Knitter stars in show after daughter's suggestion

Stephanie Thompson said she met some "amazing people" on the show

When Stephanie Thompson's daughters encouraged her to watch The Game of Wool, little did they know their mother was soon to be a contestant on the Channel 4 show.

Hosted by Tom Daley, 10 talented knitters take part in different challenges each week, which are judged by knitting designers and experts Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell.

Ms Thompson, from Thulston in Derbyshire, was chosen from thousands of contestants to take part in the knitting series.

The 65-year-old said: "My two daughters just couldn't believe it. They were amazed their mum was going to be on TV. They thought it was fabulous."

Ten contestants have been competing in The Game of Wool

Ms Thompson, who caught the judges' eyes with her passion for knitted jumpers, got down to the last eight in the competition before leaving in episode three following the holiday deck chair challenge.

She said: "My eldest daughter is very good at saying, 'mum you need to see this', or, 'mum you need to do that'.

"She sent me a link and said, 'this is a show you might like to watch when it comes out in the autumn'.

"Well, I decided in my wisdom that I'd actually apply.

"I went through the audition process. I went through the, 'you're on the shortlist' process. And I went through the, 'you're on the show' process before I told them [my daughters] I'd actually applied in the first place."

Former Olympic diver, Tom Daley, hosts the new show

She added: "I've really enjoyed it - I met some amazing people.

"I grew up knitting with my gran and my mum and my daughters over the years. I've never really been in a knitting community.

"So to spend all those weeks around knitters and crocheters was phenomenal. I learned so much just from the conversations we had."

Following her appearance on the show, Ms Thompson has been asked to officially open The Crafty Attic, a new specialist wool shop and haberdashery, in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, on 6 December.

Helen Wheat, who created The Crafty Attic to help support crafters in the town, said: "We are so excited to have Stephanie come and join us in sharing her knitting passion and knowledge. It will just be a great way to celebrate all things wool in the town."