Great British Sewing Bee winner 'overwhelmed'

BBC

The winner of The Great British Sewing Bee has said she was "totally overwhelmed" after her victory on the BBC One show.

Caz, from Staffordshire, was crowned the winner of the 11th series by judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant during Tuesday's show.

It came after the 60-year-old won garment of the week three times during the show's design icons week, Korea week and kids week.

"I am totally overwhelmed and I still feel quite emotional about it all, it hasn't quite sunk in," she said.

"Of course my husband and family knew, but I only confided in one friend and one only, so it will be a surprise to a lot of people that know me. Even my parents didn't know."

The final show saw the remaining contestants - Caz, Orla and Yasmin - tasked with creating a bias cut slip dress, transforming sheer garments into a finale outfit, and producing a winning Trompe l'oeil outfit.

The dress Caz made was inspired by NHS staff at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, where she had open-heart surgery four years ago.

She told BBC Radio Stoke the staff were "absolutely outstanding".

"I can't explain how beautiful they all were - from the surgeon to the anaesthetist to the cleaners, who would come in and chat to you," she said.

"You need the staff, they are what keep you going. You're lying there and can't do anything for yourself.

"Those smiles and words of warmth are so valuable."

Caz said there were many times she "wanted to give up" on the dress design but was desperate to get it made and on TV.

"It means a lot. It was a big moment for me," she added.

Young said she was "really pleased" for Caz and that she loved her final garment.

Grant added: "Caz pulled it out of the bag in spectacular fashion with so much courage, so much flair, so much beautiful technique. It was amazing."

Caz began sewing when she was 11 years old and made her own wedding dress 28 years ago but stopped for a period before her passion reignited during the Covid lockdown.

"I have gone and won something, I never win anything," she said. "I didn't think I would be able to do it. I remember after that very first catwalk, I rang my husband saying I am literally in awe of these people.

"When I was a child, I loved sewing and you have no fear as a child and you just sew anything. I think it's really important to get that fun back, that's why most of us sew, we sew for the sheer joy and the love of it, and I have got a lot of love for it."