If you've been following The Great British Sewing Bee over the past few weeks, you might have noticed a new location closer to home.
Having taken over Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, the new Leeds filming spot will share one of the city’s biggest creative hubs with TV screens across the UK and beyond.
Whether its the new season of fresh talent or new location thats piqued your interest in the show or the introduction of new presenter Sara Pascoe, it's safe to say that The Great British Sewing Bee has returned with all guns blazing this year.
Sadly, there’s no contestants from Leeds to rally behind, but there’s plenty of talent to gasp in awe of over the coming weeks.
Now, the BBC series is looking for applicants for their brand-new series of the show, which is due to be filmed between August and November 2022.
So if you fancy yourself as an undiscovered sewing talent, this might be your chance to shoot to fame and share your skills on the big screen.
All you need to is be over the age of 16 and be able to commit to 20 days across 6-8 weeks of filming between August and November 2022 and you must not hold formal sewing qualifications to enter. Anyone across the UK can apply (though we're hoping to see some Yorkshire folk inside the Yorkshire filming spot, assuming the producers stick with their new filming location.)
The rules of entry for The Great British Sewing Bee include:
You must not have completed any sewing NVQ or other equivalent sewing-related qualification unless acquired 5 or more years ago.
You cannot have worked full-time as a dressmaker, sample machinist, pattern cutter, tailor or seamstress at any time during the last 15 years.
You must be an amateur sewer, meaning that your main source of income must not derive from your sewing and you do not sew in a professional environment.
You are not a close relative (for example, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister), nor a close friend of anyone who is an employee or contractor of Love Productions or the BBC, or anyone working on, appearing in or connected with the Programme.
If you reckon that you've got what it takes to join the team in Sunny Bank Mills and show off your skills inside the historic Yorkshire building, you'd better apply quickly.
For the full details, including the application form, visit sewing.take-part.co.uk and fill out the form supplied. Alternatively, if you're unable to apply online and would like an application form posted to you, you can email applyforsewingbee@loveproductions.co.uk or call 0207 067 4843 stating your full name, full address (including postcode) and telephone number.
The deadline for all applications is at 8pm on Wednesday 18 May 2022. The application also points out that if you are successful, a member of the team will be in touch via phone or email by Friday 1 July.
Feature Image- The Great British Sewing Bee / BBC One
Leeds
Female-founded independent jewellery brand to open in Leeds’ Victoria Gate
Norfolk-based jewellery brand Lisa Angel is opening their first Yorkshire site right here in Leeds.
Jewellery and trinket lovers, this one's for you.
Lisa Angel, a female-founded jewellery and gifting brand will open the doors to its new store in Victoria Gate next month.
Shoppers can expect a wonderful range of jewellery, gifts, and accessories that have established a loyal following during more than twenty years of business.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has only gone from strength to strength since.
Image: Supplied
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
After opening two stores last year and three stores in 2024, Lisa Angel’s founder and Creative Director, Lisa, said: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Managing Director James Moody explained the significance to the business of opening a new store in a city as influential as Leeds: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
We'll keep you up to date when we know an opening date, but for now you can check out what to expect here.
Yorkshire residents are being invited to name two new bin lorries
Clementine Hall
Well...this is a new one.
Ever fancied naming a bin lorry? Well today is your lucky day, because now you can.
Yorkshire-based waste management experts Divert are celebrating the arrival of two swanky new tbin rucks by inviting the local community to help name them.
The iconic purple bins, vans and trucks can be seen across the Yorkshire area helping to clean up waste from Bradford to Harrogate.
Two new lorries are set to be joining the fleet in April and May, and of course they need a name.
And who better to ask than the general public? The winning names will be added to the cabs of each of the trucks for all to see, and announced via the Divert website and social media channels.
Absolutely anyone from across the UK is welcome to take part, but the company are especially keen for people from Yorkshire to enter.
You can be as creative as you like, but there are a couple of rules...
No swearing or offensive names. Aside from that, you can let your freak flag fly.
The Divert team are keen to hear the 'best celebrity puns, local namesakes, and downright silly names' the public have to offer.
John Verity, Managing Director of Divert, comments: “Naming our bin trucks is a great way to bring some joy to the local community. We hope to bring a smile to the faces of passing drivers and pedestrians as our fleet passes by.
“Not only that, naming our lorries can help our drivers to take pride and ownership in the vehicles they drive and be a key reminder of our engagement within the community. We’re always keen to employ any initiatives that help the public to engage with us and ensure we’re seen as a friendly face in the area.”
Winners will be voted for by the team internally, and the competition closes at 5 pm on 31 March 2026.
Sophie Smith -
5th May 2022 
