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00:01Amazing! Look at this!
00:02We started with 12...
00:04For all potters, Glaston is like our Mecca.
00:06It's our church, our cathedral.
00:08And over the last nine weeks,
00:10the potters have wowed us with spectacular ceramics.
00:13This is what the show's all about.
00:14From scrumptious soup sets...
00:16These have far exceeded my expectations.
00:19...to wonderful wall-mounted water fountains.
00:21Hey!
00:22Oh, look at that!
00:24They brought animals to life in 1,000-degree heat...
00:27Boom!
00:27Raku! Raku!
00:29...and tears of joy to the pottery...
00:31Just a couple of blokes crying over a jug!
00:35...as each week, someone had to depart.
00:38I would have been really good if you hadn't have brought me jug!
00:41Now for Finn...
00:43It actually blows my mind that I'm here now.
00:46Elham...
00:47Sleeves rolled up. Serious mode now, isn't it?
00:49And Anne Harrod...
00:51There's a lot of pressure, but it should be pressure,
00:52because it's a big deal.
00:54Just two challenges remain
00:56to decide who will be crowned Britain's best home potter.
01:02Welcome to the final of the Great Pottery Throwdown!
01:06To be continued...
01:17In the spinning world of makers
01:20We're all in the room to make it
01:36Would you have believed it if someone told you week one you'd be walking in here today?
01:40After week one especially I was like
01:43It's a dead heat approaching the final finish line
01:46Finn
01:47Featuring three potters
01:48And Harrod
01:49With two Potter of the Week wins each
01:52Elham
01:54After a nervy start
01:55And being new to the wheel
01:58Oh look everyone's just walking into the driving room like
02:01Elham has grown throughout the competition
02:03You seem to sort of improve every week
02:06You really do seem to improve
02:08Her intricate repeating patterns have been a regular highlight
02:11Your decoration is just extraordinary
02:13It's beautiful
02:14And the momentum of her semi-final Potter of the Week win
02:18For me you've learnt the most out of the whole process
02:22Sees her progression peaking at the perfect time
02:25There's a chance for anyone to win
02:27Like it's whatever you do this week
02:29But winning that trophy
02:30I am here for that
02:31Get me in the rolling slab that is
02:36Have you had to calculate measurements
02:38No
02:39Of course not
02:40Have you met Finn?
02:41For Finn
02:42Being the man with no plan
02:43I don't even know if this is going to work to be honest with you
02:45Has turned out to be an impeccable approach
02:48That is gorgeous
02:49Really really well made
02:51His aversion to making the same thing twice means he rarely practises properly
02:56Kind of just winging it to some extent and making it up as I go
02:58But his attention to detail has resulted in some astonishing bills
03:02It's an absolute feast for the eyes
03:04I think it's fantastic Lovie
03:06It's fantastic
03:07And a rare judges high five
03:09Coming around for a high five
03:11I can't even speak
03:12You've smashed it
03:13It's awesome
03:14Oh my gosh
03:15I'm ready in spirit
03:16But in usual fashion
03:18The ideas are still marinating
03:21Winning would be absolutely huge
03:24Mind-blowing actually
03:25I think it's quite simple
03:27But there's so much going on
03:28Simple?
03:29Really?
03:30With detailed designs and decorative work
03:32You want to get it all in
03:34Anne Harrod has dazzled the judges throughout
03:36It's brilliant, love
03:37I don't
03:38It's fantastic
03:40Despite struggling with second challenges
03:42It's just full-on collapsing
03:44I'm going to be last
03:45And self-confidence
03:46This could turn out looking absolutely horrific
03:48Looking inside herself for her portrait sculpture
03:51That is fantastic
03:53A celebration of you
03:55Finally showed her just what she is capable of in this competition
03:59We're going into the final now
04:01And we've all won part of the week twice
04:03So it's anyone's game, you know
04:06So I could win it
04:13Hello finalists
04:14Well done on getting here
04:17You must be so proud
04:19For your final main make challenge
04:22The judges and I would like you to make a model stage
04:28Judges, for the last time
04:30Any words of wisdom for our finalists?
04:32Well we'd like you to be inspired by the famous 19th century Staffordshire figure groups
04:37And create an elaborate miniature model stage
04:40It should feature a selection of characters
04:42As well as scenic backdrops and set furniture
04:45And we'd really like your stages to come to life
04:47So the figures and the scenery should be movable
04:50Give us imagination and wonder
04:52We want your stage to tell us your story
04:55Something meaningful that reflects your life and personality
04:58Now the majority of this build is a slab build
05:01But we really encourage you to give us as many skills as you possibly can
05:05So think about how you can incorporate coiling, sculpting and throwing
05:09As well as plenty of colour, sprigs and relief
05:12We want to be wowed
05:13This is the final
05:14Oh fantastic
05:15I really, really can't wait to see what you do
05:18Potters, you have been given seven and a half hours
05:22To make and refine your model stages
05:25And your time, for the last time, starts now
05:29Potters, get potting
05:33The final
05:35Sleeves rolled up
05:37Serious mode now, isn't it?
05:39I'm so excited to be in the final
05:40If it works the way that I've designed
05:43I'll be really proud of myself
05:44Because I've never made anything like this before
05:46Honestly, just really looking forward to today
05:48Probably change it
05:49Rip bits off
05:50Move stuff around
05:51It kind of worked until now
05:52So
05:55Rich, the final
05:57Here we are
05:58The challenge is so celebratory
06:00We've asked our potters to be fully inspired
06:02By the early 19th century Staffordshire figure groups
06:05And what a treat to have one right in front of us
06:07I mean, we're keen that their stages really come alive
06:10By way of individual elements moving
06:12Yeah, absolutely
06:13At least two movable pieces of scenery
06:16At least six, preferably more, characters
06:18One of them has to be them
06:20Because we want them to set the stage of their life
06:23And their personality
06:25All of this really wants to feel like a culmination
06:27Of all of their time in the pottery
06:29And all of the skills that they've learnt and picked up along the way
06:32You know, using the wheel as a tool
06:33Using slabs
06:34Using hand building
06:35We want to get a sense that they've used every single second
06:38Of that seven and a half hours
06:40It really wants to be a celebration of them in the final
06:42And a celebration of what they can do with the clay
06:45Well, the stage has been set
06:47Let's hope they put on a show that we really love
06:49Yeah
06:49And which one of our potters is going to get a standing ovation?
