Dress The Nation Returns for Series Two on ITV1 and ITVX tonight!
Fashion fans, rejoice — M&S: Dress The Nation is back this weekend for a brand-new series. The competition returns for its second season on Sunday at 6.55pm on ITV1 and ITVX, once again hosted by much-loved presenters AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay.
The first run of the show was a major hit, drawing in over eight million viewers, and it’s no surprise the stylish format is returning “by popular demand.” This year, the search for Britain’s brightest new fashion designers continues, with the focus on womenswear and menswear across five hour-long episodes.
What to Expect from Series Two
Nine designers, aged between 22 and 59, will battle it out to impress the judges. Each contestant is competing for a career-changing prize: an exclusive mentorship at M&S, gaining experience across Design, Buying, Merchandising and Marketing. The ultimate winner will also see their collection sold in selected M&S stores and online for the Autumn/Winter 2025 season.
The concept was spearheaded by M&S CEO Stuart Machin, whose love of fashion and commitment to opening up opportunities inspired the launch of Dress The Nation. The show welcomes individuals from all walks of life — with no formal qualifications required — and instead champions creativity, enthusiasm, and a passion for design. Contestants will work both individually and in teams, creating pieces that embody style, versatility and quality for the M&S customer.
Returning judges Maddy Evans (Head of M&S Woman) and Mitch Hughes (Menswear Director) will again cast their expert eye over the designs, joined by celebrity guests, ambassadors, and some of Britain’s top fashion names.
What They’re Saying About Dress The Nation
Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, said:
“At M&S we’ve spent the last three years improving our womenswear and menswear to be more stylish, even better quality and great value. To do this, we have attracted some of the best fashion talent in the UK to join our team, as well as developing our own brilliant in-house talent. With Dress The Nation, I wanted to show what our M&S designers look for and what it takes to create desirable fashion, with the aim of inspiring more would-be designers to consider a career in this wonderful world of fashion, no matter what their background or formal qualifications.”
Last year’s winner, David Olaniyi, reflected on how life-changing the experience was:
“Winning Dress The Nation last year changed my life. I’ve always been passionate about designing clothing for the modern man, but being part of the Menswear team has been a massive eye opener into how the retail industry operates on a day-to-day basis. From speaking with suppliers to working closely with the merchandising and buying teams, the experience has helped me nurture my craft and opened up a realm of possibilities for the future. I can’t wait to see how the contestants get on this year.”
Host AJ Odudu is equally thrilled to return:
“Dress The Nation has heart, hustle, and enough fashion drama to keep you glued to the telly. It’s real people with proper talent, bringing their A-game. Last year’s winner was outrageously talented; proof that this show uncovers the kind of raw, brilliant creativity you don’t see every day. I’m chuffed to bits to be hosting for a second year running and proud to front something that champions fresh opportunities in fashion, a world that’s notoriously tough to break into.”
Co-host Vernon Kay added:
“Dress The Nation isn’t just about fashion — it’s about changing someone’s life forever whilst discovering more of their own confidence, creativity and talent. The level of skill this year is unreal which means the competition is ridiculously tough but seeing people shine doing what they love makes for proper feel-good telly.”
ITV’s Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime, said:
“We’re so excited to bring Dress The Nation back to ITV1 and ITVX for a second series. A series which celebrates real people with real talent. At its core, it’s about creativity and opportunity, opening up the fashion world to new voices and perspectives. Viewers really connected with that last year, and this new series promises to be even bigger, bolder and more inspiring.”
Bhavit Chandrani, Director of BE Studio at ITV, said:
“I'm delighted that Dress The Nation is returning for another series. The programme shows the power of commercial collaboration through BE Studio, delivering Ad Funded Entertainment that resonates with ITV viewers and offers a unique way for M&S to connect with its audience.”
And Melanie Leach, Joint CEO at South Shore, commented:
“Dress The Nation is a very special show – one that offers a genuinely life changing opportunity to the winning contestant. We’re thrilled to be working with M&S and ITV to offer nine more hopefuls the chance to break into fashion at Britain’s most trusted retailer.”
Where to Watch
Dress The Nation series two launches Sunday at 6.55pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with fresh episodes every week. Expect fashion flair, high-stakes challenges, and life-changing opportunities as nine hopefuls battle for their big break.