How Many Seasons Of The Great Pottery Throw Down Are On Hbo Max?
Overview of The Great Pottery Throw Down
The Great Pottery Throw Down is a British reality TV competition show about pottery making. The show first aired on BBC Two from November 3, 2015 to March 23, 2017 for its first two seasons. It was originally presented by Sara Cox and judged by Kate Malone and Keith Brymer Jones [1].
The show features 10 amateur potters competing in a series of challenges each week to test their skills in different pottery techniques. Their creations are judged by Brymer Jones, an expert ceramicist, and another guest judge. Each week one contestant is eliminated until a winner is named “Potter of the Year.”
After its first two seasons on BBC, the rights to The Great Pottery Throw Down were acquired by HBO Max for US streaming. New seasons of the show now premiere on HBO Max, though past seasons are still available on BBC in the UK [2].
History of The Great Pottery Throw Down
The Great Pottery Throw Down first aired on BBC Two in November 2015. The show was hosted by radio and television presenter Sara Cox, and judged by renowned ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones and ceramic designer Kate Olivia Malone.
The competition format follows 12 amateur potters as they create pieces each week to meet specific challenges, with one contestant eliminated each episode. Their works are judged on skill, design, and creativity. The show aimed to celebrate the craft of pottery and introduce it to a broad audience.
After airing for 3 seasons on the BBC, the show took a break before returning in 2021 on Channel 4 with new host Siobhán McSweeney and judge Sue Pryke joining Keith and Kate at the judges table.
Acquisition by HBO Max
In July 2020, HBO Max acquired the exclusive streaming rights to The Great Pottery Throw Down as part of the service’s expansion into more unscripted content. HBO Max picked up all three seasons of the show to stream exclusively on the platform in the United States (source: https://deadline.com/2020/07/hbo-max-picks-up-gomorrah-the-great-pottery-throw-down-1202991653/). This acquisition allowed American audiences to watch the popular British pottery competition series for the first time. The deal was part of HBO Max’s strategy to acquire more unscripted and international content to complement its scripted programming.
Seasons Available on HBO Max
Currently, HBO Max streams the first three seasons of The Great Pottery Throw Down, which originally aired on BBC Two in the UK. Each season contains 12 episodes, for a total of 36 episodes available on HBO Max.
Season 1 premiered on HBO Max on August 19, 2022. This season introduced viewers to 10 amateur potters competing in a variety of challenges while judges Keith Brymer Jones and Kate Malone evaluated their works. Ellie Taylor served as the host.
Season 2 launched on HBO Max on September 2, 2022. This season featured 10 new contestants taking on projects like raku firing, working with porcelain, and creating large garden sculptures. Sue Pryke joined as a judge alongside Keith and Kate.
Season 3 arrived on HBO Max on September 9, 2022. Another set of 10 pottery makers put their skills to the test in this season, with challenges including making tiles, Egyptian canopic jars, and busts of famous figures. The judging panel remained the same.
HBO Max has not yet announced if or when additional seasons of The Great Pottery Throw Down will be added. For now, fans can enjoy the first 36 episodes of the series through their HBO Max subscription.
Season 1 Overview
The first season of The Great Pottery Throw Down aired in 2015 on BBC Two. It featured 10 amateur potters competing in a variety of challenges to test their skills in throwing, sculpting, and decorating clay. The contestants ranged from beginners to more experienced potters, all vying for the title of Britain’s best home potter.
The judges for the first season were Kate Olivia Malone, a ceramic artist, and Keith Brymer Jones, the head of design at Royal Worcester. The hosts were Sara Cox and Richard Miller. The winner of Season 1 was Tamzin Quinton, a primary school teacher from Somerset. She impressed the judges week after week with her creative designs and excellent throwing ability. Some of the other top contestants included Jim Ranson, Sally-Jo Bond, and Tom Knowles Jackson.
Season 1 aired over 6 episodes from November to December 2015. Some of the challenges included making coil pots, raku firing, porcelain casting, and creating sets of tableware. The finale involved an in-studio throwdown to determine the winner. Tamzin’s final set of plates, bowls, and cups wowed the judges and secured her the title (“The Great Pottery Throw Down Season 1 – Wheel & Clay”, 2023).
Season 2 Overview
Season 2 of The Great Pottery Throw Down aired on BBC 2 in 2017, premiering on February 2nd. The show is produced by Love Productions. This season featured 10 amateur potters competing in a series of challenges judged by ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones and ceramic artist Kate Malone.
