06x12 - New Year Special

[bunniefuu]

What does the year 2021
have in store?

I, Joe-stradamus, can predict all.

For you, Patrick Grant,

I see a bright future.

You will judge many hems,

and great will be your effect
on women of a certain age.

For you, Esme Young,
I see only darkness.

The bows will never be big enough,

great will be the disapproval
and loud will be the tutting.

All right, well, who's going to win
the 3:45 at Kempton?

I have no idea. No refunds.

Welcome to
The Great British Sewing Bee.

It's party time!

In this New Year special...

We've got two hours
and you're getting changed?

I can't sew in this!

..four celebs...

Argh!

..who don't know
much about sewing...

I've never contoured a bosom before.

..get the party started
in the Pattern...

My baubles fell off twice.

Most Friday nights
that happens to me.

..saddle up for panto
in the Transformation....

I think you should get on it
and gallop off.

..and ring in 2021
with a glamorous Made-To-Measure.

It's going to get hot in here!
Yep, it's going to get hot in here!

But come midnight,
who'll be celebrating...

Surely the prize is mine?! Mine!

..and who'll need a lie down?

Oh!

Come here.

MUSIC: Tiger Feet
by Mud

# That's right, that's right,
that's right, that's right

# I really love your tiger
light... #

Joining us for the festivities
in our sewing room by the Thames

are...

Oh, cor, look at this!

..sitcom and panto favourite...

Oh!

..Bird Of A Feather Lesley Joseph.

I'm a very good knitter,

and I can sew, as in sewing
on buttons, as in doing a hem,

but I've never made a garment.

Oh, my goodness!

You know, when I'm nervous, I start
doing this. TV presenter...

Now I look the part.

..and former fashion stylist
to the stars Sabrina Grant.

I'm hoping that my experience

in fashion and styling will give me
a little bit of edge.

Did you make what you're wearing?

Yeah. Did! No, I didn't.

I wish I could say I did,
but I didn't.

Drag royalty The Vivienne,

the first-ever winner of Ru Paul's
Drag Race UK.

Starting out as a drag queen,

I was heavily influenced by Cher.
When Cher brought out a new song,

you needed to have that costume
for the next night, so I can

definitely run something up.

I'm not totally clear on how
to thread the sewing machine.

And award-winning comedy actor
and writer Sally Phillips.

I don't really know how to sew,
but I'm keen to learn,

so I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm not even lying for money.

It's party time.

Come forward.

Oh, my God, that jacket!

Hello. Hello.

Look what Santa left behind,
it's four celebs.

Welcome, all of you, to our
brand-new sewing room.

We are all in what is known
as a close contact cohort,

which means we don't have to wear
masks and we have a bunch of festive

challenges to test your possibly
minimal sewing skills.

Whatever you got up to
over Christmas,

don't worry, I won't judge you,
but Patrick and Esme will.

And they're here now. Esme, tell us
about the Pattern Challenge.

Right.

Pass it round.

Pass that round.
Thank you very much.

Can't see.
I haven't got my glasses on.

It's a pair of trousers.
It's a lampshade.

It's a child's party skirt
with elasticated waist,

two layers of net and a lining.

We've given you a selection of net
and lining in an array of colours.

Whether you choose to match
or contrast is up to you.

And we'd like you to add some
embellishment for a little bit

of festive sparkle.

OK. As you can see, to help,
Patrick is wearing his own

children's party skirt.

You have two hours for this one.

Good luck. Your time starts now.

Wahay!

Oh. I'm going to change
out of this.

Wait, we've got two hours
and you're getting changed?

I can't sew in this.

Whether it's glitzy, glam or
colourful,

our celebs need to choose two layers
of net and a lining fabric

that will combine to make
an eye-catching statement skirt...

A little, little girl would probably
want that, wouldn't she?

But that would make me vomit. ..fit
for the ultimate party princess.

Bit more sewing-friendly, I think.

Right. I'm going to go and choose
fabric before I do anything else.

I've decided to do purple and pink,
sort of fairy tale colours.

I'm going to play around with gender
stereotypes, pink for a girl, blue

for a boy. But I'm going to mix the
two together.

Don't really know what to do.
It's cos I can't actually sew.

I'm just playing for time.

So, I've chosen gold and the black.
I thought it was a bit festive.

Yeah, is it?

I am, in the end, going for silver.

I think the child would like it.

So, you know, I'm just trying
to stay calm.

Now, at New Year, I'm normally
eating cold pigs in blankets and
crying.

Why have you chosen a children's
party skirt?

Well, I think it is a good starter.

So, they have to cut out a couple

of layers of net to make the
overskirt. Yeah.

It's got a lining and it's got
an elasticated waistband.

They might do two different
coloured nets,

which will give it a kind
of shimmering effect.

I mean, we just want it
to look festive.

What are the main tricky
elements here?

Putting on the elastic.

They will have to stretch
the elastic onto that waist.

And that's quite tricky to do.

Well, these could end up,
like most children's parties,

really, really horrible.

Right, tackle this.

Who knew that sewing was
like trying to open a copy of
the Financial Times?

It looks pretty straightforward,
but we'll see once I get going.

It says, "Girl's party skirt net,
cut two".

This is the first thing
I've ever cut out in my life.

I'm sort of doing this in honour
of my mum. As I was born

just after the w*r,

all my clothes were made by my
mother, cos there was nothing.

She would love this.

Absolutely love it.

I have done some cutting out
before, but not for 35 years.

"What do you think, Sally?

"You look only 35.
How is this possible that as a baby,

"you were making your own clothes?"

I got my first sewing machine
when I was in school.

It was when skinny jeans
were first becoming a thing.

I'd take boys' jeans home, cut
them up the inside and make

them skinny, like little
carrot jeans.

I was quite entrepreneurial.

Hello, Lesley.

Oh, look, that's really satisfying.

I think you could have a little
YouTube channel here of

just you cutting through netting.

