THE brand new season of Bake Off has landed on Channel 4.
We take a look at the past winners and what they are up to now.
Edd Kimber (Series 1 – 2010)
Edd was the first winner of the show – after being turned down for a culinary school
The Bake Off’s first-ever champion ditched his debt-collecting job and became a full-time food writer following his win.
He has so far penned three pudding-focused cookery books and various newspaper columns.
His book deals are believed to have netted him £37,500 but he revealed: “I wouldn’t say I’m wealthy. I still rent my flat.”
The Bradford native was famously rejected by his local catering college before GBBO but has since worked at Raymond Blanc’s famous pastry kitchen.
Edd believes he has helped encourage men to head into the kitchen.
“When the finale aired I still remember people applauding the idea that a man could win a baking show,” he wrote in the Telegraph in 2016.
He is the author or The Boy Who Bakes (2011), Say it with Cake (2012), Patisserie Made Simple (2014) and One Tin Bakes (2020).
Joanne Wheatley (Series 2 – 2011)
Joanne says that the show completely changed her life
Housewife Joanne Wheatley won the second series of the Bake Off in 2011.
The mum-of-three from Essex capitalised on her “life-changing” victory by launching her own cookery school and two baking books.
Joanne, who has also appeared on numerous TV programmes, reportedly earned an impressive £75,000 from her book sales.
“Bake Off totally changed my life,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it when my books became bestsellers.”
Joanne, who is also an after-dinner speaker, now plans to open a country pub, restaurant and cafe in Cambridgeshire.
“My dream is to create a friendly, cosy environment with home-made food, and a roaring fire in winter, and beautiful outdoor space in summer,” she revealed.
As well as releasing two cookbooks she is also the writer for Sainsbury’s Magazine.
John Whaite (Series 3 – 2012)
John is now the resident chef on ITVs Lorraine
John Whaite was just 23 years old and studying for his law exams when he dazzled the judges.
The Manchester-based champion decided to put his career at the bar on hold in favour of taking classes at the esteemed school, Le Cordon Bleu.
John, who has been baking since he was five, has since managed to carve himself out a successful media career.
He has appeared as resident chef on ITV’s Lorraine and made guest appearances on What’s Cooking, This Morning and Sunday Brunch.
John has also released three cookbooks, John Whaite Bakes, John Whaite Bakes At Home and Perfect Plates In Five Ingredients.
He admits the pressure of winning the show can be “daunting and overwhelming” but he has learned to deal with fame.
He also opened a cookery school on the family farm where he grew up in Lancashire.
The star appeared on Strictly Come Dancing as the first male sex couple with professional dancer, Johannes Radebe.
Frances Quinn (Series 4 – 2013)
Frances stormed to victory in 2013
Former children’s designer Frances Quinn beat favourite Rudy Tandoh to a shock win in 2013.
The artist from Leicester stunned Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with her elaborate bakes.
Frances has since put her career on hold to fulfil her baking passions.
She has baked for Clare Balding, Jools Holland and Quentin Blake, as well as designing The Shard’s first anniversary cake.
“I have a habit of seeing everything as food and get inspired both in and out of the kitchen, whether it’s an exhibition at The Tate or a musician’s new album,” she said.
France has also appeared in Vogue and last year released her own cook book, Quinntessential Baking which was titled The best Selling Cookbook.
She now takes commissions for custom-made cakes for private clients.
Nancy Birtwhistle (Series 5 – 2014)
Nancy was crowned champion in 2014
Retired grandmother Nancy Birthwhistle was the surprise winner of 2014.
The former GP practice manager from Hull vowed to “take every opportunity going” after her victory, and she did just that.
Nancy shares daily recipes on her blog, takes part in cookery tours across the UK and campaigns for anti-food-waste charity, Love Food Hate Waste.
Speaking about her win, Nancy said: “It was the most difficult thing I have ever undertaken in my life, but equally the most enjoyable.”
She now runs her own baking website (complete with hundreds of recipes) and gives baking demonstrations across the UK.
Nadiya Hussain (Series 6 – 2015)
Nadiya was chosen to bake the Queen’s birthday cake in 2016
Nadiya Hussain is undoubtedly the Bake Off’s greatest success story, becoming an overnight celebrity after wowing the nation with her tearful acceptance speech.
She told cameras: “I’m never gonna put boundaries on myself ever again. I’m never gonna say I can’t do it. I’m never gonna say ‘maybe’. I’m never gonna say, ‘I don’t think I can.’ I can and I will.”
The mum has since written various newspaper columns, fronted TV show The Chronicles of Nadiya, released a best-selling cook book and become a guest presenter on Loose Women.
