Meet Stephen Parkes, a Bromsgrove School technician showcasing his pottery skills on the popular show, bringing creativity and fun to the competition
Bromsgrove: So, there’s this guy named Stephen Parkes, right? He’s 58 and works as an AV and IT Technician at Bromsgrove School. He’s also a contestant on the latest season of The Great Pottery Throw Down. How cool is that?
Stephen grew up in Nottingham but now calls Birmingham home with his partner, Phil. He’s been into pottery since his school days and says he’s always happiest when he’s in the pottery room. Sounds like a dream job!
He credits his teacher, Mr. Glazzard, for sparking his love for pottery. After school, he became a ceramic technician and spent 17 years teaching at a college. Talk about dedication!
When it comes to his best work, he can’t decide between a hand-painted plate or a dragon sculpture he made for a college project. Both sound amazing!
Recently, he got a new house and set up a garage studio for his pottery. Outside of that, he’s into collecting Smurfs, hula hooping, and even treasure hunting. He’s found some historic coins and a key from Middle England. How adventurous!
Oh, and get this—he holds world records for his Smurf collection and hula hooping. That’s some serious talent!
On his first day on set, he felt a bit nervous, but everyone was super nice. He said it felt just like he imagined, like stepping into a TV set. He was totally awestruck!
Getting used to the cameras was a breeze for him, thanks to the friendly crew. He even got help from Princess, the kiln technician, who made things easier for him.
Stephen made great friends with the other potters, but keeping his appearance on the show a secret was tough. He felt like part of a family, bonding over games and fun times.
Finally, he was excited to share the news with his friends, who were shocked to see him on the show. It’s been quite the journey for him!