06:56Hi, lovey
06:57Hello
06:57Hello, Elham
06:58Coming into the final as our Potter of the Week
07:00Yeah
07:00Absolutely
07:01Well, tell us about your design this week
07:03It's called the Palace of Stormlight
07:05Sounds very extravagant
07:07Yeah
07:07Based on home
07:08Home can really be theatre sometimes
07:10Especially with Kith
07:11It's that real jump from, like, chaos to palm
07:14Yeah, how fabulous
07:15I notice here it says bottom storage drawer
07:18Yeah
07:19So
07:19A drawer
07:19I thought, how do I incorporate a support and something useful?
07:23So chaos will just go in there
07:26Elham's slab-built stage setting of a calm Sunday roast in the kitchen
07:30Will be shattered by the chaos unleashed from the drawer below
07:33Changeable scenic views move from a sunny day to a gloomy evening
07:37As her hand-sculpted children run riot around dirty clothes and dishes
07:41Spill tea and nappies on the floor
07:43What a lovely theme
07:45Yeah, how fabulous
07:46And is this parquet flooring?
07:47I will show you
07:48Oh my God
07:50My husband's a dentist
07:51So he prints retainers with a 3D printer
07:53Yeah
07:53I was like, erm, do something for me
07:55Some people are like, oh, where's my retainers?
07:57I need my next one
07:58And I'll be like this
08:00Elham was in the final, so, you know
08:02Well, look, good luck with it all
08:04Can't wait to see it
08:05Yeah, it looks great
08:06Thanks
08:08I've pre-cut some templates
08:09I'm cutting the slabs around
08:11And I've worked them out so that they should
08:13When they're ready to be put together
08:14Just slot together really nicely
08:16To create a stage worthy of their most important make of the competition
08:20So many slabs
08:21As well as cutting to precise measurements to ensure the correct fit
08:25The potters also need to make sure their slabs are the right consistency
08:28Slab building has a tendency to warp
08:31So I'm just praying that that doesn't happen
08:35As any areas drying unevenly run the risk of both warping and cracking
08:40There's no room for cracks this week
08:42It's the final
08:42But while Elham and Anna Harrod use slabs to build box structures in the form of a traditional theatre
08:48I'm hand sculpting some trees
08:50And I'm throwing the main body of the base
08:52Finn is taking his stage to the great outdoors
08:55My design is based between my family in Cornwall
08:58And my now inherited family in Canada
09:01They're on Marnie's side
09:02Mona and Jordie
09:03They're my cheerleaders from the other side of the pond basically
09:05So that, yeah, they've been amazing
09:06So I wanted to base it on
09:08Kind of like the Alice Through the Looking Glass idea that there's sort of two worlds
09:11But that we're sort of connected through nature
09:13Finn's reversible open air stage will sit on a thrown and altered base
09:17Draped in slabs and framed with extruded and sculpted trees
09:21Marnie's family will be looking at them amongst the sprigged engine houses of Cornwall
09:25Before changeable slab scenery see Finn, Marnie and their dogs gazing across the pond
09:30To alpine trees in a cabin by the lake in Canada
09:34Fantastic
09:34So how many moving objects do you think you're going to be doing?
09:37Are they movable as well or are they the...
09:39I haven't really decided
09:40Hey!
09:42Don't be asking such a silly question
09:44He doesn't know yet
09:45It's enough scope that if it sort of pops off during that I'll be like
09:48Yeah, it's totally movable
09:49That was the plan
09:49Yeah
09:50It was just last night that I decided I was going to throw the base
09:53It was going to be slab
09:54Brilliant
09:54Yeah
09:55That's my boy
09:55Good
09:56Well, look, good luck with it all
09:57Thank you
09:58We'll see you later on
09:59Yeah, it's really exciting
10:00Yeah
10:00Well, we're excited that you're excited
10:02Yeah
10:02Great, excellent
10:03It is, thank you
10:08The drying room is open!
10:15I need to put them in the drying room, let them firm up
10:17While structural pieces begin drying
10:20So right now I'm just throwing off the hump, I'm throwing my characters
10:24To be able to tell their stories on stage, the Potters will need the stars of the show
10:29So this will be Mona in Canada
10:31Just kind of making a really rough sort of shape, letting them firm up a bit and then I'll carve
10:36Some clothes and some stuff back into them
10:38I've chosen cone shapes
10:39I've chosen cone shapes
10:40Kids, husband, mum, dad
10:41Me
10:42Anybody else making an appearance? Maybe new best friends?
