Episode 1

The Great British Sewing Bee welcomes 12 new sewers to Leeds. Judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young want to see how the newbies deal with 'Classics with a Twist'. Kicking off their first Pattern Challenge, the sewers make a top with a twist at its centre, which is a straightforward construction with a tricky brain-teaser. For the 90-minute Transformation Challenge, they take the office staples – a pencil skirt and blouse – and give it their own personal twist to reflect their style. Finally, in the Made to Measure round, the sewers meet their models for the first time and attempt to perfectly fit a dress that has cut-out details. Who will impress to win Garment of the Week, and whose hopes of staying in the competition won’t last beyond week one?