In the grand tradition of wholesome yet competitive reality television, Canada stepped into the studio with the premiere of The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down Season 1 in February 2024. Airing on CBC, the series brought the beloved British format to North American soil, blending high-stakes craftsmanship with the distinct charm and humor of the Canadian art scene.
Bringing a prestigious Canadian touch to the production, the series was filmed in the heart of Vancouver's arts district on Granville Island, at the former site of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. This location, known for its rich artistic community, provided the perfect backdrop for the ten talented amateur potters competing for the title of Canada's top potter.
For aspiring potters: The casting call for Season 3 is currently open. You do not need to be a professional; you just need to love clay and be willing to cry on television when your pot explodes.
The show was filmed on , at the former site of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Each episode followed a structured format of two creative challenges: The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down Season 1 ...
A visual artist and instructor at Emily Carr University known for his intricate sculptural work. Natalie Waddell:
At the end of each episode, one potter was crowned "Potter of the Week," while one heartbreakingly packed up their apron.
Becca Wood (a 29-year-old librarian from Halifax) won Season 1. Her final piece—a towering tree of life with removable leaves as spoons—was both functional and sculptural. Interestingly, she had only been potting for 18 months. Her victory speech: “I learned that perfection is boring. I’m keeping the cracks.” In the grand tradition of wholesome yet competitive
The season finale drew over 500,000 live viewers—a massive win for CBC—and quickly led to a Season 2 renewal.
, where you can follow Michael's journey along with the other nine amateur potters from across Canada. from the show or where to find his letterpress work Meet the potters from The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down 4 Jan 2024 —
Guiding the contestants through the process was host , whose warmth and humour helped set a supportive and encouraging tone. However, the biggest draw for many viewers was the involvement of Seth Rogen . Far from a mere celebrity cameo, Rogen was deeply integrated into the show’s fabric. As an executive producer, he helped shape its vision, and as a guest judge, he appeared throughout the season, drawing from his own experience as an amateur potter (his first piece, he revealed, was an ashtray). His genuine passion for the craft was a through-line, culminating in the finale where he personally presented the winner with a one-of-a-kind ceramic crown that he made himself. This location, known for its rich artistic community,
The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down Season 1: A New Clay Classic
Ten potters from across Canada competed in the debut season: Kiefer Floreal (Winnipeg, MB) Alice Gibson (Penticton, BC) Thomas Haskell (Toronto, ON) Susan Johnston (Surrey, BC) Renu Mathew (Olds, AB) Andrew McCullough (Fredericton, NB) Jen Sonnenberg (Stonewall, MB) Jackie Talmey-Lennon (Vancouver, BC) Elsa Valiñas (Fredericton, NB) Michael Wood (Salisbury, NB) Episode Guide The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down | Shows - CBC Gem
If you missed the initial broadcast, all episodes of are available for streaming on CBC Gem (in Canada) and AMC+/Sundance Now (in the US).