Olympic diving champion Tom Daley has embarked on an exciting new career chapter, taking on his first major television presenting role. The 31-year-old celebrity, who recently appeared in Celebrity Traitors, is now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter for Channel 4.
A New Crafting Competition Hits Screens
The series, which premiered last week, features ten amateur knitters competing in a range of dazzling solo and epic team challenges. Their ultimate goal is to be crowned the UK's first television knitting champion. Each episode pushes the contestants to create unique projects, from clothing and jewellery to larger-than-life home accessories and furniture – all crafted entirely from wool.
Overseeing the creative process are expert judges Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell. Both are renowned for their work with major fashion houses, including Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, and Nike. They assess the knitters' techniques and imaginative approaches to the weekly tasks.
The debut episode, which aired on November 2, 2025, featured a classic Fair Isle solo challenge. For their group task, the contestants had to collaboratively create a full-size, fully stitched sofa.
Behind the Scenes in Scotland
So, where was this woolly battle filmed? Game of Wool was filmed in the picturesque Ayrshire countryside, on the outskirts of Glasgow. The competitors were based in a remote barn, christened 'The Yarn Barn,' which was stocked with an impressive array of yarns in different weights and colours, alongside countless knitting needles and crochet hooks.
However, the idyllic setting had a chilly secret. At a recent press event for the series, Tom Daley shared a behind-the-scenes revelation. "I don't know how obvious it is when you watch it, but The Yarn Barn was absolutely Baltic. In between shots and stuff, we brought in all the heaters," he confessed. "It was quite cold, but other than that, it was actually quite fun being in and out of The Yarn Barn."
Judge Sheila Greenwell agreed, simply stating, "It was freezing." Daley also admitted to taking some of the yarn for his own projects, clarifying, "I said steal, I used [the yarn] to make [things]."
Tom Daley's Dream Role
Daley went on to explain how he became involved with the unique programme. "When it first came to me through my management, I kind of thought they were joking because I was like, 'Wait, what? A knitting TV show?' I was like, 'This is a dream to talk about knitting and crochet, and try and find Britain's best knitter and crocheter,'" he said.
He praised the production team at Hello Halo Productions and Channel 4 for taking a risk on a show dedicated to knitting. "Of course, you've got the likes of other slower watch TV, like the Sewing Bee and Bake Off and things like that. Knitting and crochet [are hobbies] people would consider niche, but I actually think way more people than you would imagine have some kind of affiliation to knitting or crochet. It's nostalgic," Daley added.
The show has already garnered a positive reception from viewers. After the first episode, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their enthusiasm. One viewer declared it "the best programme ever," claiming it "beats Bake Off and Sewing bee hands down!" Another praised its gentle nature, calling it "simple and there are no forced jokes," and highlighting Tom Daley as a "really good presenter... who is just very passionate about knitting."
Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter is available to stream on Channel 4.
