Midlothian mum and opera singer finds out fate in grand final of hit BBC show The Great British Sewing Bee
Opera singer and mum-of-two Emma Marwood made it to the final of The Great British Sewing Bee after impressing the judges over 10 weeks
A soprano opera singer from Midlothian has been named runner-up on the BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee.
Emma Morwood, 45, originally from Northern Ireland, narrowly missed out on the series 12 title to North Yorkshire barista Anna during the final episode.
Emma kicked off the final by making a bright fuchsia cumberbund and bow tie, followed by a lilac beach club jumpsuit.
The final showstopper piece saw her construct an ambitious two-in-one outfit representing the ‘metamorphosis’ of women, in particular a mother going from the school run to a night on the town.
However, it wasn't enough to snatch the title with North Yorkshire barista and waitress Anna claiming this year’s top spot.
Emma, who was taught to sew as a teenager by her mum, previously revealed that her love of the craft was reignited during the Covid lockdown when she started creating face coverings to order using donated fabrics.
This kickstarted her hobby, which she says she got into “properly” in 2023 after a friend encouraged her. She has made all of her own clothes since then, only occasionally buying new exercise gear from the shops.
Emma previously said: “I love a challenge. Like really love a challenge. As soon as it was a seed in my head that I might apply, I had to go for it.
“I love the show and since starting sewing again, I always thought it would be such a dream to be on the show.”
Emma’s finale looks were very typical of her self-described “dopamine dressing” style, with loud colours and prints on display. Her statement look impressed judges in week one, when she claimed a coveted ‘Garment of the Week’ award.
Emma said: “My style is definitely dopamine dressing - I love bright colours and patterns. My brother once told me that I looked like I’d been in an explosion in a paint factory.
“I’ve just passed on a big pile of clothes in my wardrobe that I don’t wear any more because I didn’t make them. So I’d say I wear ‘me-made’ clothes 80 per cent of the time.
She continued: “I get loads of compliments from friends and strangers for some of my more colourful outfits. I’m a bit naughty because I love to admit to having made it.
“I don’t think we should play down our creativity. I’m always one to dish out a compliment if I think someone looks good - even just walking down the street. It’s lovely to give and receive compliments.”
At the end of the final episode, it was revealed that she had returned to the stage to appear in more than 70 opera productions since concluding filming of the hit series.