Behind the Seams: The perfect gift for fans of The Great British Sewing Bee

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Fascinating if you’re a follower of the industry, but I can imagine that it’s also a really good autobiography for anyone having grown up in that same era - and some fab name drop clangs that nobody can resent along the way!

Esme is over 70 now and has lived a fascinating and creative life, there’s just not enough pages for her to go into great depth but gives you just enough.

It's straightforwardly told, with a few chapters on sewing skills too (eg, pattern cutting which is Esme's own speciality). I loved learning about Esme’s childhood, foray into fashion and her Great British Sewing Bee experience. It's not that I wanted scandal, I cannot imagine Esme is the type of person to dish the dirt, but it was all a bit nice. From Swanky Modes and its place in fashion history to Sewing Bee and its place in our hearts, this is wonderful.

I especially loved reading the sections where she said about the films she had worked on, and one of my favourites being Bridget jones Diary with that classic bunny girl outfit! The writing is so good in the sense that you do feel she is sat right opposite you telling you her stories, and her cheeky humour really comes alive too which I love! Covering her childhood, family life, career starts and many highs, friendships, teaching and ending up with her much loved time as a judge on The great British sewing bee (which is one of my favourite cosy shows). I don't think you have to be a fan of The Great British Sewing Bee to love this book, just a fan of interesting life stories and a life being well lived!It documents key times, and it documents the highlights of those, all the positive things for example, about four women working together, managing families and other commitments, doing it for the love of clothes and not for the money. Esme is clearly a private person, and despite some of the shocking reveals such as her riding a bike almost naked, she remains a deeply private person.