Queen Alexandra Hospital consultant talks about her Great British Sewing Bee win

Clare Bradley, a respiratory consultant at Queen Alexandra Hospital, was crowned the winner of The Great British Sewing Bee on Wednesday night after 12 competitors took on tough sewing challenges to transform garments and make their own clothes.

The 38-year-old, who has been on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus, has had to keep quiet about her win until the final was shown on TV and she could share the good news.

She said: ‘Until the showing of the final, I have kept [the trophy] hidden in my fabric stash cupboard.

‘Now I’m allowed to show it off, I will put it on the shelf in my sewing room with my hat blocks. I will also have to take it in to the hospital to show my colleagues, or they won’t let me hear the last of it.

‘My closest colleagues knew I had got to the final as they could count how many days I’d had off work, but I think I managed to keep it a secret that I’d won by pulling my best ‘patient confidentiality’ straight face.’

In the final, the three sewers, including TV supervisor Matt Gage and jewellery designer Nicole Akong, both from London took on three challenges before Clare was crowned the winner.

For her final look, Clare made a red 1930’s Hollywood glamour dress, styled by hospital colleague Alex.

Patrick remarked it as ‘perfection’. Both judges said she was a ‘clear winner’.

Clare said: ‘I think we were all within a hair’s breadth of each other to win, and for very different reasons.

‘I think I am more of a traditional sewer and good at the technical stuff whereas Nicole has an amazing eye for embellishment and colour, and Matt has such sewing imagination and his drag costumes are just brilliant.

‘It was a special moment and I was a bit dazed. The other finalists were really gracious and – despite my reputation as a non-hugger - there were a lot of hugs. We have all shared each other’s triumphs and disasters throughout the whole series, and I wouldn’t have got to the final without them.’

Since the show started airing, Clare has been recognised by staff and patients at the Cosham hospital.

She said: ‘Chatting with patients on the ward about the show has revealed hidden talents among many of my patients, like knitting, sewing, quilting, which has been a lovely insight into their personalities and histories.

‘I need to thank all my colleagues who helped me take leave at short notice for filming: consultant colleagues covering ward rounds, my secretary Kirsty making sure I didn’t have to cancel a single clinic, our lung cancer nurse specialists and support workers who helped me keep tabs on my patients and acted as cheerleaders too.’

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