"I create what people want and I don’t believe anything is old-fashioned because everything comes back into style in its own time,” said Julie Watson after competing in television’s new series M&S: Dress The Nation.

Julie, who runs a clothing alterations shop on Chesterfield Road, Dronfield, was the first to be eliminated in the televised show where the prize of a dream job as a fashion designer is at stake. Expert judges from M&S said that a jacket which Julie made was old-fashioned and that they also thought she should be more confident and bolder in her designs.

Guest judge Scary Spice Mel B championed Julie’s case during the debut episode, saying that she didn’t deserve to be in the danger zone. Julie, 54, said: “Mel B was fantastic! She was incredibly supportive and even came up to me after filming to praise my work in the challenge. She said that making a fully lined jacket in five hours was a skill, she was impressed!

"I took all the comments from judges and customers on board. I felt like I’d prepped well for the briefs assigned to us, but I soon learned that unexpected little things will always crop up! I know I have the skills, but in retrospect, taking a bit more time at the start to plan things out would have worked better.

Julie Watson of Dronfield has praised Mel B for the fantastic support that the guest judge gave her when she competed on M&S: Dress The Nation.

placeholder image — Julie Watson of Dronfield has praised Mel B for the fantastic support that the guest judge gave her when she competed on M&S: Dress The Nation.

"It was an absolute pleasure to be on the show, and the feedback has given me a new perspective. If the opportunity ever arose, I would love to work as an alterations specialist at M&S! I love the work they are already doing in this area.”

Julie has run her iish alterations and made to order clothing business in Dronfield for 24 years. She said: “I’ve been doing alterations for over 35 years, starting out at Meadowhall shopping centre right after university. Over the years, I’ve made everything from suits to wedding dresses, and I really enjoy repurposing old materials and clothing into something new.”

The six-part M&S: Dress The Nation continues on ITV on Tuesday, September 24, with episodes available on catch-up on ITVX.