative problem-solving—contestants must recognize potential within discarded garments while maintaining technical sewing excellence in frequently challenging material conversions.
Challenge Three: The Made-to-Measure Christmas Treat Outfit
Celebrities create “an outfit for real life models inspired by their favourite Christmas treat.” This final challenge requires contestants to:
- Conceptualize a Christmas treat (candy canes, gingerbread, Christmas pudding, mince pies, etc.)
- Translate that food into wearable design
- Construct a garment tailored to fit models (not themselves)
- Balance fantasy with wearability
This challenge tests both imaginative creativity and technical precision under time pressure, as contestants must produce measured garments without trying them on their models.
The Celebrity Contestants: Diverse Talent and Genuine Competition
Anton Du Beke – The professional dancer and choreographer is best known for his 18-year tenure on Strictly Come Dancing (2004-2022) and his subsequent transition to the judging panel. Joining Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse, Du Beke brings decades of entertainment industry experience and competitive drive to sewing competition.
Lucy Beaumont – The stand-up comedian arrives fresh from her participation in Celebrity Traitors, where she competed alongside other high-profile personalities. Beaumont brings comedic energy and quick wit to the sewing room, combined with apparent genuine interest in the craft.
Susan Wokoma – The accomplished actress is known for her roles in Chewing Gum (E4 comedy-drama) and Taskmaster guest appearances. Wokoma brings performance credibility and likely genuine curiosity about the sewing craft.
Tom Wilson (Hammer) – The Gladiators competitor and elite athlete from the BBC Gladiators revival series brings athletic discipline, competitive intensity, and entertainment value. As one of the show’s most recognizable Gladiators (known as Hammer for his strength and presence), Wilson represents the physical performer attempting precision textile work—a genuinely engaging dynamic.
Sophie Willan: A Fresh Voice as Host
Sophie Willan, the accomplished comedian and actress, represents a significant hosting change for The Sewing Bee. Willan brings warmth, humor, and genuine engagement to proceedings, qualities that characterize successful hosting of the format.
The Christmas special serves as Willan’s debut in the hosting role, with her continuing as the show’s regular host for the main series following the Christmas episode. This means the Christmas special carries additional significance—introducing Willan to audiences in a context that allows personality development and audience connection building before the regular series commences.
Tom Davies, Executive Producer at Love Productions, expressed enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to welcome Sophie to the Sewing Bee team, and we are eager to see what she contributes to the sewing room.”
The Judging Panel: Returning Expertise
Patrick Grant and Esme Young continue as judges, evaluating the celebrities’ sewing across all three challenges. Grant brings technical tailoring expertise and genuine warmth, while Young provides dress-making precision and design sensibility.
Regarding judging philosophy, Patrick Grant previously explained: “There are two challenges. First, I need to mentally organize my rankings, and then I must align that with Esme’s perspective. The latter is usually easier since we often think alike.”
Their consistent presence across episodes and specials allows audiences to trust their evaluations while recognizing their genuine investment in contestants’ performances and emotional journeys throughout the competition.
The Cultural Significance: Why Sewing Matters
The Great British Sewing Bee has become more than a competitive game show—it represents a cultural phenomenon celebrating traditional craftsmanship and textile knowledge in an increasingly digital era. Each season attracts millions of viewers, with Christmas specials consistently achieving strong viewership numbers.
The show implicitly advocates for “slow craft” values—patience, precision, problem-solving through making, and the satisfaction of creating wearable garments. By featuring celebrity participants (many without significant sewing experience), the show democratizes textile expertise, suggesting that anyone can learn needlework with instruction and practice.
Broadcast and Viewing Details
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during the Christmas 2025 festive period, with specific broadcast date and time to be confirmed by BBC scheduling.
The special will remain available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand streaming following its initial broadcast, allowing viewers to watch this festive competition at their convenience throughout the holiday season and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special air?
The special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during Christmas 2025, with exact dates and times to be announced by BBC scheduling.
Who is the new host?
Sophie Willan, the comedian and actress, makes her debut as host for this special. She will continue as regular host for the main series after this Christmas episode.
Who are the four celebrity contestants?
The celebrities are Anton Du Beke (dancer and Strictly judge), Lucy Beaumont (comedian), Susan Wokoma (actress), and Tom Wilson/Hammer (Gladiators competitor).
Who are the judges?
Patrick Grant and Esme Young return as judges, evaluating contestants’ sewing across all challenges.
What are the three challenges?
Contestants create a festive present sack, transform second-hand party wear into a Twelve Days of Christmas outfit, and craft a made-to-measure outfit inspired by their favorite Christmas treat.
How long is the special?
The special runs for 60 minutes, providing substantial time for three challenges and celebrity interaction.
Is this related to previous Sewing Bee specials?
Yes, this continues the annual tradition of Christmas specials, though with a new host and celebrity lineup.
Can I stream after broadcast?
Yes, the special will be available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand viewing following initial broadcast.
