Great Brickhill's Rosa wins More4's The Great Pottery Throw Down

Rosa Wiland Holmes, 44, was revealed as the winner on Wednesday night's episode, as she beat fellow contestants Jacob Chan and Matt Cronshaw to the prize.

The talented pottery teacher impressed the judges during the final's grand Alice in Wonderland tea set challenge, making a Queen of Hearts tea pot, flower shaped cups, a Cheshire Cat sugar bowl, and a White Rabbit cake stand.

After the news was announced, Rosa told More4 cameras: "It's amazing. I'm so happy. I've never had a trophy in my life before.

"I'm absolutely, completely over the moon and back 10,000 million times."

Speaking about her design during the final, judge Keith Brymer Jones, said: "Rosa, you know you said you have always tried to do your best - you really have done your best here.

"It's absolutely amazing. Your attention to detail when you are hand building and modelling is incredible, absolutely brilliant."

Fellow judge Sue Pryke agreed, and was particularly impressed with Rosa's 'story telling' and loved her Queen of Hearts character.

A former fashion designer, Rosa was born in Copenhagen and lived on the small island of Bornholm with her sister, mother and sculptor father from the age of ten.

Rosa met her husband in London when she was doing an MA in Fashion and moved to the UK to pursue a career as a ladies-wear designer for high street brands.

However, five years ago she discovered her passion for clay and moved to the countryside not long afterwards, converting one of her rooms into a pottery studio.

She said: "‘I think I did bring a little bit of Danish influence to the series, on the slip-casting episode I tried to be more minimalist, and I used simplicity in my work to reflect a Scandinavian style.

"Also, my background in fashion did help. As a student part of my fashion degree included drawing and sculpture. Since a child I have always loved drawing and capturing the spirit of nature, so I think this made life easier on the Throw Down."

She also credited her fellow finalists Jacob and Matt. Rosa added: "They have great skills and I was blown away by their tenacity. Matt is stunning in his throwing skills beyond belief and he is such a perfectionist. Jacob style is more dark and sinister than mine and he has so much passion and such a strong drive, he is really good at sculpting and throwing."

Rosa lives with her husband and two children and runs pottery classes from her studio.

She has been overwhelmed by the community's support, and would like to thank everyone for their good wishes now that she can share the secret that she has won.

Rosa concluded: "‘We live in a small village and everyone has been so incredibly supportive. At school, the children run up to me and tell me they have seen me on TV!

"‘My pottery course from home is continuing and when the first episode was shown I invited all my students and friends over to share it with me, and we had champagne and popcorn.

"I kept the trophy hidden in the bedroom but now I can keep it as a pride of place in my Pottery Room.

"It will encourage me to continue the good work I have learned, and to keep trying to achieve more."