10:47Postman
10:48Okay, that sounds good
10:50Okay, that sounds good
10:51While the Potters all sculpt their own families
10:54This will be my best friend Luke
10:56And Harrod's story involves an additional one
10:59Luke and Josh, they're two of the people I met when I first moved to London
11:03I worked as a wiggy
11:04Wham! Wigs, hair and make-up
11:06In musical theatre
11:08Moving, you know, from my family in South Wales
11:11And going from, like, the countryside to, like, a massive city
11:14They basically became my family
11:16And my siblings and Josh and Luke
11:19They've all been individually just so supportive of anything that I've done
11:23And they think I can do things that I don't even think I can do
11:26Like, genuinely, they just have this belief in me
11:29And I'm just so grateful to have them in my life
11:31And Harrod's slab-built theatre wig room
11:34Will double as her Whitechapel bedroom
11:36And be shared with Luke and Josh
11:38Her first backdrop will be removed
11:40To feature a painted London skyline
11:42Which will then share the sky with her final act
11:44Coming full circle back to Wales
11:47And being reunited with the family she adores
11:50I love that same sky idea
11:52Yeah, it's the idea of, like, you might not be in the same place
11:55But you're all in the same place at the same time
11:57Oh, that's marvellous
11:58I'm going to be throwing the characters and the wig blocks off the hump
12:01As well
12:02Well, we'll see you at Christmas then
12:04It's really lovely
12:06But lots to get done
12:07There's a lot to get done
12:26There's a lot to get done
12:35Break a leg
12:36And textures to apply
12:37I've just got some lino that I've carved with a fake wood effect
12:41I'm just doing floorboards
12:42The potters need to utilise as many different techniques within their stages as possible
12:47We're doing slab building
12:49We're doing slab building
13:17Finn is a really creative, busy character
13:23Pottery
13:24Pottery he's only been doing for a couple of years
13:27And yet he just loves it
13:29I think what's potentially got him to the final
13:31Is he may not go the conventional route
13:34His favourite saying is
13:36There's no plan A without a plan B
13:37He's always loved making things
13:40He's always loved making things, doing things, trying out, experimenting and exploring
13:43To get to the final has been amazing for him
13:47So proud of what he's achieved
13:49Amazingly proud of him, yeah
13:51Take a good look, Dad
13:53Oh no
13:54Good luck
13:55He's always saying how proud of us he is of doing certain things
13:58And to hear him get this far is insane
14:01Like really, really, really proud of him
14:02So pleased that you've got to the final
14:04Yeah, I definitely wouldn't have managed any of this
14:06I don't think if you guys hadn't have been so supportive with it
14:09You know, everybody's just done so much for me
14:11I've been looking out for the whole tattoo studio
14:13But having to deal with everything, so yeah, he better win
14:17I mean, I love you
14:18I love you too
14:21So this is the tree layer for the Canadian side
14:25I've got one of the Cornwall scenes done
14:27But I've still got so much to do
14:29I'm making a little logo for my theatre
14:32It's like a little half-half mask
14:34With juggling hands
14:35To represent, like, just juggling everything at home
14:39My mum and Asana are at home each week having the kids
14:42So everyone is doing their bit to let me be her
14:46You know, they say it takes a village to raise kids
14:48That's my village and, hmm
14:53Yeah, family to me is everything
14:55Oh, you've got a massive tower of squares there
14:58Elham is, I'm using the word inspiration
15:01Because that's the definition of her name
15:03Her name actually means inspiration
15:04She's a great inspiration to our kids
15:07And she's an amazing mum
15:08I am not surprised at all that she's made it to the final
15:11Because I've seen how she's put her blood, sweat and tears
15:14Into every single stage
15:15She's regularly practised for the show
15:17And sacrificed being with the kids
15:21I think Elham needs pottery in her life
15:23To channel something within herself
15:25That I think, as people, we can lose through life
15:28And its ups and downs
15:29Getting to the final for Elham
15:31Is an affirmation and a validation of her hard work
15:35And for her children to be able to see her as Elham
15:40And this is her own individual achievement
15:42Is so positive
15:44Yusuf, which one is that? Who are you drawing?
15:47Me?
15:47Yeah
15:48Ooh, I like my eyelashes
15:50I don't think I can verbalise how pride I am of her
15:53Not only in getting to the Pottery Throwdown final
15:55But just generally since I met her
15:57I've struck gold with Elham
15:59I'm sure she will strike gold with the trophy as well
16:03This is for the cobbled bricks on the outside of the theatre
16:06It's lovely
16:07So, how do you wish me to address you now?
16:09Madam finalist?
16:11Queen, because this is a palace
16:12Queen finalist
16:15Yes
16:15I'll take that
16:15And you were Potter of the Week last week
16:17I was
16:18All hail Queen finalist
16:20Thanks
16:23My small moveable props are going to be wigs
16:26Being a wiggy is a very similar environment to this room here
16:29It's the adrenaline of the show
16:31And you're working with really, really talented people
16:34It's quite overwhelming being the final
16:37There's a lot of pressure
16:38But it should be pressure
16:39Because the reality of what it is
16:41It's a big deal
16:41It's a big deal
16:44Which one's earlier? I don't know
16:46I'm incredibly proud of Bangharad
16:48Of where she's got to
16:49And just where she's coming from
16:51She was always creative
16:52And when she was in London
16:54She just loved being in theatres
16:55And doing wigs and makeup
16:56But overnight she lost her job
16:58Because of Covid
16:59And when she did come back
17:01She was kind of like lost
17:02I think she has poured everything into pottery
17:04And it has been like an outlet for her
17:06Creativeness
17:06Life can be a lot sometimes
17:09And when things have been really difficult
17:10As well as my siblings, my friends
17:13It's been a known thing
17:15Like I can rely on
17:16But when I did the self-portrait sculpture
17:19That was the first thing that I made
17:21Where I was like
17:21Oh, do you know what?
17:22That's really quite good
17:23Angharad deserves to be in the final
17:25She knows she can do it
17:26But she doesn't believe in herself
17:27We know she can do these things
17:29But I'm hoping where she's got to
17:31Will hopefully make her realise
17:33That she is very special
17:35And very talented at what she does
17:36We're all just incredibly proud of her
17:40You onto wigs?
17:41Yeah, onto wigs
17:42Get all the fiddlier things out of the way
17:44And then crack on with the actual
17:46Constructing
17:47Yeah
17:47Fab
17:48You're all right
17:49You'll get there
17:49We'll get there, they'll all get there
17:53Batters
17:54Five hours gone
17:55Two and a half hours left
17:57Hurry up
17:58Oh my God
17:59That's not very professional
18:00Who are you?
18:03I am going to assemble
18:05Now
18:06I just want to really make sure that these fit
18:08I'm going to
18:10Pop the walls to join
18:11We need to come together nicely
18:13Slipping, scoring, slipping, scoring
18:15Their stage structures need connecting
18:17Before the clay gets too dry
18:19It's the time management between
18:20Making sure that stuff is dry
18:22And joining it at the right time
18:24Or they'll run the risk of cracking
18:26Or separating during firing
18:27I am doing a little extra with these joints
18:30I'm adding some coils
18:32My dad would be proud, he's a civil engineer
18:34He'd probably be like, you're doing that wrong
18:36There will be no stage if these pop off
18:39Because I've got no roof
18:40There's nothing there
18:41That's anything I learnt working in theatre
18:43Even if the stage collapsed
18:45The show must go on
18:46These are the little pockets to put the sky scenery in
18:49The moveable scenery is crucial to the success of their final makes
18:53I would usually try not to move
18:55Slabs as much as I have done
18:57So I'm just a bit nervous that we might have a bit of warpage
19:00If they don't fit correctly as they slot in and out
19:03The potters won't be able to tell their stories
19:05The backdrop panels slide in to be held up by the tree
19:09So it's like you walk through nature
19:11There's a theatre, oh my god there's an actual theatre, okay
19:13With their structures in place
19:15I need to carve some texture into it
19:17I want floral patterns
19:19The potters now need to add the all-important detail
19:22To complement their overall themes
19:24I'm just going to get a couple of these leaves put on
19:27So they've got a little nod to Canada with the little maple leaves
19:30So I have sprigs that I made from my husband's dental putty
19:34Nice cosy little fireplace
19:35Oh my god I've got to do all my blooming sprigs
19:38How are we going on?
