Lancashire-born potter makes Great Pottery Throwdown semi-finals

James, from Kirkham, once again impressed judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller to secure a place in the final four.

This week the remaining potters were tasked with creating abstract coffee sets that had to consist of a pot with a fitted lid, two cups and saucers, a cream jug, and a sugar bowl with a fitted lid.

James and the remaining contestants were tasked with making abstract coffee sets (Image: Channel 4)

James admitted he had made things twice as difficult for himself with the way his pieces were designed.

He made two of each item, wrapped one round the other to create a step, then spliced away a lot of material from one of the pieces.

The overall effect of the step impressed the judges but they felt too much time was put into it that could have been spent elsewhere.

James came third in the second challenge (Image: Channel 4)

Brymer Jones said that there were certain elements of the set that did not work, while Miller said he admired the sheer volume of decorative work.

They added that while it was not the most radical or abstract, they liked the use of design and colour.

The second challenge this week saw the potters tasked with creating as many high-footed rice bowls as possible in 15 minutes.

Each bowl had to be identical and would be thrown with porcelain clay.

James earned a place in the semi-final of the show (Image: Channel 4)

James came third in the task, seeing two of his bowls thrown into the ‘bucket of doom’.

Despite this and some of the negative feedback from the main challenge, James did enough to see himself through to the final four of the competition.

Potter of the Week this week went to jewellery designer Lois, while going home was Helen, a retired headteacher from Kent.

The Great Pottery Throwdown airs on Sunday nights on Channel 4.