POTTERY THROWDOWN RETURNS: MEET THE POTTERS

The battle of the clay returns in a brand-new series of The Great Pottery Throw Down, hosted by Ellie Taylor, as 12 of Britain's best home potters compete to become champion.

In the first episode, judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller set the potters two challenges: to throw a children's crockery set and ceramic milk bottles, as the battle of clay kicks off at the wheel. Meet the potters below...

ANNA, 57 from Fermanagh, Northern Ireland – Social Care Facilitator

Coming from a generation of farmers, Anna spent her childhood harvesting crops and raising livestock. She lived and worked in Africa for years where she met her partner Skip. Now back home in Northern Ireland, Anna works with adults with learning difficulties, offering creative workshops. She has taken over a corner of Skip’s workshop for her potting but he complains of her messiness! Anna often digs clay from her father’s farm to turn into mugs they drink their tea from. Her work is inspired by her Celtic roots and her travels in Africa.

MILES, 50 from Worcestershire – Denim Designer

Clothing designer Miles enjoys a successful career, starting out in film costume and going on to work as a designer, eventually finding himself in California which is where he returned to pottery after learning it at school. Now back in the UK, working as a sustainability consultant, Miles lives with his husband Frank in the Worcestershire countryside and he has converted an outhouse into a studio. When he’s not potting he spends time practicing yoga, hiking and wild swimming.

JOSH, 27 from Berkshire – Design and Technology Teacher

Josh is a Design and Technology teacher and an Assistant House Master at a boarding school near Reading. As well as working with wood, metal and ceramics, he also teaches sport. Growing up, Josh’s parents ran a restaurant and he would often help out there as a teenager. Potting since he was 11, a lot of his inspiration comes from his Portuguese heritage. He describes himself as competitive and loves to take on challenges.

TOM, 44 from Bath – Product Director

Colourful Tom works in computer software and if he’s not potting in one of his two pottery sheds he can be found at musical festivals. He lives in an art filled home with his wife and her two teenage sons, and his own teenage son visits regularly. After attending pottery classes with his mum, Tom was hooked from an early age and went on to study ceramics at university. He is happy throwing and hand building and his house is full of his creations.

JENNY, 43 from North Lincolnshire – Full time mum

Bird watcher and metal detectorist Jenny lives near Doncaster with her two children and her husband, as well as their 2 cats and 4 chickens. After teaching for years she left her job to concentrate on family life. Growing up around her Grandma’s pottery wheel and craft market stall, Jenny took up pottery properly a few years ago and has a studio at home where she loves to throw her signature doughnut vases.

CELLAN, 23 from Brighton (originally Cardiff) – 3D Design and Craft Graduate

Growing up in Cardiff as 1 of 4 close knit brothers, Cellan admits he’s pretty competitive. Before studying 3D Design and Craft he had lots of jobs, including joiner and stone mason, and he even worked in an ice cream van last summer. Cellan now calls Brighton home and loves all materials, be it wood, plastic, metal, or ceramic - he has made furniture for his pottery creations to interact with. He wants his work to be used by people rather than collect dust sitting on shelves.

TOM, 44 from Bath – Product Director

Colourful Tom works in computer software and if he’s not potting in one of his two pottery sheds he can be found at musical festivals. He lives in an art filled home with his wife and her two teenage sons, and his own teenage son visits regularly. After attending pottery classes with his mum, Tom was hooked from an early age and went on to study ceramics at university. He is happy throwing and hand building and his house is full of his creations.

BILL, 63 from Scarborough - Museum Learning Assistant

Former teacher Bill loves his job running activities and leading school trips around his local museum. A proud Dad and Grandad, he lives near the beach with his dog Wilf. Bill lost his husband last year and his passion for pottery helped him get through that sad time. He pots in his local studio with a group of ladies, they love potting and gossiping!

AJ (they/them), 21 from Aberdeen – Design Graduate

Our youngest potter, Design graduate AJ, was born and bred in Aberdeen. They’re cool, quirky and love dressing up for comic conventions, fantasy board gaming with friends and skateboarding. AJ is very much a home bird and lives with their mum, dad, and little sister Roseanna. They fell in love with ceramics after starting their 3D Design course at university and soon developed their signature miniature blob-like creatures, inspired by their stone collection as a child.

LUCINDA, 58 from Shropshire – Retired NHS Therapist

Grandmother Lucinda loves her rural life in Shropshire. She retired after 25 years as a NHS Mental Health Therapist and now works part-time behind the bar in her village pub. Living with her partner Mike, they enjoy vintage tractors, motorbikes and dancing. Lucinda started pottery as a teenager and has a studio at home, where she loves to draw and sketch out her plans for her pots before creating them.

ZAHRA, 32 from Manchester – Hospital Doctor

Living in Manchester with her cat Neo, Zahra escapes the pressures of her hospital job by potting and gardening. The middle of 3 sisters, Zahra comes from a family of doctors and a lawyer. Despite their academic background, her parents and siblings all had creative hobbies and Zahra’s is ceramics. Her love of pottery grew after she attended a weekend slab building class a few years ago however now, she prefers throwing to hand building.

CHRISTINE, 57 from Preston – Art Youth Worker

Christine loves bringing art and creativity to the young people she works with. After studying in Stoke in the 80s, she returned to pottery when she left her 20 year teaching career behind. She gave throwing a try and loved it so much she bought a wheel, however her real passion is slip casting porcelain. A single mum of 2 grown up boys, Christine is incredibly family oriented with 7 siblings, 12 nieces and nephews, and 8 great nieces and nephews!

The Great Pottery Throwdown returns Sunday 2nd January at 7:45pm on Channel 4.