Kilns are about to get cranked up a notch higher as The Great Pottery Throw Down returns with “Raku Week.” This week, our intrepid band of amateur potters will be tackling the tricky task of creating bulbous vessels. Why bulbous, you ask? Well, apparently, it’s the perfect shape for demonstrating the unique qualities of raku firing. Let’s hope their creations don’t end up looking like deflated basketballs.
Beyond just shaping clay, the potters will also have to master the ancient art of naked raku decoration. That’s right, naked raku. No, not the potters, the pottery! This firing technique involves pulling scorching hot pieces from the kiln and placing them in containers filled with combustible materials. The resulting smoke and flames create distinctive patterns on the clay, a process that’s as dramatic as it sounds. One wrong move, and it’s back to the drawing board, or perhaps the emergency room.
Adding to the pressure cooker atmosphere is guest judge Laima Laurena, a Latvian ceramic artist known for her unique decorative style. She’ll be setting a special challenge for the potters, because, let’s face it, things weren’t stressful enough already. Hosts Siobhán McSweeney, Keith Brymer Jones, and Rich Miller will be on hand to provide guidance, moral support, and the occasional well-timed joke, as one more potter gets the boot at the end of the episode.
Tune in to see who can handle the heat of “Raku Week,” who cracks under pressure, and who creates a masterpiece worthy of a spot in the final. It’s all to play for as these amateur potters strive for ceramic glory.
The Great Pottery Throw Down airs Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 7:45 PM on Channel 4.