Ha, ha!

The party skirt is comprised
of four pattern pieces.

To start, they must join the top
edge of the two net rings

with a long stitch, leaving
a thread at each end.

These are gently pulled
to gather the net evenly

and reduce its circumference until
it matches the centre circle

of their cotton lining,
which is then attached underneath.

For the waistband,

a circle of elastic is stretched
around the top of the skirt and sewn

on with a zigzag topstitch.
To finish,

the lining is hemmed with
an overlocker and the skirt

personalised with embellishments.

Right. The net is cut.

Oh, this is such fun.

OK, so now I need to cut
out the lining.

The lining has a central hole,
considerably smaller than the hole

in the net, and is cut
from a separate pattern piece.

But The Vivienne... It's game time!
..has other ideas.

So, I've cut the lining out
with the net, due to time.

We're just winging it.

Oh! Look at that, big doughnut.

I'm just attaching the three
pieces together.

SEWING MACHINE WHIRS

How come Vivienne's already
sewing lining in it?

Cos it doesn't say about putting
the lining in.

Vivienne, you've got your lining in.

I haven't got any lining - yet.

Oh, no, I've got ahead of myself.

ESME: Well, good morning.

Hello. What are you up to?

I've just realised I've done
something very wrong.

What have you done?

So I didn't read that bit.
ESME GASPS

I just stitched the three together.

Also... Don't tell me I've
missed something else.

You've cut three layers on that
pattern rather than two

of that and one of that.

And that obviously is a much
smaller hole.

Oh, ba*ls. I'm going to have to
unpick the whole thing.

Oh, I've just seen who've you've
got on your arm.

I'm obsessed. Esme made
costumes for Cher. What?

I went to her house.

I looked in her wardrobe.

Was she fabulous?
Really, very nice woman.

I want to skin you and wear
your skin.

Oh, my God!

I am now going to start sewing.

I can't thread this sewing machine.

Oh, no.
You know what this means.

I need bifocals.

Off I go!

To give our
celebrities a fighting chance,

they've been given a crash course

in how to use their state-of-the-art
sewing machines.

It's a mysterious, magical machine.

First, they must negotiate
the long loose stitch,

which should gather their net
layers when tightened.

This is meant to just pull, please.

This is all quite delicate.

Terrified I'm going to break the
cotton.

I need a valium.

MUSIC: Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
by Baccara

She's going to play pin
the tail on the donkey.

Sewers, half your time remaining!
Perfect.

Oh, come on, I really shouldn't be

cutting pattern pieces out
at this point.

Oh, yes, sir. It actually looks
like a skirt already.

I think I've worked out
Sabrina is my competition.

She doesn't sew? I don't think.

She's over there like Gianni
Versace.

Hello. Hello.

So, I know that you worked as

a stylist for Taylor Swift
and Sam Smith.

Oh, yeah. But I wondered if you
fancy doing some styling for a

proper celebrity like me.

I thought I could go with this sort
of look. Sort of Vladimir Putin.

Oh, yeah. Yes? That's hot.

What about this one?
Oh. Love the fur.

Conor McGregor kind of look.
And I love the colours.

I actually think you could
really pull that off.

And this is my personal favourite,
the Theresa.

LAUGHS: You look so good.

I actually do the same dance.
Do you want to see the dance?

Yeah. Yeah.

Love it.

That'll be you on New Year's Day.

I'd go for that one. This one?
Absolutely.

Thank you so much.

Let's try again.

Oh, it's really taking shape.
That looks really cute.

That's pretty. It's like ballet
tutus, isn't it, for little girls?

Or a toilet roll cover.

I would love the skirt as a kid,
cos I used to rob my sister's

tutu. My mum would laugh at me.

Look at me now!

Instructions say they need to be 68
centimetres around the top.

This is so fiddly.

But I think I've caught up.

"Put your lining
underneath your net." Right.

Oh, I get it now. This needs to

line up exactly with that. So I
don't know whether I should pin it.

Let me consult my pin watch.

What's the time?

Pin o'clock.

Hi, Sally. Hello, lovely.

Because it's New Year,

we all like to do a few games,
so I've come up with a little game

specific to you.

Is that because your producers think
that the celebrity version

of this show, the sewing detail,
is not going to be that fascinating

to the viewers at home?

You've absolutely nailed that right
on the old head there.

So, because you've been in both
Alan Partridge and Bridget Jones...

Yes. ..I have a few words of wisdom.

I want you to guess which one
is Bridget, and which one's Alan.

Everyone deserves a second
chance - except Hitler.

Is that Alan or Bridget?
Bridget. It's Bridget, correct.

I'd rather have a job wiping
S*ddam Hussein's arse.

And that is Alan.

No, it's actually Bridget Jones.
Is it?

It's also what Esme says at the
start of every series.

After joining the three layers
that make up their skirt...

Ah, I have a lining!

..the sewers must take on the
waistband,

the trickiest part of the
pattern by any stretch.

Oh. The elastic's smaller
than the opening

that we have here. Don't even
know where to begin with this.

Should that have been the same size
as that? No, no, no.

We need to stretch this all the way
round, pin it.

And then when you sew it, stretch
the elastic out and sew it,

so when you take the pins out, it
pops back in.

And then, hey presto, it will do
its work.

# Wish me luck as you wave me
goodbye. #

The pattern demands the elastic
is attached with a straight row

of zigzag top stitches...

Stretch and sew, baby!

..around the outside of their skirt.

I'm going to stitch
this on the inside.

It might be different, but you know
what? I don't like big waistbands.

30 minutes, sewers. Ahhhh!

Sounds good.

Oh, this is so hard.

My zigzags are going all over
the place.

What you can do is put a bit
of sparkly trim over the top

that hides the stitches.

Good idea. Oh, no, I overstretched.

Ah. I'm too heavy handed. Sabrina,
That looks absolutely brilliant.

