The Game of Wool: Britian's Best Knitter – a complete guide with a weekly episode recap!
Tom Daley is swapping the pool for the wool and is set to host Channel 4's brand new competitive knitting show, The Game of Wool. The hunt to find Britain's best knitter begins on Sunday, 2nd November at 8 pm.
So, what can we expect? Set against the picturesque landscapes of rural Scotland, the show is a competitive knitting series where ten contestants face weekly challenges, judged by a panel of knitting experts.
The first episode has hit our screens and it was loved by crafters up and down the nation! Keep reading to find out all the Game of Wool gossip, as well as a weekly episode recap.
What you need to know about Channel 4's The Game of Wool...
When does The Game of Wool start?
The first episode of The Game of Wool aired on Sunday 2nd of November 2025.
Where can I watch The Game of Wool?
You can watch the Game of Wool on Channel 4 in the UK, or online at Channel4.com.
Who are the judges on The Game of Wool?
Knitting and textile experts Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell will be judging The Game of Wool. There will also be a celebrity guest judge each week.
Who is presenting The Game of Wool?
Tom Daley, Olympic gold medalist and keen knitter, will be hosting The Game of Wool.
The Game of Wool episode guide
Episode one: Tank tops and sofa covers!
We absolutely loved the first episode of Game of Wool! From students to ex-marine builders, the contestants represented the country's best knitters, and we're united by one thing: a passion for knitting.
For their first Solo Challenge, the knitters created Fair Isle tank tops reflecting their personalities. Our highlights have to include Holger’s emotional support chicken, Issac’s “silly goose” theme, and Lydia’s Ghanaian-inspired design (our personal favourite!)
For the Group Challenge, the contestants were split into teams to design sofa covers in just ten hours. Holger’s cable-knit ombre design triumphed over Issac’s ambitious but unfinished holiday-themed cover.
After Di and Shelia’s blind judging, Aisha earned the “Big Knitter” title for her creative beach-themed tank, while Gordon was the first to be cast off.
Read our full, in-depth recap of episode one here
Episode two: coming soon...
Head over to The Game of Wool’s Instagram, where they’re hosting a new weekly theme to showcase your very own creations. Last week it was all about mini makes, and this week it’s post box toppers. Share your most fabulous knitted or crocheted pieces, tag them, and you could see your work featured on their page!
Read our interview with Tom, Di and Shelia
We were very lucky to be allowed to interview Tom, Di and Shelia back in July! They were absolutely lovely, and we were blown away by their passion for all things yarn.
We sat down with them to ask about the show's conception, what it was like working together and what they hope Game of Wool will bring to the general public. Plus, they gave us lots of gossip and insight on what's to come on this year's show.
Read the full interview with Tom and the judges right here
Join our knit-along and crochet-along!
If you fancy knitting or crocheting along with the show, then we have just the projects for you! Join in with Simply Knitting's free Lace & Blooms blanket, designed by Nicola Valiji. We will be releasing a new part of the blanket pattern each Monday, ready for you to knit-along with the show on Sundays.
For those who prefer to crochet, Simply Crochet has a colourful Hook & Learn blanket for you to make. This beginner-friendly blanket is the perfect project to make while watching those talented knitters!
- Free knitted flower patterns for beginners
- Easy knitting patterns for beginners
- Easy scarf knitting pattern: Garter stitch cowl
Dive into knitting
If you’re catching the knitting bug, head over to our ultimate guide to knitting. It’s packed with everything you need to know, even if you’re casting on for the very first time.
Want to learn to crochet?
Crochet is such a fun and addictive craft, and great for beginners. Take a look at our beginner's guide to crochet to get started.
