It’s back tonight! 7 facts you might not know about the Great British Sewing Bee 2025

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How well do you really know the Sewing Bee? Here's some facts that you might not have heard before…

The Great British Sewing Bee is back on our screens! The show is returning for its 11th season on Tuesday 15th July at 8pm and continues to be a true highlight in the BBC’s summer schedule.

We can’t wait to see what the new batch of Sewing Bee contestants come up with – apparently, they’re an extremely talented bunch! We know Patrick and Esme have some tough judging decisions ahead.

But how well do you really know your favourite craft TV show? Here are some surprising facts about the Sewing Bee…

7 Sewing Bee facts that you might not know!

1. Esme has made shirts for Leonardo DiCaprio

One of our favourite facts about Esme is that she’s worked on costumes for numerous Hollywood films, including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Trainspotting. She made several shirts for Leo to wear in the iconic movie The Beach, all of which had to be identical for continuity purposes!

2. There’s no cash prize for the winners

The skilled sewers don’t receive a cash prize for winning the Sewing Bee – instead, they receive the title of Britain’s Best Amateur Sewer and a golden mannequin trophy. While they might not win any money, several past winners have gone on to start their own businesses and write their own books.

3. The contestants get to keep their clothes!

Past contestant Chinelo Bally revealed to us that the Sewing Bee contestants get to keep everything they make, so there’s no waste! It’s really in-keeping with the show’s emphasis on sustainability.

4. It takes 20 days to film a series of the Sewing Bee

If you’re brave enough to apply for the show, you’ll need to commit to 20 days of filming spread out over four months. Contestants don’t get paid for their time, but the cost of their fabrics is covered.

5. Patrick Grant was once a rugby player

Patrick Grant in Sewing Bee 2025 — Credit: BBC/Love Productions/Neil Sherwood

Yes, really! Patrick represented Scotland in U18 and U19 national rugby sides, before a shoulder injury sadly ended his sporting career.

6. Only two men have ever won the Sewing Bee

In 11 series of the show, only two men have ever won: Matt Chapple in 2015 and Luke-Matthew Iveson in 2024. However, in recent years we’ve seen an increase in male contestants on the show, so we’re likely to see more male winners in future series.

7. Esme once watched Notting Hill Carnival with David Bowie

“I sat on a window ledge with him at the Notting Hill Carnival. I can’t quite remember what year it was – the early 90s or late 80s. A lovely memory,” Esme says. “Some friends had a party and one friend of mine had produced some David Bowie records, so he was there. I went upstairs to look for someone and David was with various people sitting on a window ledge, so I went and sat beside him and had a little chat.

Esme says David was very nice: “He was very down to earth and chatty. Not at all snotty. The carnival was happening in the street below and I remember somebody looked up and saw him and said: ‘Oh, my God. It’s David Bowie!’.”

In typical Esme fashion, they discussed David’s Italian suit and the differences between Savile Row and Italian tailoring.