Needles At The Ready: Manx Maximalist Takes On Britain’s Fashion Elite

Clear your Sunday evenings and prepare to shout ‘I KNEW HIM WHEN!’ at the telly – because one of our own is about to go full glam on national TV.

Yes, Daniel Thomas – Ramsey-born, Ballaugh-bred and now strutting around London as a copywriter – is officially on series two of the ITV1 fashion showdown ‘M&S: Dress The Nation’.

Hosted by telly dream team Vernon Kay and AJ Odudu, the show pits nine plucky contestants against each other in a sewing-based scrap for fashion glory. The prize? A mentorship with Marks & Spencers themselves and the chance to have their designs sold nationwide – which means your nan could be wearing Daniel’s work to chapel next spring.

A proud maximalist, he loves bold, floaty, colourful designs that bring joy and self-expression to his everyday life.

Talking about the show, Daniel said: ‘The show includes those who want to be in the fashion industry or want to push themselves further in that sphere. We compete to win the sponsorship so we can further our careers in the industry.

‘For quite a few years now I’ve been knitting, sewing and crocheting. I’ve been posting my designs online for quite a long time, and I had one of the casting people from the show pop on my Instagram and ask if I would ever be interested in applying for it.

‘I’ve had a couple of those kinds of messages before, but never really felt like it was the right fit. However, this time, I thought you only live once so you might as well try it!’

Behind the glam, though, is a story with heart. Daniel spent much of his childhood with his grandma on the Isle of Man while his parents were away for medical treatment in the UK. And it was with her – a woman who refused to leave the house without a full outfit, immaculate hair, and heels – that he first learned to sew.

Filming for the show happened back in June, and it turns out reality TV isn’t just sewing in silence for four hours like he imagined.

‘I really enjoyed the experience, but I was just kind of naïve to it,’ he explained.

‘In my head, I was going to go into a room for four hours and sew – but they took us out for interviews and there were cameras in my face.

‘It’s going to be interesting watching it back and seeing what I actually remember!’

The first episode airs Sunday, September 14 at 6.55pm, so get the kettle on and prepare to scream every time you spot the Manx accent.