The Great Pottery Throw Down 2025 - Winner revealed!

Across ten clay packed episodes we saw 12 of the best home potters turn lumps of clay into beautiful objects, bringing the world of pottery to life.

After 20 tough challenges filmed at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke on Trent, it was James, 43 from Belfast who emerged triumphant as the winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down 2025. 

It all began with ‘Holiday Memories’ where potters crafted salad tableware and sangria jugs,  and moved on to celebrating ‘A Moment in time with a Loved One’ creating mantlepiece statement clocks and candlestick holders. ‘Children’s Childhood Toys’ saw the Potters making Noah’s ark with animals, as well as flowerpots and saucers. Next came ‘Naked Raku Week’ which challenged them to create bulbous vessels with naked raku decoration. ‘Nostalgic Shop Fronts’ followed, leading into a unique task of crafting ‘Vegetable Lamp Bases’ shaped like realistic vegetables. During garden week, they created bird baths and human face sculptures. Later, ‘Alternative Firing’ featured double gourd vases. In the semi-final episode, the ‘Hellmouth fireplace’ proved particularly challenging, as the potters stared directly into the mouth of hell!

Judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller had the toughest decision to make - who had done enough to be crowned Britain’s best home potter?  For the final, they saved the most complicated and demanding challenges. The potters rose to the occasion, creating stunning Greek amphoras and tackling extreme throwing in a surprise second challenge. In the end, there could only be one winner to take home the trophy - and that winner was James.

After hearing the announcement James said  ‘I can’t believe it. I won. It’s an absolute dream come true to win. It seems like a fairy tale. And seeing my family there as well for them to experience that moment with me. It’s just really special. I have met some incredible people and some amazing potters, and we are going to be in touch for a long time.  It’s just lovely.

And added: ‘It is the perfect ending to this chapter in my life now.  It has been lifechanging being on the show, it really has.’

A tearful Keith said: ‘It was the hardest hardest decision we have had to make for some years. Honestly the three of them were just absolutely sublime. What they gave us in the final was incredible. It wasn’t just really good making but it was honesty, it was passion and it was that message coming through with clay.   

He also added ‘When you get touched like that in the heart for me it was James -  it was such a wonderful, expressive, honest and heartfelt message coming through his work, and we love him for it.’

Fellow judge Rich added:  ‘Wow that was a toughie . I don’t think we have had a final that has been that close. So ultimately we went with our heart and James’ Amphora was incredible - the skills that Potter has are the skills I aspire to have myself’.

James, the winner of the The Great Pottery Throw Down 2025, and a three-time Potter of the Week in Episodes 1, 6, and 9, shares his thoughts on winning the title and his experience of being on the show: 

‘I said on the show that it felt surreal to be in the final, and that still holds true. I’ve learned so much from this experience and seeing my family’s reaction to my win was incredibly special.

‘Belfast is home for me, and I’m so proud to bring the trophy back here, especially as it’s the second year in a row for a Northern Ireland winner. I watched the final at home with my sisters, Duane and my son, Art, and it was such a memorable night.

‘Walking into the final with Natalie and Steve was exciting. We’d each been named Potter of the Week three times, so we all knew the competition was going to be tight, but by that stage, we were so close that any one of us winning would have felt right. We have all stayed connected through our WhatsApp group, and I am planning to visit them throughout the year. As for the trophy – it’s been hidden away until now, but it will get pride of place. I just need to decide where!

‘The response from the public and on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, and the support for my work, especially from Belfast and Northern Ireland, has been heart-warming. I really felt like they were rooting for me.

‘Rich and Keith were fantastic throughout the process. By the final, it felt like they truly understood me as an artist. Their passion for clay and their encouragement meant so much. Siobhán was also amazing – her humour and uplifting energy were so appreciated. She was always there for us, especially when things got stressful.

‘At the beginning, getting to the final seemed impossible - something you might dream about but never really believe could happen. Stepping into the pottery, you have your doubts, but winning Potter of the Week in Episode 1 for my salad tableware was such a confidence boost. It was unexpected but deeply affirming to have the judges recognize my work right from the start.

‘In Episode 6, I was named Potter of the Week again for my sculpting of ‘Foraging for Light’ - a realistic vegetable lamp base – not something I would have ever thought of doing. The piece was a reflection on growth and light – how even in the darkest places, things can find their way towards the light.

‘I really didn’t expect to get Potter of the Week in the semi-final when I created the large hellmouth fireplace. That piece became my favourite and most memorable challenge of the series. The scale of the piece was daunting, and bringing such a dramatic concept to life was both exciting and intimidating. It required a balance of technical skill and creative storytelling, as I wanted the piece to convey a sense of awe and playfulness while capturing the darker, mythical elements of the theme.

‘It pushed me to think bigger and bolder than I ever had before, and despite the challenges, it was incredibly rewarding to see it come together.

‘Of course, the journey wasn’t without setbacks. One of my worst moments was when a piece I’d poured hours into came out of the bisque firing cracked and broken. It was heart-breaking, and seeing it damaged felt like a huge setback, but it taught me to adapt and push forward. On the other hand, hearing my name called as the winner was the best moment of all – surreal and deeply rewarding, making every late night and challenge worth it. It’s a moment I’ll cherish forever.

‘There were light-hearted moments too, like when we made clay heads. Some of them were truly hilarious, and it reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously.

‘The challenges throughout the show pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and experiment with new techniques. I feel like I’ve come away with a stronger sense of my style and greater technical skill to support it. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Leaving at the end was tough because I’d grown so close to everyone, and it felt like the end of an incredible journey. The support from the crew, fellow potters and my family made it easier though, and I left with amazing memories. I have come away from this experience with a renewed passion for pottery, along with a deep appreciation for the craft and the people who share that passion. 

‘The biggest lesson I’ve taken away is discovering just how resilient and resourceful I am. This experience taught me that, no matter what challenges or setbacks I face, I can draw on my life’s experiences to push through and find solutions. Whether it was picking up the pieces after a project went wrong or finding creative ways to bring my vision to life, I realised that I have a deep well of strength and adaptability to rely on. It’s a powerful reminder that I can handle whatever comes my way, both in pottery and in life.

‘2025 has been a whirlwind. I left my job in January to pursue pottery full-time, and I’m so excited for this new chapter. My time on the show taught me so much about technique, creativity, and resilience - and I’m excited to explore all of that on a deeper level. I want to keep pushing my boundaries, experiment with new ideas, and bring everything I’ve learned to my future work. This experience has been a launchpad, and I’m excited and ready to see where this journey as a full-time potter takes me.’