19:39Chaotic at the moment
19:40I just do so many sprigs it's not even funny
19:42Do you want me to go?
19:43Yeah
19:44Yeah
19:44Can I leave the cameraman here watching?
19:46Oh sure, you have to
19:47Would a cup of tea be a good support for you?
19:50No
19:50Oh yeah, it's fine
19:51Gin?
19:52Probably worse
19:53Probably
19:57Potters, you've half an hour left
19:58Half an hour left
19:59I'm going to have sprigs all around the theatre
20:02The one I'm putting on at the moment is the first opera I did
20:05Which was Aida
20:05All the shows I've worked on have just really lovely memories
20:09This is my little campfire for the Canada scene
20:12What's left?
20:12You've done a lot of work
20:13Where's the ceramic drawer?
20:15It's there
20:15Oh lovely
20:16I need to put a little candle on it
20:17Oh, do you want to see my kitchen?
20:18Yes please
20:22That's delightful
20:23Do the doors open?
20:25No
20:25Oh
20:27That's alright, it's just the final
20:30This is a wig trundle
20:31When you go on tour with wigs or wardrobe
20:33You have a trundle which you kind of tore the wigs in
20:36How much time have we got?
20:37Potters, you've ten minutes left
20:39Use them wisely
20:40Ten minutes left now
20:42Oh my god
20:44Realistically
20:44It looks like I might have to give the stairs a miss
20:47Which is a real, real shame
20:49Alright, just be calm
20:51I don't have time to think
20:52So I'm literally just trying to get as much carved down as possible
20:56There's a lot of detail
20:57I still carve out
20:59It's the usual sprint to the finish
21:00Last minute support for the front
21:02Because without stairs I need something there to hold that up
21:05I do not want a wonky stage
21:06I'm just putting texture into some wigs
21:10I just need to get some last minute details in
21:12I'm just carving out some texture in the curtains
21:16In the last few minutes, seconds, whatever we have left
21:19Last minute potters
21:21Last one
21:22Last wig
21:23Start thinking about bringing your model stages into the drawing room
21:28Try and lift the damn thing
21:29This is so heavy
21:32Be careful
21:33Brilliant
21:34Well done
21:35Nearly there
21:36I don't realise how much these things
21:38Wait till you've picked them up
21:40Elham
21:41Okay
21:42Are you done?
21:43Come on now
21:45Fabulous
21:47Oh my god
21:48In this way
21:49I'll take the bottom
21:51Ten
21:51Nine
21:52Eight
21:53Seven
21:54Six
21:55Five
21:56Four
21:56Three
21:58Two
21:59One
21:59Tools down
22:00Well done
22:01Seven and a half hours of work
22:04Are you going?
22:05Yeah
22:06I'm not
22:08Well done
22:09I'm so impressed
22:11Potter is dismissed
22:13Oh god
22:13Oh god
22:14I just can't believe the make of the final challenge is done
22:17I can't believe that's just happened
22:18Because I didn't think I could do that
22:20But then I haven't thought I'd been able to do everything that we've had to do
22:22So I hope I've done enough
22:23Like I couldn't do any more in that time
22:25I probably am far too adventurous with what I think I'm going to do
22:28But hopefully it all comes out in one piece
22:30I didn't realise how heavy the entire thing was
22:32Up until the point I had to carry that into the drawing room
22:35And then went, well there's quite a lot later
22:37I'm happy with the amount of props that I have and the detail
22:39It's the main structure I think I'm most worried about
22:42Major cracks
22:43Warpage
22:44Just hope that it doesn't change too much
22:53It's the final of the Great Pottery Throwdown
22:56It's a wheel
22:57And Hidden Under the Hessian is the second challenge which will help decide the winner
23:01Oh
23:02That's not going to be an eighth run is it?
23:04That's not going to be an eighth run
23:07Welcome back Potters to your final second challenge
23:12And this week it's...
23:15A throwdown!
23:18You will be making a pot with this sodium silicate effect
23:23And to show us how it's done
23:25Master Potter himself, Keith Primer-Jones
23:27Keith, please take the wheel
23:29Okay, we have our colour and you've got three kilos of clay
23:33Centre up the clay
23:34I'm just going to go down to create my base
23:37And then start collaring it up
23:40You want to keep enough clay at the top to give me a really nice defined rim
23:45Just going to get the heat gun now
23:47And I'm drying that out before I start applying the blue slip
23:50If the surface isn't dried off enough, does the slip just mix with the clay?
23:54Yeah
23:55Make a mushy mess
23:55It does, which is not what we're after
23:57And then just start applying that slip
24:00And you want a nice even coating
24:03Oh, that's very satisfying
24:04It really is, yeah
24:06I'll then take my heat gun again
24:08You want to dry off that slip
24:12Now I apply the sodium silicate
24:14Get that brush really nicely charged up to give a nice even coating
24:18It's like a varnish over it and then it all starts cracking
24:23Yeah, once you've done that, back on the heat gun
24:27I want to dry this off so you can't see that sheen anymore
24:30The drier it is, the better effects you get
24:34But too dry, the pot will be too firm to actually get that bulbous form
24:39Dun, dun, dun
24:42Now I'm just going to form that outer shape
24:44So at this point you can't touch the outside of the pot because you'll ruin the effect
24:48So you've got to throw it from the inside
24:52It looks very counterintuitive to not have your other hand guiding what's going on on the inside
24:58It does and it is
24:59This particular process is really the main crux of this whole challenge
25:04You only have one go at this
25:06Well it is the final I guess
25:07Yeah
25:07Just one more
25:09Pull
25:10It's the beginning to crack
25:11Oh my gosh
25:12Ooh
25:13There you go
25:14Wow
25:14It's like magic
25:16What Rich and I are really looking for is a nice bulbous form
25:20A good purposeful rim and a really lovely effect that we've got here
25:24Fantastic, thank you very very much
25:26Alright then potters back to your benches please
25:30Now this is going to be judged blind so you know what that means
25:34Get out of here boys
25:36Good luck guys
25:37Good luck
25:38Thank you
25:39You have been given 25 minutes to create your sodium silicate pot
25:47And your time starts now remove the hessian
25:52We've got this
25:54Last second challenge never done this before but it looks fun
25:59Me and second challenges have not been good so it'd be nice to leave with one last good throw
26:04Are you happy that your final second challenge is a throw down?
