The Great Pottery Throw Down

The Great Pottery Throw Down, produced by Love Productions and aired on More4, began in 2015 and resonates with a vibe similar to the famous baking contest - The Great British Bake Off. Both shows are a part of the successful zeitgeist of gentle reality television that focuses on the warm and encouraging aspect of competition rather than cutthroat rivalry. The Great Pottery Throw Down, however, trades the baking oven for the potter’s wheel, the rolling pin for the clay slab roller, and the piping bag for the potter’s knife.

The show is a contest where amateur potters from different walks of life compete for the title of the best home potter. Bright sparks of creativity, flickers of ingenuity, and painstaking precision make this series a must-watch for art lovers and pottery enthusiasts.

The show primarily takes place in Stoke-on-Trent, famously known as "the home of pottery" in Britain, and within the confines of a quaint pottery workshop. The set adds an authentic touch to the show's premise, subtly giving insight into the historically rich craft of pottery. Stoke-on-Trent has a rich pottery-making heritage and it is no surprise that the town, with its unique cultural energy fused into clay and glaze, would be the perfect place to host such a show.

Each episode tests the contestants’ skills and creativity in three separate challenges – the throw down, the spot test, and the main make. These tasks examine their technical ability with different forms and types of clay, their understanding and execution of specific pottery skills, and their creativity in crafting a unique and functional piece of pottery. Straightforward, charming, and thoroughly engaging, the series draws viewers in with the amalgamation of the contestants' perseverance and the sheer magic of pottery-making.

The aspirants have to impress the judicious eyes of judges Keith Brymer Jones and Kate Malone, both renowned names in the world of ceramics. The judges can be seen getting emotional at times, highlighting their deep love and passion for pottery. With their experience and expertise in ceramics, they leave no stone unturned (or pot unspun) in their careful evaluation of each piece made by the contestants. Each week, one potter lands the title of "Potter of the Week," and, heartbreakingly, one potter bids goodbye.

The authenticity and novelty of the series are enhanced by the charismatic exuberance and infectious enthusiasm of the show's presenters, who keep the atmosphere light, relaxed, and fun, with their quick lines and chirpy behavior. Throughout the show, viewers are exposed to a fascinating world of pottery and ceramics, learning about the many techniques, styles, and types of pottery which exist.

The Great Pottery Throw Down amalgamates craft, competition, and camaraderie in a way that gives you a wholesome viewing experience. It captures the raw, tactile nature of pottery, the liberating moment of releasing creativity onto a formless lump of clay, the painstaking patience of incising, slip-decorating, glazing, and the nervous anticipation of waiting for the final piece to emerge from the fiery kiln.

The series, overall, is a great mix of history, art, and drama. It's an inspiring show that nudifies the creative spirit, and for some, it can be the much-needed push to pursue clay and pottery as a hobby, or maybe even more. The Great Pottery Throw Down isn't merely a competition; it is a celebration of the age-old craft of pottery, reminding us of the simple joy that comes from transforming a lump of earth into something beautiful and useful.

Whether you are a seasoned potter or someone with no pottery experience whatsoever, the Great Pottery Throw Down promises to captivate you with the charisma and warmth of its contestants, the passion of its judges, the wealth of knowledge it offers about pottery, and the mesmerizing transformation of plain clay into a stunning piece of art.