We're Potty About Pottery!

It's not only the contestants who are all fired up about this very special test of skill

-  JIM MALONEY

Pottery Throw Down judge Keith claims he has toughened up - but Rich can't stop laughing, and host Siobhán loves how unsuited to telly the contestants are

Whisper it, but judge Keith Brymer Jones, much-loved for crying with emotion over the potters' works in The Great Pottery Throw Down, reckons he is getting tougher.

"I don't think there are as many emotional moments in this current series as last time," he says. "But maybe I'm getting hard in my old age!

"I remember after the first series, because of my emotional judging state, I was told, 'You've got to be a bit harder.' And I said, 'Well, look, pottery is just not like that.' And lo and behold, what's transpired is that's why people really like it."

Fans of the show include even Hollywood star Brad Pitt! While promoting his film Bullet Train last July Brad said in an interview how much he loved The Great Pottery Throw Down, had seen every season and described Keith's tears of emotion as "beautiful"!

"It really was an out-of-body experience to hear him talking about loving the show. It's that complete and utter disconnect from Hollywood to pottery in Stoke."