A beloved British TV show has a new host. The show is The Great British Sewing Bee. The new host is Sophie Willan. She will take over from the former host, Sara Pascoe.
The news was announced in September. Willan will start by hosting a special episode. The episode will air on Christmas Eve in 2025. Fans are very excited to see her in this new role.
So, who is Sophie Willan? Here is everything you need to know about her.
Who Is Sophie Willan?
Sophie Willan is 38 years old. She is a comedian, writer, and actor. She is also now a TV presenter. She has won several BAFTA awards.
She is best known for creating and starring in a BBC comedy. The show is called Alma’s Not Normal. The story is inspired by her own life. She grew up in the care system.
She won a BAFTA in 2022. It was for Best Female Comedy Performance. She won two more BAFTAs for writing and for best scripted comedy.
What Is Alma’s Not Normal About?
This show first aired in 2020. It is on BBC Two. Sophie Willan wrote the series and plays the main character.
The show is a comedy-drama. It is partly based on her real life. It shows working-class life in the town of Bolton. It talks about serious topics too. These include the care system, mental health, and addiction.
The first series was very successful. A second series was released in October 2024. You can watch both series on BBC iPlayer.
What Other Shows Has She Been In?
Sophie Willan has been in other TV shows. She played a role in the BBC drama Ludwig. She was also the narrator for The Circle on Channel 4.
She appeared in Still Open All Hours and Time on BBC One. She was also a contestant on Taskmaster in 2024.
Besides Sewing Bee, she has another new job. She will be a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK on the BBC.
Does She Use Social Media?
Yes, she does. Her Instagram handle is @sophiewillan. She has over 126,000 followers.
She mostly posts about her work. Sometimes she shares parts of her personal life. She posts pictures with her partner, chef C Francis-Levy.
The couple welcomed a baby boy in November 2025.
What Has She Said About Hosting the Sewing Bee?
Sophie shared the news on Instagram. The BBC also posted about it. They said they were “buzzing” to have her as the new host.
She will start with the Christmas special. Then she will host the main series in 2026. She will work with judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young.
In a recent interview, she talked about the special episode. She said the celebrity contestants have tough tasks. They will make a festive sack and transform party clothes. They will also design an outfit inspired by Christmas food or drink. It should be a fun and funny episode to watch.