Thank you. Looks good from far, but
far from good.

Anybody know how I do the hem?

For a neat hemmed finish...

Switch to overlocker.

..our novice sewers must get to
grips with another bit of kit.

It's the first time I've ever used
an overlocker. I've got one at home.

I don't use it.

Gosh, it's never-ending.
What's going on?

Oh! I just realised the machine
does it for you.

I was rolling it and sewing it.

15 minutes, sewers! You're joking.

Look at this.
That looks really messy.

If I had the time, I would cut
the lining shorter.

But I need to get an embellishment
on.

Is that chainmail?

Hm.

What little girl doesn't
want a bit of chainmail?

Right, embellishments.
Oh, look, these are sweet.

I'm going to put that on,
I think that's nice.

So we've got some holly and...
LAUGHTER

..bells!

So I'm going to do a flower.

It's, like, uncharacteristically
tasteful of me.

Oh, isn't it pretty?

That would look nice.

How long have we got left?

Five minutes, sewers!

Oh, I need a drink.

Oh, my God. This is gin.

This is a dancing bell.

So, then when you jump up and down
at the party, you can make a noise

and irritate your parents.

Ahhh!

Oh, poo.

CLUNKING

That doesn't sound right, does it?
Maybe sequins is not...

No, let's not do that.

No!

Are you nearly done, darling?

So, so close. My baubles fell
off twice.

Most Friday nights that happens
to me.

I want a bee, I want a bee.

I need something. Oh, just anything!

One minute! That could be cute.

Oooh! A little robin sat on the
side.

This is like getting a real toddler
dressed. Putting a little bee

on really quickly.

Should I hide the mistake
a little bit?

Come on, come on, come on.

No. The bells are really impossible
to sew on.

A little cute robin can cover
a multitude of sins.

Needles up, that is your time,
sewers.

Oh, no, I've lost another bauble.

Bring your mannequins forward
or, should I say,

bring your party girls forward.

MUSIC: Dancing Queen
by Abba

Whoo, hoo, hoo!

Oh, my God!
LAUGHTER

Man's had a sherry.

They look gorgeous. Well done.

That looks like a shop window.

That's the first thing I've ever
done. Amazing.

# You can dance

# You can jive... #

Four party skirts fashioned
from scratch in just two hours.

# See that girl

# Watch that scene

# Digging the dancing queen... #

Lesley, I think it looks terrific.

Thank you.

Considering that this is the first
thing you've machine-sewn...

It is. ..I'm extraordinarily
impressed.

I think the choice of fabrics
looks great.

We see this little shimmer
of purple as we work round.

You've managed the overlocked
hem pretty well.

Your gathering is pretty even.

I have to say, I think
you've been very smart in putting

this sequin on, cos it covers up

your zigzag, it is a bit wobbly.
It does zigzag up and down.

Yes, but you've disguised it
and it looks very pretty.

Yeah.

And we've got a little bee.

I know. You happy with it?

Yeah. I am really very proud.

Great, you should be.
Well done. Thank you.

# Sing, little birdie,
sing your song

# Sing, you'll help our love along

# Sing, little birdie up above... #

I really like how you've used
the pink. And this turquoise gives

it, sort of, a 3D effect.

It's really pretty colours.

Let's have a look at your hem.

Oh, gosh. So, you did some of the
hem on the edge... Yeah.

..and some of it you folded. Yes,
the instructions said rolled hem.

Right. OK. I forgot that that's
the...

The overlocker does the rolling
for you.

That's what the overlocker does.
Yeah.

I'm wondering, is the robin
here to disguise something?

Oh, yes.

We've got a bit of a tuck.

It needs somewhere to perch.

Well, yes. There are some
imperfections. Mm-hm. But, overall,

you've made a wearable,
attractive-looking skirt.

Not bad. Thank you.

# Dance little lady
Dance

# Dance little lady
Dance... #

I love the fabric you've chosen.
I think it's really pretty...

..and I love your flower.

And you've sewn it on really well.

With my hands! Yes.

The gathering does look nice and
even. The hem... It's good.

The hem is good.

Now, the waistband's not zigzagged
on the top.

You sewed it on... Inside out.
Yes.

Well, I think it's better
that way round.

Oh, I say. I put it to you, Queen,
because that's too wide

for a little girl.

And, OK, it doesn't look
like the picture, but I don't

think it's worse.
You are persuasive.

Thanks. Very.

I think it looks terrific.

Whichever way up or down the
waistband is going. Thank you.

Thank you, your majesties.

# Don't ring-a the bell

# Don't knock-a the door

# Just come-a inside

# There's lots of room for more

# Don't knock at the door... #

I think it looks really impactful,
very jolly and festive. The gold

net works very nicely.

You just get this kind of shimmering
gold effect, where we've got

it in the folds.

This is very neat, your hem.
First time using an overlocker.

Well, I'm impressed.

The waistband doesn't waver
all over the place.

And your gathering is pretty even,
but not completely.

These ba*ls are covering up
a little flat piece here.

So my ba*ls were well positioned?
Yes.

Oh!

She does this every time.

There's a couple of pins there.

Oh! But it looks good.

The idea was there. And we've got
little baubles.

There was supposed to be more,
but I've run out of time.

Well, to get them on,
I think that's pretty impressive.

Yeah. Thank you very much.
Thanks, guys.

Esme and Patrick will now rank the

skirts from party pooper to party
princess. In fourth place,

it's Sabrina.

It was the quality of the hem
that let it down, but otherwise,

very well done. Thank you.

In third place is Sally.

Waistband.
It looks better, though, doesn't it?

It looks great!

Thanks.

There's always a family argument
at Christmas, we'll let you off.

In second place...

..Lesley. Thank you.

Beautifully made, very well done.

So in first place is The Vivienne.

CHEERING

Your hem was immaculate

and you have baubles. Well done.

You've all done so well. Go and have
a refreshment and we'll come back

for the Transformation Challenge,
off you go. Bye.

