New Sewing Bee host revealed: it’s BAFTA-winning comedian Sophie Willan!

Actress, writer and comedian Sophie, 38, is best known as the creator and star of Alma’s Not Normal.

Her work on the groundbreaking comedy won her BAFTA Awards for Best Writer: Comedy, Best Female Comedy Performance and Best Scripted Comedy. Sophie began her career in theatre and cabaret, before becoming a stand-up.

She won the Magners New Comedian of the Year Award in 2015. She has since starred in TV hits including: Still Open All Hours, Ludwig, Timeand Small Prophets. She narrated the reality show The Circle and is a guest team captain on music panel game Never Mind the Buzzcocks. She’s also competed on Taskmaster and was a guest judge on the most recent series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK.

Sophie lives with her partner, chef Carniel Francis Levy, and their baby son Elijah in London.

How did you come to take over as host of The Great British Sewing Bee?

They just got in touch and asked if I’d be interested. I know friends who’ve done the show. Joe Lycett did it, Kiell [Smith-Bynoe] did it… I don’t know Sara Pascoe, but she was brilliant on the last series. It had a great reputation and felt an interesting different direction for me.

Was presenting something you’d thought about doing or was it not on your radar?

Not really, no. I’m mainly an actress, writer and comedian, but obviously I’m a team captain on Buzzcocks and stuff like that. And I’ve done lots of voiceover work, so it felt within my capabilities.

Were you a fan of Sewing Bee?

I’ve not watched as much of it as some people. I mean, some love it, don’t they, the sewing fans? I’m not a sewer. I watched more as a fellow comedian watching other comics present to see what they bring. But it’s always been a lovely show, hasn’t it? A bit like Bake Off. I enjoy watching Bake Off, but I’m not a baker.

Have you ever sewn? Did you sew at school as a kid?

I did, but it’s not something I took up in my life as an adult. Having said that, I found it really interesting watching them all make the outfits. Also, when we do the VO [voiceover], we do a little bit of the history of different items and that’sbeen really fascinating.

Did it make you look at clothes in a different way?

Well, I’ve got a lot of friends who work in fashion. I just found it really interesting. And Esme and Patrick are both kind of legends, aren’t they? It’s always interesting meeting people with their own passion and their own craft that they have years of experience in, you know?

When someone’s so passionate about what they do, you just want to learn more from them, don’t you?

Definitely. And fashion is at the heart of so many things, isn’t it? It’s a very, very interesting subject. And the talent on the show… it’s great to watch that level of passion and creativity and see how they develop.

How do you see your role on the show: part-therapist, part-clown, a conduit between us and them?

Probably all of those: part-therapist, part-clown and you’re the voice of the audience, aren’t you? Well, I say that, but the audience has a great knowledge about all this stuff. I was coming in as someone without as much knowledge, which can be quite helpful, because then you’re asking questions someone at home might want to be asking. You’re definitely part-therapist as well because you’re on this journey with everybody, aren’t you? And you’re watching all this pressure the sewers are under. You become quite attached.

Oh, yes. When you see them sweating over the sewing machine and trying not to have a meltdown as things don’t go quite right, do you feel a bit maternal towards them?

Definitely, you do, because you see how much it means to them. They’re amazing. They give so much of themselves to the show. It’s a demanding show for the sewers. It’s demanding for the presenter, never mind for them and what it means to them. I really like chatting with people and, actually, it’s a relief to them and it’s a relief to me when you’re just interacting, having fun, having a laugh together… it’s nice for everybody. It definitely lightens the mood. But you’re on this journey with them, so you do feel really invested in them and how well they do. You can’t help it.

You must have soaked up lots of sewing tips. Has it inspired you to give it a go?

No, because it goes in one ear and out the other. I forget everything – especially with being pregnant at the time of filming. I’ve got a baby brain. This information is not staying in…

So, Elijah’s not getting a whole new wardrobe made by mum then?

