A WINCHESTER-born potter is starring in BBC TV series which follows the early careers of craftspeople and their dreams of becoming professionals.

Isabella Letty, originally from Hampton Lane in Teg Down, will be on the screen on January 5 as part of the new BBC series Make it at Market.

Presented by Dom Chinea from the Repair Shop, each crafter is given a mentor to help turn their passion into a career.

Izzy, 29, is a former Peter Symonds and Kings School student but moved to London after university for work. While working in advertising, Izzy started ceramics classes in the evening which soon became the highlight of her week.

After taking up a spot at a school for young artists in Denmark, Izzy quit her job and is now pursuing potting full-time from her studio in London, with the help of her TV mentor who guided the 29-year-old through making a business and refining technical skills.

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Isabella said: “There was a call out on a Facebook forum looking for early career potters but it said nothing about the BBC1 so I got very excited when I found out.

“The aim of the programme is to help makers who adore their craft and would love to be full-time but don’t quite have the business acumen to make it happen. Helping with the craft itself, price points, marketing strategy and efficiencies.

“The programme has definitely put me onto the next chapter of my career. Before I had a lot of passion and knew where I wanted to get to but didn’t know how. The mentorship through the show has shown me the roadmap I need to take.

“It was incredible for the business side but I’m also self-taught as a potter so having the mentorship of a professional potter has also been great for my pottery.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

Izzy described a potter as someone who creates ceramics on the potter’s wheel out of clay before the item is fired, blazed and then fired again. As well as potters the series follows other craftspeople such as woodturners and glass blowers.

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The programme is set in a National Trust house in Leicester which was transformed into a forest wonderland. The filming took place in two parts over two months, finishing a year after Izzy first applied.

The 15-part series begins on January 2 at 4.30pm on BBC1, with the Winchester crafter’s episode being broadcast on January 6. All episodes will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer and on Britbox.

The potter said: “I’m so excited. I’m slightly nervous because I won’t have seen it before it goes out. To be on the BBC is a dream and absolutely wonderful.”

For more go to bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001gq6s.

For more on Isabella and her work go to izzylettyceramics.com/ or @izzylettyceramics on Instagram.