She was also selected to bake late Queen Elizabeth’s birthday cake when the monarch turned 90 in April 2016.
It’s thought that she is now worth £3.7 million after her cooking shows such as The Chronicles of Nadiya and Nadiya’s British Food Adventure.
Candice Brown (Series 7 – 2016)
Candice appeared on Dancing on Ice in 2018
Since being crowned the winner of series 7 (and the last BBC winner) Candice has turned herself into a fashion icon and cooking wizard.
During her time in the competition, Candice was named star baker three times – more than any other contestant in the series.
The PE teacher left her job to pursue baking full-time, and has since become a columnist for The Times, and has released cook books based on comfort food recipes.
In July 2017, it was announced that she would be returning to reality TV and starring on ITV’s reboot of ice-skating show Dancing on Ice.
Candice also won Celebrity Mastermind in 2019 and now runs her own pub in Bedfordshire called The Green Man.
Sophie Faldo (Series 8 – 2017)
Sophie Beat won Bake Off 2017
Sophie beat stiff competition and whisked her way to the finale alongside hopefuls Steven Carter-Bailey and Kate Lyon.
The ex-Army officer impressed the judges with her showstopper Entremet, which she called Ode to the Honey Bee.
However, her win wasn’t a shock to many as judge Prue Leith accidentally let the cat of the bag on Twitter 12 hours before the show aired.
Sophie’s victory was the first to air on Channel 4 after Love Productions sold the rights to the competition over the BBC.
After winning, she announced her intention to travel the world as well as releasing a series of cookbooks.
She previously told the BBC that she was “a private person” and was struggling with the fame that the show came with.
Rahul Mandal (Series 9 – 2018)
Rahul Mandal won The Great British Bake Off in 2018
Rahul impressed both the Great British Bake Off judges and the viewers at home with his intricate designs and hardworking demeanour.
He was crowned the winner of the 2018 series and had to overcome two kitchen disasters to do it.
Since winning he’s appeared on This Morning, his first TV Bake and has amassed a huge fan base – he made even more TV appearances in 2019.
The Great British Bake Off winner also attended the Bafta TV Awards in May, 2019, alongside Sandi Toksvig and Prue Leith.
Since winning the show, Rahul has returned to his day job as a nuclear research scientist at the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research department.
David Atherton (Series 10 – 2019)
Viewers were surprised that David won the Bake Off
David was the underdog coming into the final – but he triumphed with his immaculate picnic basket Showstopper.
The unexpected winner also nailed the double-baked Stilton soufflé Technical.
He is the only winner of the show who has not won Star Baker, since it was introduced in series two.
He did however receive a Hollywood handshake for his classic vanilla custard pie with flapper girl biscuit topping in Roaring Twenties week.
David published his second book May, 2021, which is called Good to Eat: Read food to nourish and sustain your life.
Peter Sawkins (Series 11 – 2020)
Peter Sawkins was the 2020 Bake Off champ
2020 winner Peter Sawkins was a big fan of the show for a long time and had never missed an episode.
Outside of baking, he was studying for an accounting and finance degree.
He grew up eating his mum’s home cooking, but aged just 12 – when Bake Off began in 2010 – he was so inspired by the show he began baking himself.
Since winning the show, he has had his recipes published in The Times Magazine and has released a cookbook.
Giuseppe Dell’Anno (Series 12 – 2021)
Giuseppe Dell’Anno was the Bake Off 2021 champ
Giuseppe celebrated victory after what judges on the Channel 4 show described as the closest finale yet. The 45-year-old Bristol resident pipped his fellow finalists Chigs and Crystelle, who all had to make food for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
The show’s first Italian winner said at the time of his win: “There are no words, I am speechless for once.”
Since winning the show, Giuseppe has gone on to release his own cooking book in May 2022.
He took to Instagram to share his excitement and revealed that fans will be able to get their hands on over 60 of his favourite family baking recipes.
“Big news! I can finally announce that my first cookbook, Giuseppe’s Italian Bakes, is coming out this Autumn!” he said. “If I’m honest, I cannot believe that this is really happening, and I’m still in disbelief while I’m writing this… somebody pinch me, please!!!”
The book will hit shelves later this year on October 13.
What is the Great British Bake Off prize ?
Bakers go to great lengths to win the contest, however, no grand cash prize is handed out in return.
The winning prize is just flowers and a cake stand, at least that’s what has happened so far.
Previous Bake Off contestant Martha Collison, who reached the quarter-finals in the 2014 series, confirmed to Barrelhouse: “Everyone is so surprised and thinks there must be some secret cash, but all we really get is a bunch of flowers and a cake stand.
“But then, you also kind of become a national treasure just by doing it because everyone in Britain loves the Bake Off so much.”
