'Bake Off for knitters': Game of Wool with Tom Daley 'worthy of a good yarn'
Olympic hero Tom fronts Channel 4's new knitting competition showGame of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter is a new Channel 4 knitting show presented by Tom Daley.
Yes, Tom will no doubt be hoping there’s less drama on this than during Celebrity Traitors! Or perhaps he’s hoping for more!
The Olympic diving champion started knitting in 2020 as a way to practise mindfulness. Tom has helped make knitting cool and now Game of Wool will see 10 amateurs show off their skills to impress the experts. “This is knitting like you’ve never seen it before,” promises Tom.
Here’s everything you need to know about Game of Wool including when it begins on Channel 4, how it works and who the experts and contestants are.
When does Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter start on Channel 4?
Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter begins on Channel 4 on Sunday November 2 at 8 pm. There are eight episodes in the series and each episode is an hour long. You can also catch up via Channel 4 streaming. The episodes are going out weekly.
So Tom Daley is seriously thrilled, saying: “I am very excited, and slightly nervous, to be taking on my first ever hosting role on a project that encompasses everything I’m passionate about. I adore all things knitting and encourage everyone to pick up some knitting needles and give it a go! I cannot wait to see the creations our knitters will weave together. And hope this inspires people at home to get involved too!”
How does Game of Wool work? And who are the judges?
Game of Wool works in a similar way to shows like The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee. But this time we’re in the world of knitting!
Each week there are two challenges. So, there is a solo challenge and a group knit, where they have to work in teams. Moreover, the challenges take place over between 10 and 12 hours. That may seem a long time, but not when you’re having to knit a jumper!
The solo week one challenge on Game of Wool sees the knitters asked to re-invent the classic Fair Isle design in a modern tank top. Then the week one team challenge sees the knitters split into two teams. Each team is asked to make a full-sized, fully stitched sofa!
Meanwhile, over the series the contestants are expected to make clothing, jewellery, home accessories, furniture, and sculptures from wool.
The judges are designers and knitting experts Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, who have worked for Chanel, Paul Smith, NIKE and Vivienne Westwood. They are known as the “boss stitchers”.
At the end of each episode they will declare the knitter of the week. They will also decide which contestant is “cast off” out of the competition. But Tom Daley has the “horrible job” of telling the competitor that they will be leaving the show.
So, at the end of the series one knitter will be crowned the winner of Game of Wool.
Meet the Game of Wool contestants
Holger
Holger is a 55-year-old fashion designer from London. But has he managed to prepare for what’s ahead? “I wish I had found a definitive answer to that one – I frantically try and think of every eventuality to cover, and no doubt I will forget everything once they start the timer.”
Gordon
Gordon is a 47-year-old cruise ship singer from East Ayrshire. But while Gordon is scared of taking part, he adores knitting. “I love the peace and relative stillness of it. I love the mathematical and geometric systems involved. I love the revealing when the text on a page starts to become a physical pattern.”
Lydia
Lydia is a 32-year-old charity partnership director from Hertfordshire. Lydia says the hardest thing she’s ever knitted was a 3mm needle cardigan for her mum. “She loved it, so she’s asked me to make another one with pockets.”
Dipti
Dipti is a 42-year-old library worker from Nottingham and is over the moon to be on the show. Plus, she is clear on what is making knitting cool again, saying: “Influencers – there are a lot of people out there knitting. A lot of young people are doing it – it’s not something just your nanna does, it’s a very sociable thing.”
Tracey
Tracey is a 63-year-old psychotherapist from London. She says: “I have ADHD and knitting makes me feel like I’m everybody else. I use my hands to knit so it helps me to meditate and keeps me calm.”
Ailsa
Ailsa is a 30-year-old ferry company worker from North Ayrshire. As to what she’d like the challenges to be, she says: “Anything crochet shaping and 3D crocheting.”
Meadow
Meadow, age not revealed, is a fashion student from Belfast. “I love to make super chunky cardigans,” she says of her knitting style. “They have their own unique patterns which are unique to me.” Her age isn’t stated.
Isaac
Isaac is a 23-year-old cybersecurity student from Milton Keynes. But Isaac is clear he wants Game of Wool to force him to make something new. “If there was a challenge to create a new cable pattern, that would be interesting.”
Simon
Simon is a 42-year-old builder from Kent. So, the ex-Royal Marine has a simple piece of advice for new knitters: “Don’t stress about it, just keep going and push yourself.”
Stephanie
Stephanie is a 65-year-old life coach from Derby. She feels delighted to be on Game on Wool. But there is one thing she doesn’t like about knitting. “Sewing up! I love knitting, but not sewing up.”
Why did Game of Wool host Tom Daley fall in love with knitting?
On his way to Olympic glory, Tom’s diving coach told him that he was running around too much on the weekends. His coach wanted him to sit still so he could give a chance for his body to recover.
Talking to TV Times, Tom said: “My husband [American writer and director Dustin Lance Black] suggested knitting, because a lot of actors he works with knit on set.
“So I got yarn and needles, and taught myself through online tutorials. Knitting is now a huge passion of mine.”
Plus, Tom credits knitting with helping him win a gold medal in the men’s 10m synchro with Matty Lee at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Where is Game of Wool filmed?
Game of Wool was filmed in rural Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. The contestants knit in the “Yarn Barn” which is located on a beautiful farm.
So, the makers are no doubt hoping that the tranquil nature of the scenery will help the knitters stay calm as they’re set their knotty challenges. Funnily, Tom apparently carried on knitting during filming breaks!
Moreover, the show took about eight weeks to shoot. All the applicants had to be over 18 and obviously had to love knitting!