Thank you, judges.

Thank you, Sewing Bee gods, yay!

Let's get a brew!

I guess it came down to technique
and precision,

and that's how I'm shocked!

I want to take mine home.

I was really pleased. I might keep
it at home for a little while.

I just want to look at it and
think, "Oh, I made that."

Sewing is really difficult.

Zzzzz, chugga, chugga.

I don't even know what noise
it makes.

At the end of today, my challenge

to myself is to be able to do an
impression of a sewing machine.

It can feel a little bit
disheartening to know that you came
fourth. But I've let that go.

Have I?

I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine.

The stage is now set for our
celebs' next festive challenge...

..in the land of make believe.

Welcome back, sewers.

It's time for the transformation
challenge.

Every Christmas, I transform
from a beautiful human man

into a desperate and greedy
little pig.

But this challenge is strictly
sartorial.

Patrick, tell us more.

We are giving you a selection
of clothes from around the home,

and we'd like you to transform them

into an identifiable panto
character.

Oh, my goodness.

So, on this rail, we've got a load
of old clothes

to make your character.

Puss in Boots, Widow Twankey.

Cinderella. Why did you look at me
when you said Widow Twankey?

Did I?

We'll send the judges away now so
they don't know whose is whose,

but also they're going searching for
Buttons, so they can ask him why
they can't go to the ball.

Aw! Off you go, boys and girls.

ALL: Bye-bye.

90 minutes for this challenge.

Your time starts now.

# Prince Charming
Prince Charming... #

Right. Let's get this off.

ALL: Oh! Oh, wow!

Oh, my God, this is old tat.

There's no limit to the number
of items our celebrity

sewers can use.

Any skirts anywhere?

Yep, here's one.

And no limit
on their imagination.

Very inspired? Not yet. Not really.

The costumes could be for a panto
hero... Let's get a model.

..villain or even an animal.

Obviously,
the pantomime horse is the dream.

Is there a male model?

Yes, I'm here.

I love panto.
I do it every year.

Wonderful sets, wonderful costumes.

Everything is just glorious.

When I think panto, I think
screaming kids,

ice cream and despair.

So, Esme, we've asked them to make
pantomime outfits. This year,

more than ever, we'll be doing
far more in the home.

So, actually, we might have families
around the country putting

on their own little pantos rather
than going out to the theatres.

And I think the costume is
a really big part of panto.

Oh, really, really important.

I don't think it's going
to be too hard to make them

recognisable, because they're
iconic.

We have given them lots of different
colours of felt. Yes.

We've given them wadding. Net.

We've given them trim, fringing,
all sorts of bits of pieces.

What we want is to be entertained
by these costumes.

Yeah. I'm really looking forward to
seeing what they come up with.

What on earth do you think
they might use these for?

Well, maybe just some nice false
teeth.

The key to a good panto costume,

I would say, something nice and
eye-catching. Something a bit camp.

I don't know how to set
this up to model for a,

you know, horse.

So, that's just going to be
the front.

So that's cool.

And then that's going to be the legs
at the back.

So this one needs a tube to connect
the front and the back.

It's like the worst job
in show business, isn't it?

Like, the back end of a pantomime
horse.

This is my tribute to all those
selfless drama school graduates

sweating into their lucky
contemporary's behind.

I'm thinking Aladdin. So, some,
like, nice big balloon trousers.

This will make amazing, like, genie
trousers, this dress.

I'm trying to create an Ugly
Sister from Cinderella.

And the thing about Ugly Sister
is, it's gross.

Everything is over the top
and it's not beautiful at all.

So, we're going to be going for
a Cinderella before the ball.

So when she was cleaning
the basement and all of that,

and that's going to be like a nice
top and this skirt is going

to be covered in strips
of different contrasting blues.

Hello. Hi, Joe.
What do you think?

I sort of look like I was
kicked out of Little Mix.

Yeah. What are you making?

Can I guess? Guess. Sort of like an
Aladdin, Jasmine-esque... Yes!

This is a dress I cut in half.

And I think this is going
to have to be Jasmine now,

because... It's a crop top.
Because it's a crop top. Yeah. Yeah.

LOUD SQUEAKING

Sorry.

Keep it down over there, please.

This is the back of the horse.

My brothers used to call me
Horse Bottom when I was a teenager,

which was mean.

So, I'm just putting darts in the
back of this,

just to get it nice and snug.

She's going to be a sexy Cinderella,
she's going to be nice and low-cut.

Try and get some of this...

Just to add a bit of zhuzh.

Oh, she looks brilliant.
Do you know what it is?

Is it Kim Kardashian?

Sewers,
there's 45 minutes remaining.

ALL: Oh, no, there isn't!

So, this is going to be a skirt,

definitely the Cinderella scrubbing
the floors.

Cinderella, the scrubber costume,

before she gets to go to the ball.

I've sewed it up here, it's like
harem pants.

Jasmine can fly on that carpet

and not worry about her skirt
flipping up.

How are you getting on with your...

I don't know, Joe. ..whatever this
is. I'm here to push myself.

"Let's try and sculpt a horse out of
felt and ribbon," I thought. Yeah.

I found these things,
whatever these are for.

Oh, that's for hats.

I'm wondering if I can stick them
together and they'll make...

Hooves or something.

Hm, very strong. Yeah, hooves.

What were you thinking?

Nose!

Sorry, how silly of me!

This is kind of taking shape.

It's like one of them fly curtains
you put up in a door, doesn't it?

I'm not liking this.

It doesn't look very stand-out.

I'm not sure how I'm going to do
the hair.

The hair is the most important bit.

I could trim this tree a bit.

I would love that.

What can I do?
What colour goes...

I've taken bits on the back,
cos we've got to send it back

to Alan Sugar.
That is fantastic.

Right, I have to start thinking
about the horse face.

Just off to London to seek
my fortune.

