Olympic diver Tom Daley is set to host 'The Game of Wool', a new Channel 4 series searching for Britain's best knitter. The show has already sparked controversy due to one contestant's unusual creations, including anatomically correct wool vulvas. Daley, who took up knitting before lockdown on his coach's advice, says the contestant's work demonstrates the versatility of knitting: 'If you put your mind to making something, if you can see it, imagine it, you can make it.'
The series features ten contestants competing under intense time pressure, with judges Sheila Greenwell and Di Gilpin eliminating them one by one. Daley himself wears increasingly elaborate knitwear throughout the show, including pieces from avant-garde designers like La Fetiche and Hope Macaulay. He describes himself as a 'blank canvas' for the designers, though he rules out a second career as a model at age 31.
Daley also discusses his early elimination from 'Celebrity Traitors', where he was 'murdered' by traitors to put pressure on Kate Garraway. He admits finding it frustrating to watch remaining contestants struggle with challenges, saying: 'As an athlete, I like to be in control.' He proposed a resurrection twist to producers, allowing murdered contestants to return after the first few killings, but the idea was rejected.
The show's contestants range from a perfectionist German tailor to a former soldier turned construction worker, with Daley noting their sensitivity sets them apart from typical competition show participants. 'The Game of Wool' airs on Channel 4, with Daley hoping to showcase the creativity and emotional depth of the knitting community.
