All That Glitters is back on BBC 2 from Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter

If Katherine Ryan has taken one gem from All That Glitters (“I definitely haven’t learned any skills”), it’s that jewellery investment is key.

The comedian hosts the BBC Two competition show, which last year saw eight talented jewellers battle it out to be crowned Britain’s next big industry star (think Bake Off format, but with plenty of bling!).

“I’ve learned what to look out for when buying jewellery or admiring jewellery; I’ve learned to value it in a different way,” begins the Canadian, 39, who’s well known for her own glamorous stage routine.

“I’ve never been a fan of fast fashion. I don’t think it’s sustainable, and I don’t think it’s a good idea. But in jewellery, too, now, I think that it’s important to look long and hard and invest in someone talented and local and have jewellery that you can pass on to different generations of your family.”

She adds: “Going into series one, I thought it was just a princess in a palace who would draw a picture of a tiara and it would be made by minions somewhere. I didn’t realise (jewellery making) was such a broad and accessible trade, and I think that’s what I really love about it.”

Talking ahead of its second six-part series, an enthused Ryan is set to welcome a new batch of aspiring jewellers to the specially built workshop nestled in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, each with the dream to follow in last year’s winner Hugo Johnson’s footsteps.

They will need to impress two of Britain’s best-known contemporary jewellers, show returnee Shaun Leane and newbie to the judging panel Dinny Hall, who will collectively decide which of the contestants deserve to be coveted jeweller of the week – and who should be sent home.

From spinner rings to mis-matched earrings, engagement rings to hairpins, each episode sees the jewellers face two real world challenges: The Bestseller, where they are tasked with designing the latest must-have piece that everyone will want, and The Bespoke, where they create a one-off piece for some very special clients from all walks of life, including Strictly’s Shirley Ballas.

It’s a talented bunch, offers 53-year-old Leane, “but I think what happened in this series, is the guys kind of knew what they were up against; they knew what was going to be asked of them, so they came just as skilled as the ones in series one, but they came prepared, and they were ready.

“They wanted to push the bar, as us jewellers always want to do, and we, as judges, knew what could be made in those time slots so we felt we could throw a little bit more at these jewellers – a diversity of materials and diversity in concept to really challenge their skills.

“But they all delivered very much on design and technique, and storytelling,” he says, proudly, celebrated worldwide for his own modern romantic jewels. “It was fun to judge, although it was hard to judge at points because they were all very good. But it was always interesting.”

“This series allowed for slightly less traditional techniques as well,” Hall adds. “One or two of the jewellers were using materials that aren’t necessarily used that often, so it allowed people to have ideas that were quite outlandish at times, and not just the kind of typical jewellery that you would see in the shops.

“I felt a bit like a design tutor, in a way,” muses the jewellery titan, who has created pieces for celebrity A-listers across the globe. “It was a really nice experience mentoring these jewellers and every single one of them gave back as much as I think Shaun and I gave to them.”

As for who we can expect to meet, “we have an amazing cast and one jeweller with a truly incredible story,” teases Ryan. “He started to make jewellery whilst he was living in the Calais jungle, having walked there from Syria and is now settled in the UK. We get to see his heritage in his work and it’s so beautiful.

“We also have a Brummie jeweller who could not be more proud of her hometown, weaving a little bit of it in to all her creations. But honestly, they’re all so talented.”

But more than the craftsmanship, it’s the jewellers themselves that make the show unmissable, argues Ryan.

“I think when you’re talking about entertainment and a competition, then star quality is really important, and I’m a fan of so many jewellers, not just for their work and their voice that they put into their craft.

“As a consumer, not a judge, I feel like the jewellers who’ve got that extra star quality – like Hugo – it reads in their work and when you connect with an artist, it makes you want to wear more of their jewellery, it makes you want to follow their career,” she reasons.

“And that’s what we’re looking for on All That Glitters, is Britain’s next jewellery star, not just Britain’s next capable jeweller who’s come a long way.

“Hugo has gone on to do amazing things and launched the most beautiful collections,” she recalls. “I think he has been nominated for an award too. That’s pretty amazing. It’s a cliche, but it proves that this show really can change our jewellers’ lives…”

That’s in addition to what the show has done for budding jewellers.

“Jewellery has never really been filmed like this on TV – the process, the designing, the process of making, the bespoke interaction between the designers and the jewellers and the customer,” lists Leane. “So it really did portray a great interest in jewellery.

“All of the schools that I work with, the Goldsmith’s Institute, Holts Academy, all of those teaching schools, were full up. They got so many applicants to apply to them for jewellery courses, so the interest in jewellery making as a skill and an art form really increased across the country.

“All That Glitters has really helped that; it’s really brought a really good knowledge of our beautiful craft.”

“What the BBC does so well, too, is cover such a broad range of audiences and cater to all types of entertainment,” Ryan adds.

“I didn’t realise that jewellery making is so accessible, is an apprenticeship, is something that so many talented artists are doing all around the UK. And All That Glitters really touched them and spoke to them the most.

“What was exciting for me, was to see that a lot of the contestants for series two were super fans of series one!” she finishes. “I know lots of people love to learn about jewellery making, who aren’t jewellers, but now that it’s grabbed the jewellers and made them excited, it’s so wonderful for the industry.”

All That Glitters returns to BBC Two on Thursday August 25.

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