15 minutes remaining, sewers!
Oh, my God!

Wish I didn't have this on my
back, look like a right...

..Whittington.

We have a waist!

Now, what am I going to put
these twigs on with?

I'm attempting to attach my
horse's muzzle onto my

brown furry jumpsuit.

I'm blinging it up with bits
from the haberdashery.

She's a princess, so she needs
a bit of bling.

Let's see if that stays up there.

Oh, you did go with the hooves.

Yeah, it was a good idea.

Oh, look, I didn't see the teeth!
That's so good.

There's the eyes.
Now I need to stick a tail.

This isn't too spectacular.
Maybe she has a heart.

She's looking for love.

Maybe she's on Tinder these days.

Five minutes!
Are there any ba*ls anywhere?

She doesn't look glam enough.

Jasmine, what do you need?
Speak to me.

I think it looks really
characterful.

I don't know how
I'm going to display it.

You've very inconsiderately not
provided me with a horse mannequin.

One minute, sewers!

I really want to add a little
bit of Christmas flavour.

Let's use the ironing board.

Yeah, that's good.

Shall I put a J on her
so they know it's Jasmine?

Back legs.

It's perfect!

It's looking a bit Cinderella-y.

Just a few rags, clean up her act.

Is it that way round?
It is that way round, isn't it?

Yeah, happy. Used the whole shirt.

Very good. Oh, the eye's come off.

I'll call her Ursula Ugly.

Princess Jasmine. Needles up!

That is your time.

Oh, yes, it is.

Bring your mannequins, or
whatever it is you've got, forward.

MUSIC: Land Of Make Believe
by Bucks Fizz

Come on, Jasmine.

JOE LAUGHS

Legit, my favourite thing on
the Sewing Bee ever.

Four costumes for four panto
characters in just 90 minutes.

One, two, three.

ALL: Mummy and Daddy!

Here we are.

The judges have no idea whose is
whose.

Oh, I say.

LAUGHTER

Oh, dear.

A lot to take in.
Do you want to get going?

# The land of make believe... #

I think it definitely is Cinderella.

Yeah. And they're her dusters
for cleaning the floor.

Yes, polishing the grate.

Well,
obviously this was a shirt.

I love the ragged edge.

I think it's really effective.

And I love these bias bindings.

They've chopped them all
at different lengths

and they're actually very well
anchored. I know.

Fits the stand very nicely.

Yeah, I think it's terrific.

MUSIC: Rock the Casbah
by The Clash

Well, it kind of looks Aladdin,
but it's female.

Sort of Arabian Nights.

And what does J mean? J.
You mentioned Aladdin.

Jasmine!

Thank you. Oh!

I love these trousers.

They're great, aren't they?
They're fab.

I mean, I'm sure some of this was
reasonably originally constructed.

Yes. Maybe it was a dress. And then
they chopped it in half.

They've made a necklace
with this sequin trim

and they've applied the same trim
round the waist, slightly kind

of belly dancer-ish.

The hearts have all been cut out.

That must have been glued. Yep.

But it works.

# She's a perfect 10
but she wears a 12

# Baby, keep a little two
for me... #

Look at the bum on this.

Yeah, she's definitely got...
Bottom. ..a bottom on her.

And a bit of bosom.

Do we have an Ugly Sister, do you
think?

It could be a Widow Twankey.

Do you think the branches
are attached or are they just popped

in the scarf? Oh, God!

That looks like an original top.

And they've used two different
colours of fringing

and they've created a skirt.

I'm just wondering
if this is just stuffed down.

I think it is.

You couldn't get it on a body.

You could pull it up and over.
And then stuff it.

Yes. Well, it definitely feels panto
to me, doesn't it?

Yeah. It's got all the bells
and whistles.

I think it's fun.

# It's pony time

# Get up

# Do the pony with your partner

# With a big boss line... #

Well, giddy up!

PATRICK WHINNIES

We obviously had a brown onesie.

They've used a pair of tracksuit
bottoms to create the hind legs

and, of course, they've created
the body using an ironing board,

which I think is incredibly clever.

They've used felt and wadding
and cap peaks for hooves.

The whole thing's
been really thought about.

And it's so amusing.

He or she is absolutely fantastic.

I think it's a she, because she's
got flowers on her hair.

OK, let's call her a "she" and all
she wants is for you to feed

her a nice carrot, Esme!

I think you should get on it
and gallop off.

I'm not sure I could mount it
with a kilt without being indecent.

But the temptation is strong, Esme!

Patrick and Esme will now rank

the costumes from the understudy
to the star of the show.

In fourth place is Widow Twankey,
or the Ugly Sister.

Lesley! It's really good fun.

Thank you. Well done.

In third place is Jasmine.

Sabrina! It's fantastic.

Really well done. Thank you.

In second place is...

..Cinderella.

We loved the dusters and everything.
It absolutely said "Cinderella".

Good. Well done. I'm glad.

Which means in first place,
our pantomime horse.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you.

Well, I mean, we can't congratulate
you enough on what is one

of the best things I think anyone
has ever done in a transformation

on this show. It's absolutely
hilarious and brilliant.

CHEERING

BLACK BEAUTY THEME PLAYS

Way to win!

Didn't imagine that would happen.

They've seen a lot of different
clothes, they just haven't

seen a horse's head before!

So when they turned round when they
said, "One minute left" and saw this

horse on an ironing board,

I was just like that. "Well done,
absolutely fab."

I'd work with that Ugly Sister.
She'd be great.

It was authentic, just
not incredibly well made!

It's been an epic day.

A lot of high spirits,
lots of glitter.

So I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh, thank God we got rid
of that lot.

Let's have some c*ck. Yes!

Welcome to All Bar Joe.

So, there's Sex On The Pleats.

There's the Cosmopolit-hem...

Oh, dear. ..which is very weak,

both as a drink and as a pun. Mmm.

And then the Haberdaiquiri.

