WHY PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR IS PERFECT COMFORT VIEWING

Paul Mescal in Portrait Artist of the Year

Since its debut in 2013, everyone's favourite TV art competition has wowed with remarkable pieces of portraiture created by some of the best budding UK based artists. Here's why you need to tune in to the country's most exciting portrait contest.

Journalist Joan Bakewell and actor Stephen Mangan host weekly from the prestigious Wallace Collection, where nine artists (a mix of both amateur and professional) compete to be in with a chance of winning a £10,000 commission to create a piece of art that will become a permanent instalment at the British Library.

Reminiscent of the showstopper challenge from the Great British Bake Off, competitors are tasked with producing a portrait of one of three celebrity sitters in four hours before art curator Kathleen Soriano, painter Tai-Shan Schierenberg and art historian Kate Bryan decide their favourites.

From a graphic blue-toned depiction of pop sensation Sophie Ellis-Bextor to an egg tempera portrait of award-winning actress Jodie Comer, the show shines a light on a variety of art mediums.

Against the renowned backdrop of the Wallace Collection, with its silk walls and decorative gilding, Portrait Artist of the Year never fails to provide a joyful escape for both art aficionados and amateurs alike. If you need a warm hug after a long day, then look no further.