The Hour

The ancient art-form of clay pottery dates back to around 16,000BCE and has seen an upsurge in popularity over recent years.

Eighties heart-throbs Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze famously tried their hand at pottery in Hollywood blockbuster Ghost while Coronation Street’s Ken & Deirdre are the latest stars to take up the craze.

Never one to ignore the latest trends, The Hour invited pottery expert Emilka Radlinska into the studio to show Michelle MacManus and guest presenter John Amabile how it should be done.

With their pottery wheels and clay at the ready, the three slowly began their pottery challenge; to make a bowl in less than three minutes. Could it be done?

It was clear right away that Michelle wasn’t quite up to Demi Moore’s abilities in Ghost. “This just isn’t working,” she sighed. “Mines looks like a doughnut.”

Emilka has been making clay pots for over 10 years and says it’s a great way to relax and unwind, irrelevant of your particular skill level:

 “It’s a great way relax and a lot of people come to classes after work. It’s just a fantastic way to engage with your sense of touch.

“We usually do seven weeks worth of classes. You get to make quite a few pieces with different clays, and there are a variety of different techniques.”

The art of clay pottery requires patience and a delicate touch and although beginners may find the practise frustratingly difficult at first, they soon pick up the basics.

Emilka said: “I've been a ceramic artist for about 10 years, but I was terrible to begin with.

“The best thing to do is to get some water on your hands, place your left arm against your hip bone and gently press your palm against the clay.

“With your right hand bring the pinkie down against the wheel and place your thumb in the centre of the bowl. This is called opening up the clay.”

Back at the pottery wheels, the methods suggested by Emilka were clearly being taken on board by guest presenter John Amabile, who appeared to be constructing a well-rounded ashtray.

Unfortunately Michelle was less Patrick Swayze and more clay crazy as she struggled to sculpt a bowl.