Crafting has this image of being slightly geeky... hopefully this show makes crafting cool
Hosts Keith Lemon and Anna Richardson talk to GEMMA DUNN about their new show, The Fantastical Factory of Curious Craft
IT’S hard to imagine a better time for the introduction of The Fantastical Factory of Curious Craft. The new, six-part Channel 4 series offers viewers a window into the world of craftmanship by challenging skilful competitors to create prop-like, mic-drop makes of epic proportions.
And who better to front it than comedian and master crafter Keith Lemon and co-host Anna Richardson.
“It’s like we’re evil geniuses – it’s like Walt Disney brought out Disney+ just at the right time!” quips Keith, 47, with the show an ideal watch in lockdown.
“It will give people something to do if they’re interested in craft – but it’s a nice idea that would work even if we weren’t locked in. It’s a lovely programme.”
“I think people are generally getting a bit low, so this is bright, bubbly, fantastical and magical, and it’s definitely going to encourage people (to get crafting),” Anna, 49, says.
“And what’s so nice about it is that it (features) ordinary people who just happen to be able to do something creative and extraordinary – and it’s family viewing, so you can have mum, dad, kids, grandparents watching this, going, ‘I can do that, let’s have a crack’!”
Filmed in a surreal factory set (think Willy Wonka), each episode sees four grafting crafters navigate their way through a number of tasks – from creating a bespoke item in response to a brief from Keith, in the role of factory owner, to fulfilling a commission set out by an impressive roster of famous guests.
While quality control craft experts Harriet Vine and Zak Khchai will help choose the three most impressive makes in the first round, with the worst one being dramatically recycled, the ultimate winner is only declared following the second celebrity-driven finale.
Expect the likes of Nick Grimshaw, Mel B, Eamonn Holmes, Martin Kemp, Katherine Ryan, Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams to star.
As for the tasks at hand, there’s everything from a 3D model of Keith’s head (“That was the most selfindulgent task ever and I felt really weird about it”) to a mythical creature puppet, and beyond.
“This guy called Samuel came in chopping wood – he looked like Ashton Kutcher so he is going to be so popular with the ladies!” recalls Keith, whose mum stars as the show’s resident tea lady.
“He literally came in with a lump of wood, an axe, and a couple of tools...” Anna continues, explaining how he took on the puppet task. “So you’ve got a log, you’ve got four hours, and within that time he handcrafted an articulated Phoenix. It’s amazing!
“My favourite make was by Ann, a very beautiful, self-effacing Taiwanese girl,” adds the Naked Attraction host.
“She created this porcelain hand puppet, so she stitched the robes, created a porcelain Chinese head and hand painted her face – in four hours! It was the most exquisite thing you’ve ever seen!”
It’s a line-up that has gone on to inspire avid crafter Keith to try out other mediums rather than his usual go-to: bubble wrap and masking tape.
“During lockdown, I’ve got into sculpting as such. I’ve been using something called Super Sculpey!” he reveals. “But everything I made on the show was still made of bubble wrap – a chihuahua, a giraffe,” he lists, having first discovered his talent with the home staple when he moved to a new house years ago.
A talented artist,
Keith studied art and design at Leeds
College of Art before becoming a household name.
He’s since recreated props for many of his TV shows; built life-size models of the Star Wars characters R2D2 and
C3PO; and founded
KIL Clothes, his official clothing line where all the clothes feature original designs by Keith who uploads his makes, graphic designs and doodles to social media to #lemonart.
“It’s a different vibe for me, this show, because it’s not how you’ve seen me before,” Keith realises.
“But on Celebrity Juice, nine times out of 10 I’m slightly drunk – and then on this it’s just genuinely being interested in people creating things and genuinely gossiping with Anna Richardson from Naked Attraction!
“All my mates that know me, they were like, ‘This show is made for you!”’
“What’s interesting about (Keith on this) is you see a much softer, kinder, more interested, less ADHD side to him,” says Anna, who studied history
of art (and English) at university.
“So rather than being the mad guy from Celebrity Juice, you see a much calmer, more considered, really knowledgeable Keith.”
Do the duo have any tips for budding artists at home?
“Buy rolls of masking tape and always have plenty of PVA glue!” Keith offers.
“You can divide the audience into people like Keith, who are already really good crafters and really creative, so they will already know where to go to get their supplies – and then all the rest of us,” Anna notes.
“For someone like me who is a complete beginner but really interested, my tips would be go on to a website where you can get your kits or your supplies and also start following people on social media.
“There are loads of free tutorials that will just show you step-by-step guides of how to craft something – that’s what I’m doing while I’m at home.”
She adds: “And just from a mental health point of view, while everybody is stuck in and there’s lots of very anxious people, when you craft and when you create, you go into a state of flow.
“So if you’ve got your complete attention on something, it’s been proven to really help with mental health and any kind of anxiety,” she states.
Does the process help Keith in a similar way?
“It hasn’t helped me as such... or maybe it has, and I just don’t know it, because it relaxes me when I am making things or drawing things?” he responds, having recently launched a YouTube channel called Keith Lemon’s Doings. “I just feel like I’ve beaten the world when I make something out of nothing, it’s exciting,” he adds.
“But I don’t suffer from depression or anything because my mind is always filled with things that I’m going to do, other than telly. “Crafting does have this image of doing it by yourself in a bedroom and I would say slightly geeky – I hope that this show makes crafting cool.”
The Fantastical Factory of Curious Craft starts on Channel 4, tomorrow at 8pm.