I'll have a Haberdaiquiri.

Two Haberdaiquiris coming up.
Yes, please.

JOE MUTTERS SOFTLY

I'm not having THAT.

All done! Oh! Oh!

There you go.

Thanks very much.

You're welcome. Cheers.
Happy holidays. Happy holidays!

It's a new day.

I dreamt about your horse last
night, Sally. Oh, my God!

And there's just one more garment
to make...

Hello!

..before we find out which of our
stars will claim the New Year

Sewing Bee crown.

Welcome back, sewers,
and hello to our models!

It's Made To Measure time.

This week, the judges would like you
to make a New Year's

party dress inspired by your most
memorable New Year's Eve,

whether that's dancing
arm-in-arm with a loved one

or in a gutter at 4am,
wondering where your tights went!

You have four hours for this
challenge.

And your time starts now.

CHEERING

Right. Come here, gorge...

Our celebs have prepared for this
challenge in advance.

This will be the first garment that
I've ever made to fit someone else.

But to give them a helping hand...

Don't even ask me what I'm doing.
Not a clue.

..their chosen fabric has been cut
out for them, ready to sew.

I've got a notepad
with my instructions that I wrote

down for myself.

I may or may not have had a drink
while I wrote these,

which is becoming quite evident now.

Don't know what this
is supposed to be.

Or that.

A New Year's party dress inspired by
their most memorable New Year.

Why have you chosen this?

Well, of course, it's not
going to be normal this New Year,

so this is an opportunity
to look back on fun New Years past.

New Year, big party
night for many people.

Is that what you're expecting?
A big party outfit?

Yeah! Satin,

velvet,

sparkle, sequins - you expect
something glamorous.

But our sewers are pretty new
to sewing.

So if I were them,
I'd go for something

that was relatively simple to sew.

What I want is for the dresses
to be wearable and be something

that would at least survive
the rigours of 24 hours of serious

Hogmanay party action.

My last New Year's Eve, I stayed
up till five o'clock

in the morning playing darts.

Totally sober, though.

Yes. You panicked then!

This is the bodice of the dress.

It's just all so fiddly!

To start, most of our celebs are
tackling the top of their dress.

This is the first time I've ever
put boobs into a garment.

So this is going to be a challenge.

Outside booby, inside booby.

Yeah, outside booby, inside booby.
OK. Very good.

This is so complicated.

I've never contoured a bosom before.

There's a little notch to pin.

Hello, Lesley. Good morning.

What are you making?

I've chosen a ball gown,
Cinderella-type evening dress.

New Year for me
is panto time.

It's always terribly emotional,
because the audience and the people

up on stage sing Auld Lang Syne.

Oh! Everybody crosses arms

and everybody throughout... I'm
going to go even talking about it!

ESME AND PATRICK LAUGH SOFTLY

Only because theatre's gone through
such a hard time recently. Yes.

Lesley's fairy tale gown will
feature

a billowing net skirt over
a petticoat brought from home,

and a structured bodice featuring
a sweetheart neckline

constructed from eight curved
pattern pieces.

When I first saw the pieces,
I actually panicked.

Well, sewing curves together
is tricky.

It is tricky! Yeah. Lining
your notches up.

Is all of this terminology

new to you? Completely new.

So you didn't know what a notch was?

Well, I know a notch on a bedpost!

Sorry!

While Lesley's embracing the
complexities of a fitted bodice...

She's now going
under the sewing machine.

..Sally's taking
the opposite approach.

This is a very simple dress.

If you imagine a double duvet cover

with a tie neck, holes for arms,

and then, hopefully, two
Esme-bewitching bows.

One bow will run through a channel
sewn into the neck,

the other tied around the waist,

allowing Sally to adjust the fit.

It will also feature pockets,
and it's made

from a very personal bespoke
material.

My New Year's Eve memory
is having been recently dumped,

going around to my friend's flat
in East London. Yeah.

And then sleeping on her sofa
bed with her lurcher, Yuri.

Lovely. So that was your New Year.

Yeah. We really loved this dog
very much.

And so my friends had a portrait
painted.

This is a portrait of Yuri. So this
is a portrait printed onto a dress.

This is insane.

And then I thought,
"My work here is done."

Well, it's not. You've got to
actually make the dress now. Well,
I mean, you know...

Sally might be feeling
the love for her fabric...

Surely the prize is mine?

Mine, mine! Ha-ha-ha-ha!

..but Sabrina's not so keen
on hers.

This fabric is quite tricky.

Because it's stretchy, it just moves
around. Stretched velvet.

What was I thinking?

The material's
got a mind of its own. Uh-huh.

Would you advise this type
of fabric for a beginner sewer?

Probably not. No! Like me? No?

Right. OK.

To make life even harder,

Sabrina's slinky c*ck dress
has a high side slit

and a complex cut out back,

details which require
a painstaking finish

if she's to pull off
a winning party frock.

My New Year's gown is inspired
by this year.

There hasn't been a lot of moments
to really dress up and have a party,

and green because it symbolises
new beginnings.

So it's a dress filled
with positivity? Yes.

So only good vibes round here,
please.

THEY CHORTLE

Right, so there we are.

I've done two pieces now, ladies
and gentlemen, thank you very much.

I think it might fit like that.

I'm happy with that.
I wish I was that size.

Hello, there. Hello, Joe Lycett.

I love this fabric.

What says New Year like
gorgeous gold sequins?

This looks like looking
into my plughole in the shower.

Usually, it's full of hair.

Mine's full of sequins and glitter
and regret.

Well, three fabulous things!

Viv's glamorous fishtail number
has a strappy bodice with seams

under the bust to create figure
hugging cups, but her super-stretchy

fabric is giving her second
thoughts about one detail

of her self-drafted design.

The original pattern had a zip
in the back section,

but because of the stretch,
I'm thinking

I don't need it.

Just got this extra here where
the zip allowance was.

