Peter White – Great Pottery Throw Down Finalist: Part 2 of 2

This episode is ALL about Peter's experiences on The Great PotteryThrow Down.

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Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk

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Transcript

Claire Waite Brown: 0:44

In this bonus episode with Peter white, we're talking all about the great pottery throwdown. Hello again, Peter.

Unknown: 2:03

Hello, Claire. Good to see you again.

Claire Waite Brown: 2:06

Thank you, and you were on to throw down now. And it was your family that applied in your name? What happened next?

Unknown: 2:16

Well, you know, families have a lot to answer for that. You know, that's one of the things where I'd love to throw down on those kind of programmes, and cautious to say, Oh, well, you know, I could do that, as one does, you know, I would have done it like that. So yes, they did sort of sort of apply, and they told me last minute. So it's a shortlist process. There's interviews. And because of the the nature of the beast, it was all done either zoom, or by telephone. Under normal circumstances, you would be face to face. But what happened was, you have a like a technical questioner, just asking you through what would you do with this? What materials would you do? What oxides just just basic ceramic clay information, just to make sure you do know something about it clearly. And you go on to interview. You're also interviewed by a psychologist as well, I suppose. It's not to make sure whether you're you're okay. I think it's just to make sure that you're, you're quite happy because there's highs and lows, you know that you're going to handle that. Okay. And then, of course, there's a couple of skill tests. Towards the end of that process. They contacted me and said, We'd like you to join us.

Claire Waite Brown: 3:32

Were you surprised?

Unknown: 3:39

Yeah, but no, I mean, but yeah, I just, it's, it's hard, isn't it? I know, they like to have a range of people. And I said, You're not going it's like the token old person or management. That was silly, you know. And, of course, it wasn't like that. But it got through on merit.

Claire Waite Brown: 4:03

Brilliant. So you headed up Stoke on Trent. And you moved in with a group of strangers.

Unknown: 4:11

Yeah, by telling me a date in August and, and off I went, got him a pickup truck with all my bags and rubbish and everything. And we stayed in a bubble we were put into like a gated small gated community. It was like a sort of a hunting lodge sort of thing, where I met the the other competitors, the other relevant competitors. And I also met the two people that were going to look after us. And so you had to return to a secure bubble. We had on site, we had a chef that came in the evenings cook our evening meal, six days a week. And we had two medical people, because we were COVID tested every other day. And we have a temperature check every single day. So it was all very professional, very well run. But I met these people, different nationalities, different parts of the country. Very, very young, like, you know, for 2020s to me, and, and we brought a skateboard along and I'd be sitting desktop with a beer working away. And he comes skateboarding across is wonderful. It's absolutely fantastic. And I suppose Initially, I was very apprehensive. I was away from home. I'm a fan. I'm a big family guy. And suddenly was with all these other people. And so you're waiting for the the conflicts I suppose you know, because they What was his situation? But it wasn't the 12 people that were picked, I think were picked perfectly. So I can understand why all the interviews and all the psychometric tests and all that kind of thing, you know, was fantastic. I think they did a perfect job, because we jelled really, really well.

Claire Waite Brown: 6:01

Because it's, I mean, famously, there are tears from Keith. But generally, it's, there's a lot of emotion on the show, and that you're obviously really into what it is you're doing. So you're going to feel emotionally about that you did come across as a show all of you as a really supportive bunch contestants and judges. And I'm guessing that was quite an important factor for you to support others and be supported in return. Well,

Unknown: 6:27

we have people that were a lot more skilled than me. I think most people are more skilled than me, in the sense that they have recent experience. But you just do you just got on and help people. And I think, by you offering to help, they want to reciprocate that they want to share that. We share information, we share knowledge, we say No, don't do that. Don't do this. We'll try this. And I think a certain point, you know, the, you know, one of the technicians said to me, You do know, this is competition during the year. So we're being told off it like, I thought, you know, I don't care. I'm like so so when somebody had a problem with what you didn't see was the fact that a couple of times, I was ahead in my time, and one or two of the others quite bad. So I would go and help them. So do a bit of the work and help them and just simple like glazing and wiping the bottoms of pots or things like that, just to make sure they got up in the drawing room, or they finished it. The same from them. Like I'll be sitting doing some design webinar. So all the think magic is great. You know, what about, you know, would you consider that or consider that the gel, clever jailing of the competitors was fantastic. And of course, we have the two supportive members who would go out to the shops for you. We wanted to allow to leave. And also I mean, we have a situation where you were like, at the studio, a crack a dorm. And sometimes you would be there the crack of dawn, and you leave really, really late at night. So we're long days, not long days, for a person of my age, but also for young people as well. But no, it's a fabulous time, fabulous group of people. And it was emotional. I have a lot of empathy. And I suppose I do get emotional, I do care very much about people. And so with Keith, you know, I think even Richie and Sharon got a bit emotional capital time. And there was lots you didn't see, because they had to stop filming a couple times, because we're all sobbing. And then when somebody left Crawley, you know, if you can't let those inhibitions go, that's, that's a worry, you've got to be able to go. Now I'm sorry for that situation. I don't think anybody's that hard on a cold face, you've got to let go. We're all part of this crazy world and just you know, just be be happy in

Claire Waite Brown: 9:03

the audience at home connects with that will come and understand what you're going through. And when you're showing that emotion, we feel it as well we completely understand so is that empathy, but it's a nice connection between between you guys, and everybody watching you.

