Tom Daley shares unusual secret behind Game of Wool's Scots location

Celebrity Traitors star Tom Daley has recently embarked on an exciting career first.

The 31-year-old Olympic champion diver has taken on his first major presenting role in Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter, which is currently airing on Channel 4.

The series sees ten amateur knitters compete in a series of dazzling solo and epic team challenges as they compete to become the UK's first TV knitting champion.

Each episode sees the knitters challenged to create a whole host of unique makes and larger than life projects, from clothing and jewellery to home accessories and furniture - all made from wool.

The knitters' creative approaches and techniques are watched over and judged by experts Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, known for their work knitting for fashion juggernauts such as Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Nike, reports the Mirror.

The first episode, which aired last weekend (November 2), saw the knitters take on a classic Fair Isle solo challenge, as well as a full-size, fully stitched sofa for the group task.

Game of Wool was filmed in the Ayrshire countryside, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

The ten knitters were welcomed to a remote barn dubbed The Yarn Barn, which was filled with a range of yarn weights, colours and brands, as well as knitting needles and crochet hooks galore.

Speaking at a recent press event for the series, Tom shared a behind-the-scenes secret about The Yarn Barn.

"I don't know how obvious it is when you watch it, but The Yarn Barn was absolutely Baltic. In between shots and stuff, we brought in all the heaters," he disclosed.

"It was quite cold, but other than that, it was actually quite fun being in and out of The Yarn Barn. I did also steal quite a lot. I said steal, I used [the yarn] to make [things]."

Sheila concurred, stating: "It was freezing."

Discussing how he landed the role as the programme's host, Tom continued: "When it first came to me through my management, I kind of thought they were joking because I was like, 'Wait, what? A knitting TV show?' I was like, 'This is a dream to talk about knitting and crochet, and try and find Britain's best knitter and crocheter.'

"But the team at Hello Halo [Productions] were fantastic when I got to meet them first and then Channel for also taking the risk of doing a show about knitting and crochet, and doing something that hasn't been done before in that way.

"Of course, you've got the likes of other slower watch TV, like the Sewing Bee and Bake Off and things like that. Knitting and crochet [are hobbies] people would consider niche, but I actually think way more people than you would imagine have some kind of affiliation to knitting or crochet. It's nostalgic."

After watching the first episode of Game of Wool, Channel 4 audiences swiftly flocked to X (previously Twitter) to express their approval.

"Absolutely the best programme ever. Beats Bake Off and Sewing bee hands down! Gentle, eccentric, talentful. Will inspire the nation to go clickertyclack!" one viewer expressed.

Another chimed in: "Loving this so far. Such an enjoyable programme already. I like the Sewing Bee but this is better because it is simple and there are no forced jokes. Knowledgeable judges and a really good presenter in Tom who is just very passionate about knitting."

Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter is available to stream on Channel 4