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Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant: Who is he?

the great british sewing bee
Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant: Who is he?James Stack - BBC

The Great British Sewing Bee is returning for series 9 this year – and judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young are back to oversee 12 new home sewers and offer their critiques.

Series 8 saw Annie emerging victorious after wowing everyone in the final with her sensational jumpsuit complete with a dramatic, Esme-approved bow.

Sara Pascoe made her debut as host, after taking over from fellow comedian Joe Lycett as the show's presenter.

Meanwhile, the Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas special featured Johannes Radebe, Natalie Cassidy, Rosie Ramsey and Penny Lancaster put their sewing skills to the test, creating novelty baby outfits and pop star-inspired fancy dress.

And who could forget Patrick and Esme dressing up for the occasion as Sonny and Cher?


He is delighted to be returning to the Sewing Bee to judge the new series of contestants. He told Lorraine Kelly ahead of the first episode of series 9: "The show is very warm. We are encouraging these twelve fantastic people who love sewing at home.

"They come on our show and we give them these fiendishly difficult challenges, and they put their heart and soul into it.

"And sometimes things go spectacularly well and sometimes they go a little bit badly, but we always appreciate the effort that they make and the love they put into it."

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BBC One

Patrick is a huge believer in the importance of repairing and rewearing our clothes, and thinks the Sewing Bee has helped to change the public's ideas about how much we need to buy.

He told Lorraine: "We’ve built a fashion model that’s very linear. We make something, we buy it, we use it, we throw it away and it goes in landfill.

“We’re encouraging people to go back to something that we all used to do, which is think more in a circle. Everything can be repurposed and fixed, and in our quiet little way I think Sewing Bee has had a very positive influence on people.

"We’ve actually had a really positive impact on the way people see their clothes."

If you're new to the show or like us, anticipating its return, we've done a big of digging on its popular judge Patrick to find out a little more about him.

Joining the series in 2013, Patrick Grant is a well-known designer and businessman who currently lives in rural Lancashire, having relocated from London in March 2020.

After gaining a Batchelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, he went on to study for an MBA at Oxford. He is now the director of the Savile Row tailors Norton and Sons, which he bought in 2005, aged just 33. In addition to his prestigious position, he also owns successful menswear label E. Tautz, which he revived in 2009.

In 2015, he bought an ailing Blackburn clothing factory and launched a social enterprise called Community Clothing, established with the aim of selling great quality affordable clothing, and sustaining and creating great jobs in the UK's textile making regions.

Speaking about the positive shift in attitudes towards sustainability, he previously told Prima: "People are fixing their clothes and repairing them, and darning is now cool, there is really a big awareness out there now.

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BBC One

"All of the negativity about being poor and wearing old clothes has gone now. It’s totally ok to be fixing clothes and protecting the planet. People need to feel really happy wearing old stuff. We are consuming less material, less high street and there are a growing number of cool young people who have recognised this."

His philosophy is reflected in his shopping habits as he added: "I wear the same stuff all the time, I haven't bought a single item of new clothing this year. My socks are 7 years old, my T-shirt is about 5 years old. I am very lucky. I have a wardrobe of exceptional clothing that I am able to keep wearing."

Patrick's innovative Community Clothing brand offers great-quality and sustainable pieces at an affordable price.

"We are not in this to make enormous profits," Patrick told The Sunday Times. “We think the way to have a good and lasting business is to offer people fantastic quality clothing at an affordable price."

Patrick is a keen photographer too, sharing his artistic shots on Instagram which capture the stunning landscape near his home in Lees, and his travels across the UK and beyond.

In July 2022, he was awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Central Lancashire. He was "recognised for the significant contribution he has made to the British clothing and textile industry, as well as supporting the University at events such as the Leaders in Residence Network Launch," the Lancashire Telegraph reported.

Addressing graduating students, Patrick said: "Follow your passion, don’t follow the money, do what feels great in your heart. Follow a career that you feel you can thrive in, that you have a real passion for because it’s going to be hard work but the more you love it the more fun you'll get out of it."

He also posted a snap of his travels in New York, prompting on fan to wonder whether he was secretly there to do an American Sewing Bee show. We can but dream.

The new series of the Great British Sewing Bee starts on 24 May at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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