Channel 4’s new craft competition, Game of Wool, has landed and it’s pure, colourful joy. Hosted by Tom Daley, the series transports us to the picturesque Yarn Barn in the Scottish Highlands, where ten passionate knitters compete for the national title.

The show is instantly engaging thanks to the fabulous contestants and the brilliant judges. Di Gilpin, who focuses on creative vision, and Sheila Greenwell, who demands technical perfection, are both well known in the craft industry, and we’re sure the advice they provided to the contestants is invaluable.

The opening challenge saw them reinvent the classic Fair Isle pattern into a modern tank top. We saw knitted geese, chunky yarn and even some steeking! Then came the ambitious team task… knitting an entire sofa cover. While one team focused on a technically flawless cabled design, the other, striving for a bold intarsia beach scene, learnt the hard way that ambition doesn’t always beat the clock! It was fabulous to see the teams working together and getting to know their personalities a little better.

What makes the show special is its gentle energy. It’s less about rivalry and more about community and the shared joy of making something beautiful. If you need a nice, good natured watch that will make you grab your needles, Game of Wool is your perfect new addiction. We won’t go into detail about who was first to be cast off, but we will do a catch up next week with more details on episode 2. We don’t want to give spoilers to those who want to binge watch all episodes later on in the month!