News / 09 Dec 2024
Illustration graduate competes in Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas
BA (Hons) Illustration
Recent BA (Hons) Illustration graduate, Emily Schofield, is a contestant on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 2024.
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas is an annual craft-making show on Channel 4 filled with festive fun. This year, four talented makers will compete in a friendly challenge to design a magnificent Christmas tree.
"I didn't expect much to come from it, but I filled out the form and applied. I just assumed my work was too illustration heavy and not crafty enough for the show, but it was worth a try! Anyway, it is a good job I did, because the following day I got a phone call asking me all about my ideas for the show. I was very flustered and basically came up with everything on the spot - I have no idea what I even said!"
Emily Schofield, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
Emily continued; "I must have said something right because I got another phone call the next day saying I was through to the next stage of the casting process. After submitting my designs, I was told if I hadn't heard back from them in three weeks, then I didn't make it through to the show. With the three-week deadline having passed, I just assumed I didn't get it. At the time I thought it was probably for the best as I was busy enough as is running my shop and doing freelance jobs, no way could I also hand make enough decorations to fill a whole tree. But then a few days after the deadline I got a phone call saying I was on the show and I couldn't believe it!"
Emily Schofield applied for the series in September 2024 and passed all stages of the casting process being selected for the series in October. Emily then travelled to Scotland with a suitcase full of paper ornaments and pinecones to start filming the series.
"From waking up to going to sleep, I did nothing but make collaged tree decorations! I also made a 3D paper collage owl to use If I made it to the final."
Emily Schofield, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas airs on Channel 4 on Monday 9 December at 5.30pm, and is on nightly until the final on Friday 13 December. Will Emily go all the way and win?