26:08I'm kind of happy
26:09Yeah
26:10What are you worried about?
26:11Altering a form from the inside out
26:13Yeah
26:14I'll try my best
26:16That's bullish
26:17Then what?
26:18Pull up
26:19I've just got to get the form up into a cylinder
26:22The hardest part I think is just going to be getting the rim on there the way that they want
26:25it
26:26Come on, right, we'll just do this
26:30Okay
26:30You've got it up quickly
26:33Is this an effect that you like?
26:35I think it looks really cool, it reminds me of scorched earth
26:38Or my skin if I don't apply enough moisturiser
26:40Ha ha
26:41Ha ha
26:43He wants a nice rim
26:44That's the best it's going to get
26:46Sorry Keith
26:47Just drying it out a bit to get the slip on
26:49I'm happy with the shape, I've already started to get it to go out a bit
26:53Slip's going on
26:54I'm just trying to apply it evenly and just make sure that there's no gaps
26:57I've got the structure right, so as long as I can get this effect to work on here
27:00Then we should be alright
27:02It would be great if I could win this
27:04potters you're halfway through halfway through I can one layer down and doing
27:11one layer back up now and then was it dry again so that I can apply the sodium
27:19I don't know if that's enough I feel like I could do a bit more slip truth be told
27:23could do another layer okay did Keith do that no he did not and I know that's bad
27:28I just want you to know that if it goes wrong I will say I you can say you can
27:32absolutely say I'm just adding the sodium silicate it's kind of almost like a syrupy
27:38type stuff this is definitely another first oh my gosh how is it drying it looks
27:43to be all right I'm hoping where I started the bowl shakes I'm just going to follow
27:46that out and then bring it back in on itself I'll just go for it shall I I am
27:51now bellying out the pot what's going to be the hardest thing about this I
27:55obviously can't touch the outside of the pot otherwise it's going to ruin the
27:58whole effect of it just having to anchor my left arm off my right arm and
28:02it's just hanging in there you know oh my god I don't know how to do this how am I
28:06meant to do
28:06this like literally it's this hand that I'll use no it's not I've never done
28:13anything like this before it's quite scary can't touch the outside no no
28:18touching the outside my legs are shaking five minutes left potters do you have five minutes
28:25left do we have a crack there oh my gosh anyone got their crack effect Elham I know yeah I
28:35do
28:35Finn yes a thumbs up and Harry not yet don't let me down oh oh there is there is potter's
28:46final
28:47minute for the final second challenge I need this to be more bulbous kind of feel like I'm just gonna
28:53leave it like that I don't want to ruin it it's really hard to see the shape when you're so
28:57close
28:58you kind of want to step back and have a look but I don't have time I think I'm gonna
29:01go back in and
29:01try and get a little bit more clay out of the base ten seconds hmm eight seven six five four
29:09three two
29:10one well done well done well done step away from your pots well done well done guys please bring them
29:19up to the front Keith and Rich will now judge the potter's sodium silicate pots Wow isn't that
29:26amazing excellent and they have no idea whose is whose the sodium silica applications for it's
29:33really worth lovely cracking yeah lovely the rim could have been a bit more pronounced and if they
29:38just got bit more of a bulbous shape down the bottom there just to make the whole shape fuller but
29:43great
29:44use of the clay excellent moving on this is a really considered rim that's brilliant nice bulbous shape
29:49down the bottom yeah I mean lovely proportions between the bottom the top really lovely cracking there
29:54excellent last but not least a nice shape to it a lovely cracking there's a bit of a rim there
29:59could
30:00have been a bit more pronounced could have maybe just been a bit bolder just to give you a more
30:04bulbous
30:05shape but really really good effort well done the judges will now rank the finalists from worst to
30:11the first in third place is this one not mine yes mine could have just been a bit more bulbous
30:24but I mean
30:25brilliant effort so yeah well done in second place is this one nice bulbous form really really lovely
30:35effects on there nice bit of throwing so in first place Finn well done Finn well done lovely rim on
30:44there really competently thrown you started that bulbous form right down at the bottom of the base lovely
30:50well done cheers well done Finn congratulations but congratulations to the three of you Potter's dismissed
30:58thank you it's really exciting to get a win I was really happy with what it made and the judges
31:03really happy too so
31:04that's a plus obviously coming third gives you less hope but my main make might really be a wow
31:12you never know second challenge is done I just feel like now I just have to do a really good
31:18decorating job
31:19I just hope everything turns out okay it's day two of the final make the Potter's stages have cooled
31:33down after their first bisque firing and are ready to be decorated I'm assuming I've got pieces to
31:38decorate I have something oh it's still up right but how the Potter's bills have fared in the kiln is
31:45yet
31:45to be revealed the one thing I won't miss about this experience is that Hessian I never want to see
31:49Hessian again it's gonna be a hard one because all three of us decorating's I think I do want to
31:55win
31:55now like I'm here and it's like you know it's this close welcome back potters your model theatres have
32:04been bisque fired and are ready for decoration Keith any advice for our potters we want you to show us
32:10a wide
32:10range of decorative skills a cohesive plan is the best way to bring everything together successfully and bring
32:16that model stage to life don't rush apply that glaze carefully and make the most of all of your hard
32:21work
32:22just enjoy it and get theatrical theatrical music to my ears all right then you've been given a range of
32:28glazes and
32:28oxides and four and a half hours to use them and your time starts now remove the Hessian I don't
32:36want to
32:42and how are everything okay not as bad as I thought it could have been that's the spirit
32:47Finn there's a crack along that back panel but nothing too bad I don't think okay Elham a little bit
32:54of a
32:55crafting the base but nothing horrific fantastic well done everyone happy decorating yeah that makes
33:02me happy seeing these together what I'm more nervous about is that we've got major warping on my slabs
33:08this is meant to go in god just I mean it's not flushed to the ground but it's not terrible
33:17I've just
33:18got to decorate them all now to help bring their stages to life oh wow that is thick
33:23the potters have a table full of colorful underglazes and oxides I think with this everything
33:29could have a slight blue undertone to it I'm hoping to go real with the decoration curtains being red and
