The Great Pottery Throwdown is back.

What talent was shown in the first week! The potter of the week was well deserved and the decision as to who was going home I completely agree with. They all seem such a nice bunch

Has Princess not replaced Rose?🤔

It was fantastic! I wish them all well.

Love this.
The winning set last night was fantastic.

ixion

Has Princess not replaced Rose?🤔

My mistake. I knew it began with a P.

James really was a cut above the others. If he continues like last night he’ll be a clear winner. But as we know all can change!

I thought the salad set challenge was a bit ambitious for week 1 but goodness, they were all very good.

Even the not so good were still very good if you get what I mean.

Princess has lovely outgoing, cheery personality which adds to the charm of the programme. Let's hope they don't take it down the Bake Off or Sewing Bee route and start introducing comedy stunts and dressing up parties.

Loved the winning set. I would happily use that - especially outdoors at lunch time in the summer.

Just watched on Catch up... Love it and this bunch are going to be good. The chap that won, his was fabulous I would but that Salad bowl.

Only on week 2 but Liv, Stephen and Jonathan may struggle to get much further as the standard is high.

Lovely programme all round.

I am enjoying the current series, loved the winning salad bowls on the first show. Siobhan the presenter has grown on me too. She is just naturally funny, not there to make silly jokes like the Sewing Bee ones.

I did love it but I m starting to find it so predicable why do stars if they get a positive about something keep doing it It was nice to see Keith get emotional once or twice now it’s just silly to cry every time, same with the splodging one item into the bucket
I just wish it was less choreographed as they make some beautiful things
I wonder where Rose has gone

I am just so impressed that beautiful things can be made from a lump of clay.

I read that Rose wanted to leave.

Natalie, Steve and James were all worthy of their place in the final which was one of the closest in years.
I thought James had blown it when one of the handles on his Greek amphora shattered during the first firing. However, so unusual and impactful was his decoration that he was crowned the winner.
The presenter, Siobhan and the judges, Keith and Rich, are perfect for this competition.
Roll on the next series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the final, and was in agreement with the winner. I got quite emotional.

Has anyone watched the series with Keith and his wife renovating an old Welsh chapel, now on channel 4 player? It is a huge project which will probably take years and hundreds of thousands of pounds which they don't have. They are a lovely couple, and so nice to each other despite all the setbacks!

As soon as Rich said vote with your heart I knew who had won.

I thought Natalie's amphora was ambitious and flamboyant but messy in the execution. Steve's animated amphora was clever but perhaps only really impactful when spinning. James's amphora married ancient tradition with pop art. That embedded flying saucer was inspired. Based on that and his equally inspired "cardboard" Hellsmouth fireplace from the semi-final made him a deserved winner.

Love this program. The last 3 all amazing but James was the correct winner. Congratulations to all 3.

I had mixed feelings about the final. It was clear to me from quite early on who the three would be in the final.

My reservation was that when breakages have happened earlier in the series the potter has been penalised. Having said that, the winning amphora was the most inventive with lovely original touches like the flying saucer flying into the side of it. Steve's amphora was beautifully made and finished but a more conventional take on the challenge. Natalie showed daring and skill but I preferred some of her other makes.

We often hear the judges mention “the kiln gods” so I am sometimes confused by what is a construction error or just bad luck.

James wasn’t someone who made mistakes very often (I think he lost a bug wing in raku week which is a very unpredictable medium anyway). Something relatively straighforward like a handle wouldn't have fazed him so I’m guessing this was bad luck, compared to say the crack inside Natalie’s amphora which was because her coiling was too wet and collapsing under the weight.

I thinks James’ talent shone through all along. Steve was a well deserved second and seemed to improve as time went on.
In the final, I did doubt if James would win as Steve’s amphora was well constructed and interestingly decorated.
I’m afraid Natalie’s wasn’t her best work, probably nerves got the better of her.

I watched a programme with Keith and his wife renovating a huge old Welsh Chapel into a home and studio. It seemed an overwhelming task but they rolled up their sleeves and tackled it with the help of builders. I wonder if they have progressed as the programme left us hanging a bit. It wasn't very homely. They used an old mortuary table in the kitchen. Each to their own but it made me shudder.

Nuttynanna2

I watched a programme with Keith and his wife renovating a huge old Welsh Chapel into a home and studio. It seemed an overwhelming task but they rolled up their sleeves and tackled it with the help of builders. I wonder if they have progressed as the programme left us hanging a bit. It wasn't very homely. They used an old mortuary table in the kitchen. Each to their own but it made me shudder.

The next series on the renovation is coming on CH4. They mentioned it at the end of the Throw down , but I can’t remember when it is.

Thanks J52. I will definitely be watching. They came across as really likeable people and so well suited as a couple.