‘It's important to sew'

Judge Esme Young on why she loves her craft and this week’s tricky themeÉ

- ELAINE REILLY

THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE

WEDNESDAY / BBC1 / 9PM / EP 3 of 10 / REALITY

With over 50 years of sewing experience and a firm but fair judging style, fashion designer Esme Young has proved a ‘reel’ favourite with fans of The Great British Sewing Bee since she joined the show four years ago.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Esme, 71, tells us why she adores this week’s theme, and why she’s so proud of her fellow judge Patrick Grant...

It’s the always tricky Children’s Week. What can you tell us about it?

The challenges fit the brief perfectly! The Pattern Challenge is a smocked dress. In the Transformation Challenge, the sewers have to take risks and use their imaginations [to turn sleeping bags into food-themed fancy-dress ensembles!], and the Made-to-Measure Challenge is a wardrobe staple for both boys and girls – dungarees. I loved wearing them as a child!