33:35things like that hi lovey it's all happening here it's all happening look at that oh okay I'm hoping
33:40to just lodge one of these in for the sky underneath what's happening up here this is to represent the
33:45juggling of life and my love and family life and see what you're doing there and I'm gonna give it
33:49every single bit of me that I can now I think it's brilliant you're still here it's amazing yeah me
33:55too because I only batch cooked for three weeks I was like don't worry guys I'll be home the cracks
34:00are gonna get bigger in the next firing but I can decorate what I've got hello Angharad hello how are
34:05you doing okay what's your plan you've got the oxides I've got this I'm gonna be sponging ombre where
34:11you blend in between everything and if you waxed this so I've latexed latex then I'll peel the latex off
34:16I'm gonna be doing some bubble glazing as well so you're gonna be adding soap into the glaze and
34:21blowing it with a straw to create bubbles it's for my wigs more than anything I love the fact
34:25that you've remained ambitious it's the final yeah just to let you know guys an hour has gone
34:32how nice we never get that from you what a treat my strategy is focus on small things and then
34:40give
34:40that loads of love while Elham is focusing on delicate detailing painting oxides and underglazes
34:46darker wiping them back painting more on wiping those back yeah it's a lot of work it's not just
34:50painting it all once Vin and Anharad have started with the bigger picture do you know what I'm just
34:54enjoying it too much but equally I do need to finish what I'm doing you've done a lot it feels
35:01like it
35:02you've enjoyed it here though I've absolutely loved it oh god it's been so much fun can I talk to
35:06you
35:07about your autism I imagine things that you have thought haven't been a good trait are actually very
35:12helpful yeah not having a plan balances I my ability to understand time the things that I can't control
35:19I just have to not think about and I think that has given me the sort of internal peace that
35:25for so
35:25long I didn't have great well that is beautiful to hear and also very fortuitous because this show
35:30is now uh the great dance-offs then I would not be in the final neither would I I am
35:37planning to
35:37slip trail the parts and the outfits on their characters my kids are everything to me the hard
35:43work that nothing so I've painted my Whitechapel high street scene this is a view from the farm that
35:49I grew up on they were really happy memories when I look back like how lucky we were to be
35:55so close to
35:55see and to have animals around us all the time so lucky so this is Mona and Jordy in Canada
36:02it's been
36:02a real privilege actually to be accepted into their family since Marnie and I've been together they've
36:08been over once for the last five years we've been trying to get out to Canada hopefully next year is
36:13the year that we can go potters please don't say an hour because that will be a shock one hour
36:20left
36:22100% need to speed up to get this all done do you like my roast dinner I love your
36:25roast
36:26dinner making you hungry I am a bit hungry actually I love a nice carrot I'm still working
36:30on the background pieces everything is really detailed but I think I'm actually doing okay
36:34for time they may be my famous last words this is a wig trundle and I've got a bed growing
36:39up I
36:39would do all of my artwork in my bedroom so I hope that the judges see like the sentimentality all
36:45my
36:45small pieces are done I'm just imagining that pot of red at the front of the theater I need to
36:50sit
36:51down and watch finishing off my little cottage and around the deer and stuff there's just lots
36:56of little black lines that I've added in they're subtle but they're there now that I've done the
37:00wood floor it looks quite cute are you painting the wooden floor brown gray gray yeah it's kind of
37:05like contemporary oh the contemporary theater with the crack in the floorboards yes I know it will
37:09go in moody so once I wipe this back I'm going to put a layer of brown underglaze on hopefully
37:15just
37:15blend together so it's not too stark this time call is going to stress me out potters you've half an
37:21hour left so you've still got all your characters to do I'm a bit behind but I can do it
37:26it's fine
37:27okay oh god I am dabbing on some oxide onto the bricks and the other side of the scenery it
37:34like sits in all the premises and stuff it's really nice I'm going to use the mono printing so I'm
37:39just going to paint paper with some underglaze and then press it on top of the clay the damp
37:45will pull it off the sheet and transfer it onto the clay I need to actually decorate some people
37:50now don't I so I've got me I've got my older brother my younger brother my sister and then
37:54my two best friends Luke and Josh no pressure I am just scraping off the black glaze tonight's
38:00performance chaos seven o'clock who is that that's my old brother is that my older brother no I don't
38:07know who that is okay mono printing this works right potters that's 10 minutes left okay I think
38:13I'm actually just going to glaze everything transparent glaze while milky in appearance
38:17when applied you're glazed oh you're not glazed we'll create a glossy finish and add pop to the
38:23potter's decoration once fired the drawer is going to be underneath the theater so if it does slump it
38:29want any glaze under that I'm peeling the latex off oh one minute left now this literally snapping
38:37it on just a couple of trees then it should be done yeah promise me yeah don't break my heart
38:42this is definitely the closest I've got to not finishing just 10 seconds left really
38:48I have no idea what's going on and that's it brushes down step away from your model theaters
38:55well done that was the last time and harrod what are you thinking so now think i'm in shock
39:02well for the last time potter's dismissed off you go it's mad that we've just done that i know
39:10that was absolutely bonkers final make is done praying not for more cracks i did absolutely
39:17everything i could with that time like every little minute of it i've left my little drawer
39:22under there perfect i'd like to win that would be lovely you never know just pray that that stays
39:28in one piece and we'll see how are you feeling exhausted i honestly don't know if i could be the
39:35winner i don't know i couldn't have done any more basically it'll be that anxious weight of what
39:39kiln gods have got in store for us guys last time it's judgment day the stages have undergone
39:54their final firing and for the potters there's nothing more they can do i am excited to see my
39:59final make dream scenario no more warping no more cracking but i know i did my best i think it's
40:06anxiety and excitement in equal measure on this front because the end could be that i'm the winner
40:10and that would just really be the the cherry on top of what's been an amazing experience i'm really
