Liza Tarbuck has landed her first television gig since departing BBC Radio 2 last month. The actor, presenter, and author, aged 61, will host a brand new five-part series titled The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down, a collaboration between Channel 4 and Love Productions.
Celebrity Contestants and Format
The show will invite six celebrities with little to no pottery experience to take on a series of challenges. Tarbuck will cheer on stars including comedian and actor Lucy Beaumont, actor and author Fatiha El-Ghorri, comedian and podcaster Richard Herring, football legend and pundit Paul Merson, actor Layton Williams, and actor and presenter Denise Van Outen.
In a twist on the popular original series, there will be no weekly elimination. Instead, celebrities will develop their skills over five episodes under the watchful eye of judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller. They will compete for points in each challenge, with the hope of earning a place in the grand final, where only one will be crowned champion.
Tarbuck's Delight
Liza Tarbuck expressed her enthusiasm in a statement: “I knew I’d enjoy Keith and Rich’s company and I did. People flourish around emotionally intelligent people, and the boys’ encouragement and kindness really promoted a growth in our newbie potters that was a pleasure to witness. I absolutely loved being there.”
Deborah Dunnett, commissioning editor at Channel 4, added: “The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down is a wonderfully heart-warming series. For the first time we are able to discover pottery through the eyes of real beginners and follow their creative progression through to a deeply personal finale with some show-stopping results. And of course it’s absolutely thrilling to welcome Liza to the Pottery family.”
Background and Popularity
The Great Pottery Throw Down was launched in 2015 as the “messier cousin” to The Great British Bake Off. Since then, it has become a hit not just in the UK but overseas, boasting famous fans such as Brad Pitt, who in 2022 admitted he had seen “every season.” The Hollywood star also expressed his admiration for Brymer Jones, who is frequently brought to tears by contestants’ work. Pitt said: “It’s beautiful. He’s so beautiful… He’s so kind. He’s so supportive. I tear up.”
An air date for The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down has yet to be confirmed.
