Esme Young (15:30)

A judge on the much-loved TV series The Great British Sewing Bee, Queen of Fashion Esme Young’s passion for sewing and designing was born when she found refuge in her sketchbooks as a child after discovering she was partially deaf.

Moving to London as a teenager her life progressed from living in a squat to launching Swanky Modes, her own clothing line, altering a dress for Cher and watching Notting Hill Carnival with David Bowie. She went on to design outfits for films including Trainspotting and The Beach before moving onto the small screen herself.

A celebration of a creative life lived differently, Behind the Seams is a reminder that it's never too early, or too late to pick up a needle and start stitching in a new direction.

As well as designing and judging, Esme also works as a senior lecturer teaching fashion at Central Saint Martins.

In conversation with Vivian French

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