Great British Sewing Bee to return for six-part second series

The Great British Sewing Bee will return for a second longer series, BBC Two has confirmed.

The next series will extend to a six episode run in 2014 following the success of the programme, which saw 2.7 million viewers tune in to watch 81-year-old Ann be crowned Britain’s best amateur sewer.

The first four-part series, a spinoff of The Great British Bake Off, saw eight sewing hopefuls compete in various challenges from hand stitching to customisation as WI teacher May Martin and Savile Row tailor Patrick Grant assessed their efforts.

BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said: “I’m delighted that BBC Two viewers have taken this series to their hearts. It has proved that an ill-fitting zip or badly placed dart can make for compelling television in much the same way as a soggy bottom on Great British Bake Off and I can’t wait for the next series.