Claudia Winkleman hosts The Great British Sewing Bee as the eight amateur sewers prepare to do battle again in three challenges designed to test their ability to handle stretchy fabric.The judges - Savile Row's Patrick Grant and sewing expert May Martin - first give them a surprise pattern for a simple pair of leggings with resulting snug and saggy bottoms.Next, the sewers are free to do whatever they like to turn an oversized T-shirt into a completely different garment - and they come up with some ingenious alterations, from a toddler's leotard to an asymmetric minidress.Finally, they face the most fitted made-to-measure challenge yet.

Claudia Winkleman welcomes the seven home sewers as they return to the sewing room to make clothes on a miniature scale.They face three challenges to test their ability to make children's clothes, starting with toddler dungarees. For the alteration challenge they are given a sweatshirt, track suit bottoms and, of all things, a pillowcase. From these items they have to rustle up a fancy dress outfit and the sewers produce everything from mini Johnny Depp pirate outfits to dinosaur costumes complete with tail.Finally, they must create a spectacular made-to-measure prom dress for a teenager. To their complete surprise, the models are people they know from home.

The six home sewers are taken out of their comfort zone by Claudia Winkleman when the judges set them three challenges which require them to handle some of the most difficult fabrics to sew with.The surprise pattern is for a nylon anorak, which means ironing the garment could prove disastrous.For the first time, the sewers handle something which isn't a textile, as a high street top is transformed with leather. And, in a new twist to the series, they pair up to be each other's 'fit buddies' as they are asked to make a pair of trousers for themselves - in delicate velvet.