Clay feet

In the modern, competitive BBC, it seems ratings are no longer a guide to re-commissioning. The first series of the Great Pottery Showdown on BBC2 averaged 2.4m viewers over six episodes. The second, ending in March last year, averaged 3.4m viewers over eight episodes, topping the BBC2 ratings, ahead of Top Gear, for its final two shows.

At the end of last week, the BBC let Love Productions know that there wouldn't be a third series. A BBC spokesperson told the Daily Mirror.  "Whilst we are proud of The Great Pottery Throw Down and very grateful to everyone involved in the two series, we sometimes have to take difficult decisions in order to make room for new shows."  Love Productions also made The Great British Bake-Off; the pottery show was first commissioned back in 2015 by Kim Shillinglaw and Maxine Watson, both now departed the BBC.

The Great British Sewing Bee, another Love Productions creation, will return to BBC2 in 2019, with comedian Joe Lycett replacing Claudia Winkleman as host.