The winner of Season 2 was Matt Barr, a railway engineer from Derbyshire. Other contestants included Beccy Quine, a teacher from Edinburgh; Christian Humberstone-Marriott, an architectural assistant from London; and Rachel Youens, a nail technician from Stourbridge.
Some of the challenges in Season 2 included making coil pots, porcelain tableware, and face jugs. The contestants worked with different techniques like handbuilding, wheel throwing, and mold making. They created both functional and decorative ceramic pieces.
Season 2 received positive reviews, with critics praising the high quality of the pottery and the compelling stories of the contestants. Many considered Season 2 to be an improvement over the first season.
(https://wheelandclay.com/blog/the-great-pottery-throw-down-season-2/)
Season 3 Overview
Season 3 of The Great Pottery Throw Down aired in 2017 on BBC Two. This season featured 10 amateur potters competing in a variety of challenges judged by master potters Keith Brymer Jones and Kate Olivia Malone.
The winner of Season 3 was Rosa Wiland Holmes, a medical doctor from Edinburgh, Scotland. Some highlights of Season 3 included contestants creating pieces inspired by the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, designing their own teapots, and making large garden sculptures. The finale challenge required the final three potters to create 100 matching ceramic pieces.
Reviews for Season 3 were very positive, with critics praising the high quality of work from the contestants. Many considered the tasks and judging to be fair and insightful. The Great Pottery Throw Down continued to grow in popularity and receive excellent viewership with this season.
Overall, Season 3 showcased the immense creativity and skill of everyday pottery enthusiasts. Under the guidance of expert judges, contestants produced impressive ceramic works while learning and developing their craft. The show maintained its warm and inspiring spirit highlighting the joy of pottery.
Future Seasons
The future of The Great Pottery Throw Down on HBO Max is uncertain. While the show originally aired on BBC Two for its first three seasons, the fourth season aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 2021. As of early 2023, it does not appear that HBO Max has acquired the rights to season 4 or any potential future seasons.
Season 4 brought several changes to the competition show. There were 10 hour-long episodes hosted by Siobhán McSweeney. The judges were Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller. A new lineup of 12 amateur potters competed in a variety of challenges. The winner was AJ Simpson.
It is unclear if or when HBO Max will stream season 4 or any future seasons. The streaming service currently only offers the first three seasons originally aired on BBC Two from 2015-2017. Fans eager for more episodes will likely have to wait for HBO Max to acquire additional rights. As of now, the future of The Great Pottery Throw Down on the platform remains uncertain.
Sources:
https://wheelandclay.com/blog/the-great-pottery-throw-down-season-4/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Pottery_Throw_Down
Response and Reviews
The Great Pottery Throw Down has received widespread acclaim for providing an in-depth look at the art of pottery and spotlighting talented up-and-coming potters. Reviews praise the wholesome nature of the show and the glimpse it offers into the creative process.
The Guardian called it “a precious hour of tranquility, this vision of talented people giving their best, taking the job seriously but without being ridiculously competitive.”[1] The Telegraph said viewers can “dry your eyes” watching the “cosiest contest on TV,” noting how it highlights the craft in a warm and uplifting way.[2]
On IMDB, one user review raved “A wholesome show with beautiful art, interesting contestants and great hosts. I love pottery and this really puts it on display in a great way.”[3] Overall, critics and fans praise the series for providing an interesting look into the pottery craft and spotlighting talented up-and-coming artists.
Summary
The Great Pottery Throw Down is a British reality TV competition show focusing on the art of pottery making. The show first aired in 2015 on BBC Two in the UK and has since developed a devoted following. To date, there have been four complete seasons of The Great Pottery Throw Down produced.
Currently, the first three seasons are available for streaming on HBO Max in the US. These seasons originally aired from 2015-2017 on the BBC. Each season features 10-12 amateur potters competing in a variety of clay-based challenges, judged by expert potters. The competition takes place in a pottery studio in Stoke-on-Trent, the historic home of pottery making in England.
While additional seasons have aired in the UK after 2017, only the first three seasons are currently available on HBO Max. Fans eagerly await the streaming debut of newer seasons, as the lighthearted competition show has received very positive reviews praising its warmth and spotlight on the creativity involved in pottery making.