40:16looking forward to seeing my piece now stand in front of the judges for the last time present your
40:21work for the last time like it has been daunting but today i'm going to do it with pride because
40:26it's
40:26my last piece and i'm like do you know what i'm proud of this journey i'm proud of what i
40:30made and
40:30here you go wow there are some more cracks that have opened up massive crack have you i think we've
40:41all got some cracks yeah massive crack but actually it's still really cute so i'm happy
40:53your model theaters look absolutely amazing i cannot wait to see them so i'll stop talking
40:59let's get on with the judging shall we yeah elham if you could please bring your model stage up to
41:04the
41:18judges are you pleased with how it's you know honestly i'd say it's the proudest piece that i've
41:24made here but it's also the most heartbreaking too to see that crack in it well look we're going to
41:30skirt
41:30over the crack we'll put a carpet in the middle of the room a rug do you know why because
41:36there's
41:37so much detail there's so much to look at there's so much to think about it's amazing look at that
41:45yes i mean this is the thing i think we're always our own worst critics and yes you've got one
41:52stress
41:52crack a little bit of a craft in the bay well two minor stress cracks but that can't take away
41:57from the
41:57beauty you've injected into this stage there is so much in here that you should be so proud of i
42:02want the roast dinner yeah you've even put a board around every single plate on the table that is a
42:08beautiful object they both are they are exquisite i mean who does that well elham does yeah and this
42:14is such a wonderful scene both of them and the fact that you've kept them matte it looks like theater
42:19canvas the scenery for the next scene is in the draw this is the car yeah can we have a
42:23look at the chaos
42:24chaos go on give us chaos does this go the other way around yeah they go the dark way around
42:29use
42:29their phones off the chandelier of course so it's nappies all over the place there's a spilt tea
42:34there's a pile of dishes and there's dirty ones that's reality isn't it yeah that's a lovely simple
42:40process to do but really really effective i mean everything is so immediately recognizable i can't
42:46believe you've got this much done in that time me neither yeah it's really really lovely lovely thank
42:52you very much well done thank you well you know what finn the thing that you notice most about
43:07your stage is detail we've seen your attention to detail on surface throughout this whole process
43:12and this is just the very definition of you really it's really really wonderful yeah it's just fab it's
43:18just got such energy and i like the fact you've flipped the whole idea on its head why shouldn't
43:22a stage be out in the woods i mean it's a shame that yeah you've got a bit of a
43:26stress crack but
43:27it's just got such a lovely atmosphere about it it feels like you're in a woodland and you've got this
43:33lovely little fire i mean the fire that was gone it is beautiful it's just amazing how everything is
43:39part of the same field even though you've sort of thrown oxides on here and you've got mono printing
43:43it just works the color brings it all together this could be a brooch in itself i mean maybe on
43:49your
43:49jacket it's just incredible yeah i could wear that no maybe more of a medallion and finn how many
43:54scenes have you done then um there's two scenes right the idea is the canadians they would be
43:58looking back into the scene at us in cornwall and then vice versa and then they go in there looking
44:04out at us and then we look back in at them act two just really fabulous i love the way
44:08that you've
44:09managed to sort of incorporate the characters within the whole scene there's not much to them but what there
44:14is is detail but what's impressing me most about it is a real sense of your style it's almost like
44:21a culmination of all the weeks before coming into this i could look at it time and time again it's
44:27really really wonderful thank you well done thank you so much fun cheers are you pleased with it
44:44i'm really really happy besides the warping and massive crack down the middle it's a genre in
44:51there's a reason why ceramic pings it's the tension yeah and you've got these two columns and it's just
44:58going yeah yeah well look your sense of style and your sense of playfulness it's just absolutely a
45:06complete and utter celebration and it tells that story of who you are and i just i love it yeah
45:12it's like
45:13your creative style just oozes out of you and it kind of penetrates every aspect of what you make
45:19i mean this is beautiful when you look at it you can see layers of different colors and surface and
45:24the texture on the stage beautiful there's so many different techniques you've employed on each and every
45:30aspect that makes them feel individually loved somehow you can tell that you've put real heart into it
45:35wow god that london scene that's fantastic it looks like a backdrop that would be painted in a theater
45:42that comes out as well so it goes really stripped back and then it's just the four of us down
45:48on the
45:48farm we don't have a lot of photographs of us all together as kids and that's one that we do
45:53have and
45:53here you are and you're making it in three dimensions and as you're making it you're just thinking about all
45:59those people that you love in your life i love it and look this goes for all of you folks
46:03you've covered
46:04everything and you've really thought of every single bit of detail this particular challenge for
46:10the final is just so fitting because it enables you to give us your stories but to give us all
46:15that
46:16incredible detail and this is just brilliant really really cool it really is well done thank you so
46:22much thank you oh it's a workout well done thank you really lovely i'll take those lovely words away
46:31with me and just remember that when i have wobbles when i make it it would be lovely to win
46:36but i don't
46:36know what way it's gonna go it's up to the judges and thank god i'm not one of them because
46:41i don't know
46:41what i'd do i'm hoping i've done enough but i've just lifted that really heavy thing
46:45up there i'm not sure how good my arms are going to be for carrying a trophy today but yes
46:50it would
46:50be amazing if it could be me i'd be absolutely elated if i won i can't say good things about
46:55myself i really really struggle but i can look at that piece and think wow i have definitely grown
47:00i'll take so much away from this it'd be nice to take the trophy too they're all just extraordinary
47:05aren't they they really are they really are my gosh what a final what a great challenge actually
47:14yeah so much of themselves in what they've made and with such incredible detail exactly so anne harrods
47:21let's talk about her extraordinary stage there were so many different decorative techniques on display
