Across ten clay packed episodes we saw 12 of the best home potters turn lumps of clay into beautiful objects, bringing the world of pottery to life…
After 20 tough challenges filmed at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke on Trent, it was James, 43 from Belfast who emerged triumphant as the winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down 2025.
It all began with ‘Holiday Memories’ where potters crafted salad tableware and sangria jugs, and moved on to celebrating ‘A Moment in time with a Loved One’ creating mantlepiece statement clocks and candlestick holders. ‘Children’s Childhood Toys’ saw the Potters making Noah’s ark with animals, as well as flowerpots and saucers. Next came ‘Naked Raku Week’ which challenged them to create bulbous vessels with naked raku decoration.
‘Nostalgic Shop Fronts’ followed, leading into a unique task of crafting ‘Vegetable Lamp Bases’ shaped like realistic vegetables. During garden week, they created bird baths and human face sculptures. Later, ‘Alternative Firing’ featured double gourd vases. In the semi-final episode, the ‘Hellmouth fireplace’ proved particularly challenging, as the potters stared directly into the mouth of hell.
Judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller had the toughest decision to make – who had done enough to be crowned Britain’s best home potter? For the final, they saved the most complicated and demanding challenges. The potters rose to the occasion, creating stunning Greek amphoras and tackling extreme throwing in a surprise second challenge. In the end, there could only be one winner to take home the trophy – and that winner was James.
‘I can’t believe it. I won. It’s an absolute dream come true to win. It seems like a fairy tale. And seeing my family there as well for them to experience that moment with me. It’s just really special. I have met some incredible people and some amazing potters, and we are going to be in touch for a long time. It’s just lovely. It is the perfect ending to this chapter in my life now. It has been lifechanging being on the show, it really has.’
