RYAN Walklett’s new career is all sewn up – despite being knocked out of the Great British Sewing Bee on Thursday night.

The 21-year-old from Old Town made his small screen debut on the third series of the BBC competition, and despite being knocked out ahead of next week’s semi-finals the experience has propelled him to a much coveted wardrobe master position at one of the West End theatres.

The youngest contestant ever to take part in the competition, which pits the talents of 10 amateur sewists against each other in a bid to be crowned Britain’s best home sewer, said that reliving the experience months after the show was originally filmed was emotional.

“I was reliving the moment when I saw it on the show,” said Ryan, who is now working on Ghost Story at Arts Theatre, in Leicester Square.

“I knew it was coming. Everyone was so good that it had come down to just tiny details.

“Thinking back I don’t think there was anything I did that I didn’t finish or that I wasn’t pleased with.

“I was pleased that I wasn’t the only one leaving that day though. If I’d had to make the exit on my own I think I’d have been in pieces.

“While you’re in the sewing room you do sort of forget that it’s a competition, and it’s gutting when someone leaves. You’re like a family and it’s so relaxed.”

His time on the show has inspired him to start studying a course in menswear at Central St Martin’s.

“It’s definitely given me more confidence,” he said.

“I didn’t really know much about sewing at all before I did the Great British Sewing Bee and now if someone asked me to try to make something I’d give it a go.

“It’s made me realise that it is definitely something I want to do with my career.

“And I’m so grateful for the opportunity it gave me to realise that. The whole experience was just amazing.

“Even now we all stay in touch. If ever we’re working on anything and we get stuck we just text each other and someone always has a good idea.

“I just want to say a big thank you to all the people in Swindon who have supported me during the show.”

The judges had a tough call to make in the latest episode as the competition whittles down to its final two shows.

One of the judges, Savile Row's Patrick Grant, said on Thursday’s episode: “We’ve sent Ryan home, and I think it’s probably the hardest decision iwe’ve had to make because he’s actually improved tremendously I think throughout the week.

“But unfortunately this week the quality of his work in this final challenge just wasn’t up to the standard we’re looking for in our semi final.”