Viewers slammed the ‘miserable’ judges of Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker last night for being ‘too harsh’ on contestants.
The premiere episode of the new show, dubbed “Bake off For Wood”, featured nine amateur carpenters being asked to build a showpiece bed in the “Big Build” challenge. They also had to complete a technical task.
Two industry heavyweights were instrumental in deciding who would be leaving: Alex De Rijke, an award-winning architect, and Helen Welch, founder of the London School of Furniture Making.
But viewers were critical of the programme, claiming that the challenge to build an actual bed in the first episode was too difficult. Others thought the judges were too harsh, with one saying: “Blimey, the judges are a bit fierce.”
Viewers slammed the ‘miserable’ judges Helen Joyce and Alex De Rijke of Channel 4’s new ‘Bake off for wood’ last night for being ‘too harsh’ on contestants
Starting the programme, Alex explained: ‘Wood has soul. As a maker and designer, you must respond to that.
“I want simplicity and good quality, but it’s not easy to attain.”
Helen continued, “I’m going to not be very forgiving in the end if it’s very rough and ready.”
The builders were given the task of creating a double bed that was at least 2m high. They also had to be able to use wood effectively and show a good knowledge of joinery.
Many viewers felt the judges were too harsh with amateur carpenters. One moment when they said one bed’s joinery looked like a boat was “unforgivable”.
Alex said to Rada that he wanted to build a Japanese-style bed and that his design made it sound complicated. He also stated that he was all about simplicity.
Later, when Alex asked him about Tim’s decision for a’ship bed’, he said that while it was a highly unusual design, it was a wild one.
She said, “It makes him sound like he’s eating more than he can chew.”
During the skills challenge, amateur carpenters were given 90 minutes to make a block of printing.
Many viewers felt that Alex and Helen were too feisty and harsh towards amateur carpenters.
During the judging, Mandy was told hers ‘wasn’t a great print’ and Billy was told: “Your tree could have been a cauliflower.”
Before the judges once more critiqued Billy’s design, the carpenters returned to their tent to continue their bed designs.
Alex stated that it was ‘do-or-die’ for Billy after they raised concerns about whether they would be able see the joinery in Billy’s wooden bed.
Alex and Helen went on to study the work of the carpenter after two days of intense effort from the contestant.
The new show’s first episode featured nine amateur carpenters who were challenged to build a show-piece bed using the “Big Build” challenge. They also had to complete a technical task.
During the skills challenge, amateur carpenters were given 90 minutes to make a block of printing. The judges said that Billy’s tree design looked more similar to a cauliflower.
Alex slated Tim’s whimsical boat-shaped bed. He said that it could have rocked just like a rocking horse. It was a missed opportunity. That is really disappointing.
Helen said that there was some’very iffy joinery’.
Alex commented, “Iffy isn’t a word, but unforgivable”
Jade, an art school graduate, was told that her intricately carved headboard didn’t work. Helen explained that she could have done something more structural.
Helen stated that Jade, an art-school graduate,’s intricately carved headboard was a ‘bit of a mess’ (pictured).
Judges also slammed the joinery on Tim’s ship bed. They told him it was “not only iffy but unforgivable”.
Helen later stated that it was a bit of chaos for her.
Chantelle, however, was finally given the boot for her “wasteful” sculptural design.
Many viewers felt that judges were too harsh on contestants. One viewer wrote: “The judges don’t come across well at any level!”
Many viewers felt that judges were too harsh on contestants. One viewer wrote: “The judges don’t come across well at any level!”
Another writer wrote: “These creative contests often stand or fall behind their judges.
‘ This is where #AllThatGlitters went down, and I don’t like the horribly male judges on #Handmade. It would be horrible without Mel.
A third commenter stated: “I really hoped that the #Handmadewoodwork program on Channel 4 would be next Pottery Throwdown/Bake Off/Sewing Bee but the judges are too cold and it hasn’t taught me about woodworking skills or techniques. simple boxes before beds etc!’