No. I was trying to hustle a few things from them. I was like: ‘Oh, that teddy bear’s nice…’

Ah, yes, they made stuffed animals out of kids’ fleeces for one of the transformations, didn’t they?

Yeah! They were amazing. All of the things they made were fantastic. They’re so talented and all so different. Everyone has their own story, their own personality, their own style. It was wonderful. It’s always great to see talented people passionately doing something they love, isn’t it?

And your job also means you’re the one to announce who’s going home each week…

Yeah, that’s always the horrible bit. I never liked doing that.

When she was pregnant, Sara Pascoe found that even worse to do because of the hormones…

Yeah. You do definitely feel it because you’re invested, like I say. You definitely feel for them. I have to say, though, it always feels like the right decision at the time. It never feels completely heartbreaking and unfair. It feels like the natural course of events. And, from my experience, the decision is usually correct that the judges make. It feels like you kind of know where it’s going.

What were your favourites among the pattern challenges?

Oh, the Madonna cone bra was fab and also just the whole history… What I really love is when we do the VTs of the history of what we’re doing. That’s always fascinating. And that one was particularly interesting. We did some really interesting challenges. There was one about how to be political in your work… 

The made-to-measure outfit with an environmental message for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week?

Yeah. They made T-shirts with statements and Esme obviously talked about her background as a punk and a punk fashion-maker. Also, it was great just to see all the things people cared about and what they wanted to bring. There were some really exceptional ones.

This year’s transformations sound great fun: turning a BBQ apron into a bag, Mexican oil tablecloths into a structured garment…

That was fabulous. Yeah, they were amazing, the dresses they made. Well, Mexico Week in general was just brilliant. We learned so much. The guest judge we had, Erika, was incredible, so well informed. She created really beautiful and authentic Mexican clothing that I knew nothing about. You see all these colours and things, but you don’t really know the origins of where it comes from, so that was really fascinating. And then for the transformation challenge, they made some fantastic outfits out of those bright waxy tablecloths.

They’re not the easiest thing to make anything out of, are they? They’re quite stiff…

Yeah, but they were brilliant. Absolutely fabulous. Unique. Things you could wear to Mighty Hoopla [pop festival] or something like that. They did really well.

Something else new is the pairs and team challenges. As pairs, they transformed windsurfing sails into a two-piece and, in teams, they had to dress a girl band in outfits made from bedroom textiles…

What I found really interesting is who worked well as a team and who seemed to work as separate entities. Some pairs were really working and creating together. Some people felt like they were kind of on different pages. That’s always interesting to see. And then to see the result after that. And the girl bands challenge was just really fun. A silly, playful thing for them to do, really.

What about other made-to-measures?

The kid’s superhero costume was lovely – a really fun challenge. You can really let your imagination run wild with that.

And a fancy dress costume is something a lot of mums or dads or grandparents at home will have to attempt at some point…

Yeah. Mind you, I think it might be a bit more DIY than what the sewers were doing. They did such complicated things. The Regency dresses, too. They were beautiful as well.

Yes, the made-to-measure outfit inspired by Jane Austen in Literary Icons Week. Obviously, Bridgerton – set in the same period – is a very big show on Netflix at the moment, too…

Yeah. There were some that felt more Bridgerton. The colours were brighter and they had more of a modern take. One of them had very much their own style – they brought that Gothic element in a bit, which was really cool. Everyone had their own thing and, as you went through the series, they got more complicated. It’s lovely to see them grow in confidence.

What can you say about the final?

I was so impressed. They did some brilliant things, you know. There were a few real stars and we saw those stars in the final. What was also lovely is just how supportive they were of each other – the real camaraderie. They all went away having made great friends – which is lovely. It gives a warmth to the show.

They do help each other, don’t they?

They really do. They were a lovely group.

How did you enjoy working with judges Patrick and Esme?

Oh, they’re great fun. I was so welcomed into the fold with them. Obviously, it’s all new to me and there’s lots of information and it’s quite technical, but I just felt so supported. They were both just lovely. And they’re hilarious together as well. They’re a really funny double act. 