47:27she didn't rest on her laurels in any way she really pushed herself she doesn't even know where
47:32her laurels are no no to rest on them she's always pushing herself yeah aside from that crack the quality
47:38of the making was outstanding and that backdrop on the stage looked like a backdrop you'd find in a
47:44theatre you also mentioned that elham's inserts looked as if they were printed on canvas how do you
47:50think she did this week again incredibly well incredibly detailed work she did have a fairly substantial
47:56structural crack in the stage but you could have taken any individual object out and it would have
48:01been intricately decorated the yorkshire puddings those vases everything was just finished off
48:07meticulously it was a culmination of what she's good at in the final which was brilliant to see
48:13let's talk about finn now it is worth pointing out that finn did come first in the second challenge
48:18yeah he did and attention to detail with form is what his main make was all about exactly it felt
48:23like a really well thought out stage and all the components felt like they'd been treated with an
48:28equal amount of love it really all came together for finn aesthetically almost structurally and
48:33decoratively it was just brilliant well it's always a serious decision but it's extra serious this week
48:39do you have a winner i think i do yeah yeah i think so and i think it's the same
48:43as him yeah okay well
48:45i cannot wait to hear who it is as our finalists await the judge's decision their family friends
48:57and past potters are here to cheer them on it's so nice to be back it's just been amazing being
49:03back
49:03here isn't it seeing everybody do i have a favorite i mean they're all really really beautiful i mean
49:09finns is extraordinary the illustrative quality you can bring to clay is magical oh it's difficult
49:14isn't it i think my money is on ang harrod i knew exactly that finn and ang harrod would be
49:19in the
49:19final because they're supremely talented i didn't know about the third one but i'm delighted it's elham
49:25because she's just really pulled it out the bag every time she's just amazing yeah i think it's going
49:31to be a really difficult thing for the judges to pick from those three examples there i wish they could
49:35all win honestly they're all so good hello everyone it's so wonderful to see you all and so many of
49:51you all this year it's it's brilliant to have you here now the moment you've all been waiting for please
49:57give a very warm welcome to our three extraordinary finalists please welcome
50:03and harrod elham and finn oh i cannot tell you how wonderful it's been to have you here and thank
50:22you to the three of you for your incredible work and for making this final really quite spectacular
50:28but the results are in this year's winner of the great pottery throwdown is
50:46yes
50:47finn
50:53oh my god
50:59Oh! I'm so proud!
51:02Oh, my darling!
51:05This belongs to you. Well done, really well done.
51:08Thank you. Well done, darling. Well done.
51:10Thank you. Well done.
51:11Absolutely wonderful achievement.
51:13Honestly, I'm absolutely dumbstruck.
51:16Like, I'm...yeah.
51:22That's crazy.
51:26That lot over there encouraged me to even give this a go.
51:29If they hadn't, I wouldn't be here now.
51:31So incredibly proud.
51:32I've always known he's got an incredible talent,
51:35and I think he's incredible.
51:38Amazing!
51:40Oh, you did so well.
51:42Super proud of myself.
51:43And it's so nice to have my brother and my sister here.
51:46They get to see, like, that final piece
51:48and see how much they mean to me.
51:49Oh, you're incredible.
51:52We've all shown our strengths in different ways,
51:54and Finn has been a very strong maker throughout,
51:57so hats off to him, because, like, it is deserved.
51:59It is deserved.
52:00Do you know what? You're all women winners.
52:02Yeah, no, everyone. We've all been on the journey together.
52:05It's been lovely. What a way to finish.
52:08Genuinely well-deserved.
52:09Like, Finn's really, like, give it his all every week,
52:12and, yeah, well done.
52:15Congratulations.
52:16Oh, thank you so much.
52:16Absolutely extraordinary.
52:18Finn has been consistent all the way through.
52:21There are skills that are taught and that you can learn
52:23and you can hone over time,
52:25but he just has it in him.
52:27And in the final, he just produced the most extraordinary,
52:30extraordinary piece that spoke bucket loads about his skills,
52:34his creativity and his personal stories.
52:37What makes Finn really stand out and be a worthy winner
52:41is his attention to detail, his observational skills
52:44at being able to observe a particular surface
52:47and recreate it in clay.
52:49He's just a credit to creativity.
52:51He really is.
52:53And, well, need I say any more?
52:55Finn's the winner.
52:56Do you know what?
52:57I think I've learnt that, actually,
52:59I'm a little bit more in control of myself
53:01than I thought I was.
53:03And if I put the effort in, I can achieve stuff,
53:06so it's going to take me some time to process this,
53:08that's for sure, but this means a lot.
53:10I am just really overwhelmed right now.
53:13There's no...
53:14There's nothing else I can say, to be honest with you.
53:26There's a reason for the sunshine and sky
53:29And there's a reason why I'm feeling so high
53:34Must be the season when that love light shines all around us
53:42So let that feeling grab you deep inside
53:47And send you reeling where your love can't hide
53:52And then you'll steam it
53:53Through the moonlit nights with your lover
54:00Just let your love flow
54:02Like a mountain stream
54:05And let your love grow
54:06With the smallest of dreams
54:09And let your love show
54:11And you'll know what I mean
54:14It's the season
54:18Let your love fly
54:20Like a bird on the wing
54:22And let your love find you
54:25To all living things
54:27And let your love shine
54:28And you'll know what I mean
54:31That's the reason
54:36There's a reason
54:38For the warm sweet nights
54:40And there's a reason
54:42For the candle lights
54:45Must be the season
54:47When those love rides shine
54:49And all around us
54:53So let that wonder
54:55Take you into space
54:58And lay you under
55:00It's love you embrace
55:02Just fill the thunder
55:05As it warms your face
55:07You can't hold back
55:08Guys are you excited?
55:10Mummy's on TV
55:11Yeah!
55:12We've got something out
55:13Like a mountain stream
55:16And let your love grow
55:17With the smallest of dreams
55:20And let your love show
55:22And you'll know what I mean
55:24It's the season
55:29Let your love fly
55:31Like a bird on the wing
55:33And let your love find you
55:36To all living things
55:38And let your love shine
55:40And you'll know what I mean
55:41If you'd like to apply
55:43For the next series
55:44Of The Great Pottery Throwdown
55:45Visit
55:46Channel4.com
55:47Forward Slash
55:48Take Part
56:01To be continued
56:01To be continued
56:02To be continued
56:18To be continued
56:19To be continued
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