Art pottery manufacturer Moorcroft - whose owners live in Thaxted - is set to appear in The Great Pottery Throwdown on Channel 4.

In the semi-final episode airing on Sunday, March 5, Moorcroft designer Emma Bossons will join as guest judge while contestants get fired up to compete in a Queen's Choice challenge, based on Emma's design of the same name. 

Presented by Siobhan McSweeney, the episode will see the four remaining potters take on the iconic Moorcroft tubelining, demonstrated by artist Gill Johnson.

Moorcroft, which is based in Staffordshire and was founded in 1913, specialises in richly decorated earthenware, and its chairman Hugh Edwards lives in Thaxted.

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Sales of Moorcroft pieces have attracted customers to Thaxted and Saffron Walden, while Moorcroft money has supported Thaxted Church.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Emma and Gill with Siobhan on The Great Pottery Throw DownEmma and Gill with Siobhan on The Great Pottery Throw Down (Image: Channel 4)

Emma Bossons began her Moorcroft career at the age of 20, and created her Queen's Choice design for the Golden Jubilee in 2002. 

Moorcroft's Catherine Gage said: "Emma was thrilled to be a guest judge and introduce her iconic Queen’s Choice design, now synonymous with Moorcroft.

"The Great Pottery Throw Down has done so much to champion many pottery skills and techniques found in the Potteries and across the country.

"To be able to demonstrate our own heritage skills has been an absolute privilege."