I just don't know whether to just
chop this... It's coming off!

Ahh! Say a prayer.

Lesley, can I ask you a quick
question?

So, basically, I've got an audition
for a part. Can't say what the role

is, but I just wondered
if I could read the line

to you and you could maybe give me
some tips on my delivery.

Right.

"It's all right, Miss Moneypenny.

"I shot the enemy agent through
the heart with my Walter PPK.

"Now let's make love."

How did I do?

I'd give it to you.

Yeah, I would. Do you think I should
try it maybe Scottish?

What about Welsh? Welsh.

And then give it a bit more body
language. Bit more body language.

INNDISTINCT ACCENT:
"It's all right."

THEY CACKLE

I can't do Welsh!

Welsh.

INDISTINCT ACCENT: "It's all
right, Miss Moneypenny.

"I shot the agent through the heart
with me Walter PPK.

"Now let's make love."

SEWERS CHUCKLE

Have I got it? Do you think I've
nailed it? No! No.

I don't think you'll ever
work again.

I'm so sorry, but I've got
sewing to do.

Sewers, you've had half your time.

Oh, couldn't have done this year
without you.

Come here.

You know, I'm thinking this dress
is so easy,

I have loads of time, but I probably
don't have as much time

as I think.

My New Year's resolution
is going to be to be braver.

Just have a go, because it doesn't
matter. It's like here, you know.

Some people'll think, "Gosh,
she's not very good at sewing."

Doesn't matter.

Enjoy life and try and make
people happier.

I'm starting to get a bit excited.

Just waiting for Grace to come
to fit it on her.

Before they can move on...

Oh, wow,
the colour really suits you.

..our celebs must make any
alterations

to perfect the fit of their bodice.

It was going to need a little bit
coming up on the shoulders.

OK, it fits, at least. Yay!

Although that bit doesn't look
too good.

Right? So, we try this on...

But after removing her zip...

Moment of truth.

..Viv's got no wriggle room...

Fingers crossed.

..if it's too small.

Oh, thank God.

QUIETLY: Yes!

Yes!

The shoulders were too big, so I've
trimmed so that they fit nice

and neatly. Let's have a look.

There we are! Well done!

Not bad.
That looks amazing, Les!

I'm sort of a bit proud of that,
actually. You should be.

Don't touch it.
Get your hands off.

Sorry. I have a top.

So, next for me, my skirt.

The skirt is going to be similar
to what I did yesterday.

I'm going to gather up the top.

I'm just trying to figure out
how I'm getting a full fishtail.

Trickiest bit of this dress,
because I'm crap at maths.

I'm going to do a cheeky
split in the side, Joe.

So when you're dancing, you can...

Whoo! ..get that leg out.
It's going to get hot in here! Yep!

It's going to get hot in here.

I've done some pockets

to keep your dog poo bags in.

Oh, Yuri!

The walks we used to take,

the poos you used to have!

Looks right, don't it?

It's my last chance to do
this in 2020.

It's been my favourite thing
this year.

You've got one hour remaining,
sewers!

The skirt is going on the fish tail,
so I'm happy.

I'm stitching the sides
of the dress together.

Looks like a frock, don't it?

VIV CHUCKLES

Viv has done, I think, a great job.

She drafted a pattern for the fish
tail, which seems

to have worked really well.

So, I need to make straps, which I'm
going to do now.

And Sally, it's been pretty well
constructed from what I could see.

I love her fabric.
I think it's got real impact.

I'm putting the bodice
onto the skirt.

Sabrina appears to be nearly
finished.

I think from here it looks terrific.

I am not sure how she's going
to finish off

the edge of the fabric.

Right. So we will see.

I'm just going to try and neaten
up all the raw edges.

I need to, like, make this not
look so rough and ready.

I'm pulling.

I think, at the moment,
it's going to be much too big.

Now, what's Lesley doing?
A net skirt.

Yes, she's gathering the skirt up.

The top looks quite good, though.
I'm quite impressed. Yes.

I am actually really quite
impressed.

She's still got a bit to do, though.

Oh!

I've broken the thread.

30 minutes remaining, sewers.
Oh, you're kidding me!

I'm currently neatening up the
armholes.

Why did I go for this stretchy?

I'm making the neck tie.

I would actually like to do a bow
the size of Esme.

She would look so great with one
and a half foot higher each end bow

on her head.

How's that feel on your shoulders?

Fabulous!

Give a little spin again.

I need to put on a waistband.

This is going to be the most
difficult bit.

Right. Has this worked?

There you go.

That's both my armholes done.

OK, so now,

anywhere that has a raw edge...

..needs to be hemmed.

# Well, hello, Joe

# Come and have a go! #

# You've got ten minutes left
to sew. #

This is crazy!

I am going to speed up a bit.

Come on, baby, give five.

The skirt has been the most fiddly
part.

I've hated this bit.

What on Earth are you doing?

A great, big, Esme-pleasing...
Oh! Oh!

Hello! Hello!

I just got to whoosh round the
bottom and then I think I'm done.

Hemming, hemming and more hemming.

Getting ready for a party.

It's never been this much fun.

Five minutes. Ah!

Five minutes.
It's a race against the clock.

I'm just putting on some Velcro.

I am flying by the seat of my pants.

Cutting it so fine,
but you will have a dress to wear.

I'm just going to whack this on.

Just the last little rosy
kind of thing.

Shall I give it one last press,
maybe? One minute.

Get your models dressed, please.

Right. If you take that off.

I didn't finish the hem, but
never mind.

Actually, it looks quite cool
like that!

Fits like a glove.

I'm just going to
quickly sew this together.

Five, four,

three, two, one.

Happy New Year's Eve dress.

Oh, my God.

Dog poo bags for your pocket.

It's time for a New Year's Eve
party, baby!

Oh, wow. Vivienne! Please.

