The Great Pottery Throw Down Returns for Ninth Series in 2026
Britain’s Favourite Ceramics Competition Returns
The Great Pottery Throw Down has returned to Gladstone Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent for its ninth series with a dozen more talents competing to be named Britain’s Best Home Potter. The series began on 4 January 2026 on Channel 4, continuing the beloved programme’s tradition of showcasing amateur pottery talent from across the United Kingdom.
The show’s return marks another chapter in a competition that has captured the hearts of craft enthusiasts nationwide. The Great Pottery Throw Down first aired on BBC Two from 3 November 2015 to 23 March 2017, was then moved to More4, and has been broadcast by Channel 4 since 10 January 2021.
Returning Hosts and New Contestants
BAFTA-winning actress Siobhán McSweeney returns as host with regular ceramics superstar judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller. The judging panel is further enhanced by guest judges including Nick Mackman, Gabriel Nichols, Jo Taylor, and Cleo Mussi, who bring specialised expertise to the competition.
The Series 9 potters are aged 28 to 63, and the six women and six men hail from Bridgend, Herefordshire, Sheffield, Inverness, Cornwall, Oxfordshire, Swansea, Merseyside, Folkestone, West Midlands, Hampshire and Glasgow. The potters’ day jobs include an English teacher, communication support worker, midwife, habitat restoration ecologist, tattooist, and art teacher, plus a former psychiatric nurse, university facilities and estate manager, actor and toy shop owner, and chemistry teacher.
What Makes This Series Special
Princess, a potter from Series 7, returns once again as the kiln technician. Her role is crucial to the competition, managing the firing process that can either preserve or destroy contestants’ creations. The format remains true to its roots, with contestants facing main make challenges and technical tests that examine every aspect of ceramic craft.
For pottery enthusiasts and casual viewers alike, The Great Pottery Throw Down continues to celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and the transformative magic of working with clay. As the series unfolds each Sunday evening, audiences can expect inspiring designs, nail-biting kiln openings, and the heartwarming camaraderie that has become the show’s trademark.