Esme loves her music in the green room. Were you having a bit of a bop?

Yeah, every morning, dancing away. She’s got a great playlist, so I’d come in their room and just dance around, then bob off. We did have a lot of laughs, really, the three of us. It was a lovely little dynamic. Them two, I keep saying they should be on Gogglebox together. They’re just hilarious. And Esme’s just got so many stories. She’s lived a million lives, hasn’t she?

You only have to mention somebody famous and she’s met them or made them an outfit…

Smoking a cigarette with David Bowie at Notting Hill… stuff like that. She’s just fabulous. They’re both really fab. We’re all off to a quiz this month. That will be nice. They’re just lovely. I felt really welcomed and had really good laugh with them… which is what you need, isn’t it?

Obviously, you’re incredibly creative as a writer and an actor, but do you have any creative hobbies? Do you upcycle or do crafting or anything?

No. No, I do not. I did think, when I was there, I should get a little hobby, but life’s too busy. Now I’ve had a baby, that’s enough of a hobby, really. LAUGHS I like painting and collaging and I’m up for doing that more when Elijah’s a bit older. I do it with my friends’ kids sometimes. While I was pregnant, I did start going to painting cafés and doing bits of painting. They have cafés around London where you can go and paint for the day. Actually, when I was up in Leeds, they had this little pottery near the mill where we filmed. There’s a little café where you can go and paint a pot. I went and painted some dog bowls for my dog. I do like painting, I find it relaxing. Interestingly, my mum was a painter, but also she wanted to be a fashion designer. So, you know, as I was doing it, I was thinking: ‘God, she’d have loved to know about stuff like this.’

What was the reaction from friends and family when you took over Sewing Bee. They’ve obviously seen you in the Christmas special. Did lots of Sewing Bee fans suddenly come out of the woodwork?

There was a great response. I’m very lucky with my audience. They are really supportive and very engaged – especially online. Then, obviously, Sewing Bee has got its own audience. There was quite a bit of crossover with them anyway. They were excited about the series with me in it and then there was a new audience that have not seen me before. Generally, the response has been lovely. I’ve been lucky.

How would you describe your own fashion style?

God, I don’t have a set style. I’ve got different sorts of styles. I do like the 1950s classic dress look. I sometimes do a bit more 1920s when I go to awards shows. Sometimes, I’m more like a tomboy. I’ve got a mixture, really. I don’t like to sit just in one style. I like to be creative and not be stuck in one identity or category. I’m always open to trying new things with fashion.

What sort of outfits did you wear on the show? It’s harder to find stuff that’s comfortable and has a bit of personality when you’re pregnant, isn’t it?

Well, I had a stylist, Rachel Fanconi, who’s brilliant. She basically brought loads and loads of stuff to my house. We tried on loads of different things. Obviously, I was pregnant, so you’re dressing for a very different look and body shape. She was really creative and I got to wear some fabulous outfits. I was lucky. I also worked with Faye Sawyer a little bit as well, who’s also a brilliant stylist. While I’ve been pregnant, they have styled me for various shows and have both been amazing.

Being pregnant brings its own challenges in that you want to be comfortable, don’t you?

Yeah, definitely. I was wearing a lot more trainers. I didn’t wear any heels. I took heels up and I didn’t end up wearing any. Wedge shoes, yeah, but that was as far as I went. I was heavily pregnant by the end, it was getting a bit ridiculous. As the competition was going on and they were feeling the pressure, so were my legs. It was kind of crazy, but brilliant to do that show and have so much support from the production.

Were you in the midst of pregnancy cravings as well while you were filming?

Well, I actually was quite ill through my pregnancy. I had Hyperemesis [excessive sickness] so it wasn’t an easy pregnancy, which did make it sometimes challenging filming. But like I said, it was a really supportive environment and such a fun show. You become so invested. That made it doable.