Great Pottery Throw Down Judge Engaged After Stage Proposal
Ceramic designer and beloved television personality Keith Brymer Jones, 61, has announced his engagement to his long-time actress girlfriend, Marj Hogarth, 58. The heartfelt proposal took place on stage at the New Theatre in Cardiff during their joint show, ‘Us, Pots and a Welsh Chapel’.
Brymer Jones shared the joyous news via Instagram, revealing that he popped the question in front of a captivated audience. Photos shared by the couple show them beaming backstage, with Hogarth proudly displaying a striking amber ring set in diamonds.
A Memorable Onstage Moment
In his Instagram post, Brymer Jones expressed his excitement: ‘Well folks, it was a pretty special night tonight @newtheatrecdf as I proposed to @marjhookhatchet Marj and fortunately she said yes! I don’t think the wonderful audience could believe what was going on.’ He extended thanks to the production teams for facilitating his plan to propose on stage.
The choice of location held particular significance. Brymer Jones explained that the stage is where Hogarth feels most at home. The couple currently resides in North Wales, where their home restoration journey is being documented on the Channel 4 series ‘Our Welsh Chapel Dream’.
Audience members shared their delight. One attendee described the moment as ‘incredible to watch it unfold in person in the audience, especially after hearing your own personal stories in life, huge congratulations to both of you’. Other fans echoed the sentiments, calling the news ‘brilliant’ and the couple ‘perfectly suited’.
A Journey Fueled by Clay
This engagement marks Brymer Jones’s second marriage. He has a son, Ned, from his previous marriage, the details of which he has kept private.
Brymer Jones’s passion for pottery began in his youth. Growing up in a North London suburb, he faced bullying and undiagnosed dyslexia at school. His world changed during an art lesson when he was introduced to clay. He described the experience in his book, ‘A Boy In A China Shop’, recalling how the clay ‘washed away all the anxiety I usually felt when asked to do anything in class. It felt amazing, like I was holding my own imagination there in my hands.’
His art teacher provided him with access to the art room, which became his sanctuary. Even after a distressing incident involving a school bully and razor blades in the clay, the art room remained his safe space.
Building a Career and a Brand
Following his school years, Brymer Jones worked in a pottery outside London, developing his craft with immense energy and enthusiasm. In his spare time, he was part of a punk band, and after its dissolution, he established his own pottery business.
He created homeware for retailers like Heals and Habitat, often handling deliveries himself to ensure the fragile items arrived intact. However, increased competition from cheaper ceramic producers led him to develop his signature ‘bucket mug’ range, featuring stamped words like ‘Gorgeous’ and ‘The Boss’. This innovative product line proved to be a global bestseller, generating significant orders from its launch.
Brymer Jones’s distinctive emotional responses, particularly his frequent tears, have made him a standout personality on ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’. While he has expressed embarrassment about his crying, the show’s director has encouraged him, recognizing it as ‘TV gold’. The program itself is filmed in Stoke-on-Trent, celebrating the region’s rich pottery heritage and highlighting the dedication and artistry involved in handmade ceramics.