Unknown: 9:19

Throughout my life, I mean, you know, our private pilot, will you know, when we're allowed to we fly minimum on versus fly. Above tour, I've been, you know, real situations. I've had businesses with all the pressures that that takes, but the tension on that show was nothing more. Because they you know, when they say you had three hours to make this, you have three hours, and she was counting down. That's genuine. And you're panicking, you know, because you could look at a task and you think I couldn't make that in three weeks, or three hours. But you do. Let's say you have that pressure. And you don't leave it. Don't let your family down. Don't let your friends down. And all the crew are rooting for you being interviewed. And you go, Oh, my pressure then. It's bonkers. But now, but you just whether it was great. It was great experience. And there's the breakages as well. Sometimes I feel so nervous for you all as as you get your stuff that's coming back from the killed. Do you know what? I'm afraid? breakages are the norm for Potter's because you're dealing with wet. You're dealing with extremes of heat. You're dealing with melted glass and silica those oxides and all those things are massive problems if you're throwing loads of heat in taking loads of heat out so do get breakages human nature allows you to push the boundaries and it wants you to push the boundaries and so you work out you think it's gonna take me 12 hours to dry this piece of work anything fine he's thrown it cold dry any quicker and then when you go back in it's got a crack anything now so then it's not taking you 12 hours it's taking you 24 you know i got the ring up tomorrow pace ready and that's the kind of tension is so for the technical crew that were loading and unloading kills they were trying to try and fire it and the stressing client is phenomenal so it can't be helped you know sometimes you kill them you lock the door you got fantastic and on top of the keylogger close the door again i'll come back to that later whatever fall under the captain and aspirin is like the highs the lows grind valleys dark grey days that it was the same on the show yeah you know what sometimes i mean i'm sure people looked at the show before while they all laugh when all the works are smashed and because the attention because sometimes you cry and then you'd laugh if it has nothing to do about it i just try and piece it all together make it look good in bits you know this this sort of mosaic of of mess you know just hope that your mess is tidy than the mess behind you you know no that's that's what it was like

Claire Waite Brown: 12:24

and how did you feel to get as far as you did to get to the final

Unknown: 12:32

interesting question i think i mean was mentioned that that was a bit of a rank outsider i don't think has anything to do why i joined probably more to do with my skill base and my knowledge base wasn't quite there so i think in some people's minds i think they thought right peter is the old boy he'll probably go quite early like keith said we've never had anybody your age get this far and there's still more to go it was hard not to cry cuz you're tired you're tense he's very emotional he's so he's so passionate about you can't help but be passionate i defy anybody not to cry that's a couple of mics that roy enjoy what people you know they'll get sobbing like a baby you know genuinely believe it because he draws you in doesn't it you know you have this this creative energy with them and then when they start babbling like you're off but yet to make it till the end was absolutely amazing jody one she was just fantastic overall fantastic anybody there could have one yeah

Claire Waite Brown: 13:42

so what lessons have you learned from being on the show whether specifically like a practical lesson or practical actually pottery technique lessons or life lessons lessons about yourself

Unknown: 13:57

right okay so what i've learned is about my confidence level goes it gets really really great people my throwing skills went up through the roof i could throw quite large very confidently now are certainly more knowledgeable you have people there that were still all together we're still talking water and i can i can put a question on whatsapp and know they'll get 11 answers personally this gives me more confidence it's made me appreciate my family a lot more not that i needed to have it anymore but i missed my family terribly there were times when i realised i was what was 70 you know when it came back really really tired and they'd all go to just go to the bar to get up and go into bed i suppose it's it's it's taught me to be realistic as well be realistic about life not take things for granted just all get out there and you know come on and do these things you know number one the aches and the pains you know take a tough link and have a go fine do anybody can do it and that's what it's all about and hopefully encourage the children as well to go for it

Claire Waite Brown: 15:09

brilliant that's a perfect ending ethos there to give it a go and if i can do it anybody can do it it's what we're all about here at creativity found as well

Unknown: 15:23

so the great posture we throw down it's advertising for new contestants have a go apply if you're interested in like have a go if you're at that stage of your life where you think or a What I'm going to do today, get a pencil get a pen, get a bit of paper, get outside, have a look at the world, the birds, get away from the television, get away from social media. Get out there. Just annoy somebody. Just have a bit of fun, but just do it. Ages on your number. Your body's not, but I just haven't got

Claire Waite Brown: 16:02

amazing. Thank you so much, Peter.

Unknown: 16:05

I feel lovely talking to you. Thank you.