It was a successful week for a former Lancashire man after he made it through to the third episode of Channel 4 show The Great Pottery Throwdown.

James Stead, 44, who was born in Rishton, came in first place in the second of the challenges in episode two, and was also praised for his excellent work in the other task.

The challenge saw the 11 remaining potters tasked with creating three stackable mixing bowls – one small, one medium and one large – all within 25 minutes – but the twist was to do it blindfolded.

Despite the moderate handicap, art teacher James, who now lives in Banbury, Oxfordshire, excelled at the task and was the first person to move onto the third and final bowl having used just half of the allotted time.

He was praised by the show’s judges, Keith Brymer Jones and Richard Miller, and presenter, Derry Girls actor Siobhan McSweeney, for a “wonderful effort” and was given first place for his bowls.

The main task given to the potters was to create a keepsake box that had to hide a hidden secret and reflect a passion that each potter had.

The boxes needed to have a removable, concealed lid in which to hide another smaller box that would house the item they had chosen to hide within it.

James created his box in the shape of a pair of running shoes, saying that running was another great passion of his – although not one of McSweeney, who commented: “If evolution wanted us to run, it wouldn’t have given us the brain power to invent Uber!”

With time fast running out, James successfully managed to remove the section of his box that would be used as the lid and get his clay into the firing room just before the end of the six hour challenge.

Once the projects were fired, James and the other potters were given a further three hours to decorate their clay with a range of oxides and glosses, with James opting for a blue oxide finish to his project which was revealed as ‘Feet of Clay’.

As the judges came round to inspect each of the elements, James showed them that the keepsake inside his box was some homemade medals his daughters, Poppy and Jasmine, had made for him after coming back from local running events.

James was given particular praise for how well concealed the lid was and the fact he did not go for a glossy finish, which retained the texture.

Despite the admiration for his work, he was not awarded Potter of the Week, which instead went to Caitlin, a 23-year-old medical student from Glasgow.

Leaving the contest this week was Fliss, a 24-year-old oil painter from London.

James is now through to the third week where he and the other contestants will take on retro week, which includes creating a model of an old-school water bottle.

The Great Pottery Throwdown airs on Sunday nights on Channel 4.