# Gimme, gimme, gimme

# A man after midnight

# Won't somebody help me
chase the shadows away

# Gimme, gimme, gimme... #

Four dazzling
New Year's Eve dresses,

made to measure in just four hours.

The overall impression is
just absolutely stunning.

Gloria, you look absolutely
phenomenal in it.

Was getting a bit emotional watching
you walk down there.

I can understand why.

I mean, you've done
an amazing thing!

You drafted the pattern for the fish
tail halfway through the challenge,

and it works so well.

I think it's absolutely stunning.

Can I turn you around?

Across the back, across the seat,

it's skimming the body,
but it's not too tight.

And I think it's also clever
that you managed to do the whole

thing without having to put
any fastenings in it.

I mean, I was aiming for a zip.
But I think we just didn't need it.

Don't put a zip
in if you don't need it.

The fabric is so glamorous

and I love the little flower.

There's only one thing I'm going
to say. Go on.

This seam isn't under the bust.

It's too high.

But, anyway, it still fits
her really well.

And I could see that
on the red carpet.

Yeah. I'm just
so fuming it's not in my size!

# Happy New Year

# Happy New Year

# May we all have our hopes

# Our will to try... #

I think
this looks fab and it's sexy.

The green velvet looks luxurious
and festive.

The length of it is beautiful.

The overall fit is lovely.

Turn round.

It fits really nicely
over her bottom.

I love the slit in the side

and the cut out shape,

and the armholes.

The quality of the sewing
is really very good.

You have just given us a single
turn here.

So we do have a bit of a raw edge

and you haven't managed
to finish the bottom.

But this is a very difficult fabric
to sew. To make this from scratch

in four hours is incredibly
impressive.

I'm sort of blown away.

Lesley, it looks absolutely
phenomenal!

It really does.

It is graceful, it is elegant.

You've done a wonderful job.

It definitely is Cinderella.

It's not Widow Twankey
or Ugly Sister today.

No. And I am really impressed

how you managed to sew these seams

when you've never done putting
a straight to a curve.

Can I turn you around?

It doesn't quite match at the top.
Yeah.

You've put some Velcro in the back.
Yeah.

I think with a bit more time you
could have got that edge over

so we didn't see the Velcro.

You have assembled these huge
net skirts.

You're not quite lining up at the
bottom, but not far off.

No, they're not.

I think what you've done
in the time is fantastic.

Now you could make one for yourself.

It'd probably be mutton dressed as
lamb, Esme, let's be honest.

# That dog is dangerous

# Tried to set people straight

# Even bought a "bad dog" sign

# And hung it on the gate... #

DOG BARKS

I think this is absolutely fabulous.

And she just looks like

somebody who's been up all night

having a party!

I love the fabric with this dog on.

The best clothes tell stories.

And this one, very clearly,
tells a story.

And I think it's brilliant.

You've chosen something smart,
where the fitting can be adjusted

by the tie at the top and the tie
at the waist,

but it's also actually
really well sewn.

There are no raw edges.

You've double-turned the hem.

And you even put pockets in.

Put pockets in for the dog poo
bags and bows for you. Yes!

Well, I love a pocket as well.

Two ticks from me!

Honestly, I just think
it's absolutely wonderful.

Well done, Sally,
and well done, Linda.

Well done, Linda.
You did incredibly well. Thank you.

Well done, sewers.
That was amazing.

Go and take a break and we'll come
back and find out

who's won the show.

My dress totally lived up
to what I had in my imagination.

I can't quite believe the two
married together.

I'm thrilled.

I was really, really happy.

Cinderella WILL go to the ball!

What is weird is how different
they all are.

And I got a bit emotional
in judging.

I proved to myself
that I can do stuff

and I want to make myself
some nice things.

I think we should all make
something by February.

I would be over the moon to win,

because I really haven't won
anything for a very, very long time.

Quite an impressive standard.

Yeah. Any frontrunners?

We absolutely loved Sally's
party dress.

The print brought that whole story
to this dress.

I just think it's fabulous.

And the other one
that I really think is a contender

is The Vivienne's.

The fit was fantastic
and I just think it had oomph! Yeah.

I think Vivienne
maybe is the best sewer,

but Sally has obviously got
a fabulous imagination.

Look at that horse.

Can we have two winners? Or you two
could just discuss it like adults,

and come back with a decision!

Well, sewers, there's only one
final thing to do in 2020

of any importance, and that is find
out who has won

the Festive Sewing Bee.

The winner

of the Festive Sewing Bee is...

INTAKES OF BREATH

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

..Sally!

Oh, I'm so thrilled.

Here you are! Thank you SO much!

CHEERING

Yay!

I cannot believe it.
I am over the moon.

And not only was everything you made
just sort of hilarious and
brilliant,

but actually also
fantastically well sewn!

Sally's clothes were fun.

They were lively.

They brought something special
to the sewing room.

Brilliant, Sally.
So astonished.

I mean, I definitely am not
the best sewer in the room.

So in a way,

I think they was robbed!

But, sh!

Know I should have used
dog poo bags.

I've loved it. I might even audition
for the actual series next year.

I don't know how well I'd do,
but I'd like to be here again.

I sort of want to go to Esme
and learn how to do it properly.

I want sewing lessons now.

Sewing will definitely be part
of my New Year's resolution.

I will start making stuff leisurely,
in my own time.

Happy New Year.

Thank you very much.

Anyone fancy a singsong?

ALL: Yes.

LAUGHTER

MUSIC: You Spin Me Round
by The Vivienne feat Initial Talk

# If I

# I set my sights on you

# And no-one else will do

# And I

# I've got to have my way now, baby

# All I know is that to me

# You look like you're havin' fun

# Open up your lovin' arms

# Watch out, here I come

# You spin me right round, baby

# Right round, like a record, baby

# Right round, round, round

# You spin me right round, baby

# Right round, like a record, baby

# Right round, round, round

# I want your lo-o-ove

# I want your lo-o-ove. #

LAUGHTER

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE