From Prue Leith to Paul Hollywood: Great British Bake Off stars' kitchens

Be inspired by the super-stylish kitchens of GBBO's esteemed judges and past winners, including Nadiya Hussain, Candice Brown and David Atherton

Our favourite wholesome baking show is back on our screens for another year, which means more dazzling show-stoppers, more Hollywood handshakes and inevitably, more soggy bottoms and kitchen disasters.

READ MORE: 25 kitchen trends that are here to stay

As the newest season of The Great British Bake Off gets underway and contestants prepare to battle it out to be crowned 2021’s Star Baker, some of the series' familiar faces have taken to social media to unveil the culinary heart of their homes.

Let's take a sneaky peek inside the kitchens of the show's biggest names, past and present...

Prue Leith

Image: @prueleith / Instagram

Iconic Bake Off judge Prue Leith took over Mary Berry’s reins in 2017, bringing a pantry of knowledge and colourful specs to the tent.

While the culinary star lived in the same Gloucestershire house for over 40 years, she listed the property back in December 2020 and upped sticks to another dazzling Cotswold house. Luckily, she's given fans a look at her new kitchen – and it's nothing short of spectacular.

Designed by Prue herself in collaboration with Omega, the heart of the home is a stylish, vibrant space that exudes personality. Sunshine-yellow cabinetry sits alongside back-lit open storage, a preparation island and yellow floral rollerblinds.

We especially love the lazy Susan storage unit that Prue brought with her from her previous home. Baking ingredients in clear labelled containers line one wall, while sleek pendant lighting illuminates the worktop; a true working cook's kitchen.

Paul Hollywood

Images: Channel 4 / Fine & Country

Ever the critic, Paul Hollywood has been with us from the beginning, judging with a keen eye and offering the occasional reluctant handshake.

The judge’s former home in Canterbury, Kent, certainly showcases his exacting standards. The dramatic Grade II-listed, 13th-century building was sold in 2016, giving eager fans an insight into Hollywood’s bread-making hub.

The star’s galley kitchen was a homey country-inspired space, with a quaint pitched roof. Long and narrow, the room blended period features with simple, modern cabinetry. Wooden countertops and traditional farmhouse-style tiles complement the deep natural tones of the room’s medieval beams.

A classic ceramic Belfast sink and a freestanding range cooker are the showpieces in the room; we can easily imagine him rustling up one of his famous bread recipes in this fabulous space!

Nadiya Hussain

Images: @nadiyajhussain / Instagram

Since being crowned Star Baker in series six of GBBO, Nadiya Hussain has been busy. Now a TV presenter, best-selling author and mental health advocate, Nadiya has become one of the UK’s best-loved TV personalities.

While the busy mum of three is quite private when it comes to her home, she has offered glimpses of her kitchen on her Instagram account.

Flanked by handleless white gloss units, the kitchen island forms the central hub of Nadiya’s bustling space and features a sleek induction hob at the centre for a minimalist aesthetic.

Recessed downlighters have been incorporated beneath the wall-hung units, providing valuable kitchen task lighting for the baking queen’s intricate decorative work.

Kim-Joy Hewlett

Images: @kimjoyskitchen / Instagram

Kim-Joy made it all the way to the final of The Great British Bake Off in 2018 with her signature whimsical baking style. Since her time on the show, she's released three cookbooks and continues to share her creative confections with her 329,000 Instagram followers.

Unsurprisingly, Kim-Joy's cooking space is as colourful as her bakes are, with pastel-hued flour tins and painted mason jars displayed on open shelving in a charming rustic bureau.

Wooden countertops offer the perfect spot for whipping up sweet treats, while trailing houseplants add a botanical feel to her culinary zone.

Ruby Tandoh

Image: @ruby.tandoh / Instagram

After Ruby Tandoh’s impressive performance in series four of GBBO earned her a runner-up spot, the keen baker has followed her passion for food by publishing three successful cookbooks.

As well as using her Instagram platform to share her many culinary creations, Ruby has given fans a sneak peek into her busy kitchen, where all the magic happens.

White metro tiles have been laid to form a simple yet elegant splashback above the stainless-steel hob. The cool white hue of the tiles and units has been paired with wood-effect worktops to bring a touch of texture and warmth.

Nancy Birtwhistle

Images: @nancy.birtwhistle / Instagram

Since taking the crown in the fifth series of GBBO, Nancy Birtwhistle has continued to share her mouth-watering bakes with fans via social media.

From rustic loafs to picture-perfect jam tarts, Nancy’s creations all come from her homely kitchen in Barton-upon-Humber in North Lincolnshire.

Decorated in autumnal hues, with cream cabinetry, yellow and terracotta kitchen wall tiles, and warm wood worktops, Nancy’s culinary zone is a cosy and inviting space. Relocating your hob and sink to a central island, like Nancy has done, can also free up valuable counterspace and help maintain an easy work flow.

David Atherton

Images: @nomadbakerdavid / Instagram

Despite never scooping the weekly Star Baker prize in 2019’s series of Bake Off, David Atherton’s consistent performance and meticulous handiwork earnt him the winner’s spot in GBBO’s tenth series.

David’s monochrome kitchen features sleek white walls and cabinetry, paired with a contrasting black-tiled splashback. A veined stone-effect worktop is perfect for hiding marks and dustings of flour when David is busy cooking up a storm.

Ideal for saving space in small kitchens, David’s kitchen uses open shelving for displaying herbs, chopping boards and Kilner jars filled with favourite ingredients  – the hanging rail below is perfect for large kitchen utensils too.

Candice Brown

Images: @candicebrown / Instagram

Having nurtured a passion for baking since she was just four years old, Candice Brown’s skills and culinary flair captured the nation’s attention in the seventh series of GBBO.

2016’s victor continues to nurture her passion for baking, sharing her latest and greatest creations with her Instagram followers.

We can’t get enough of the gorgeous Moroccan-style tiles in Candice’s dark kitchen. The blue and pale grey tiles are beautifully offset by deep grey Shaker-style units featuring brushed brass handles.

When it comes to kitchen storage, Candice has chosen to store staples like pasta in glass kilner jars on her worktop. We also love her colourful mixing bowls!

Sophie Faldo

Image: @sophiefaldo / Instagram

2017's Bake Off winner, Sophie Faldo, proved that she's a perfectionist on and off the screen when she unveiled her stylish grey kitchen to her social media followers.

A showcase of calming, muted hues, Sophie’s compact yet practical kitchen blends slate and taupe shades with exposed white brickwork for a sleek industrial look.

Textured Shaker-style cabinets in a dusty metallic shade, paired with glossy black laminate and oak wood-effect worktops, work beautifully with the carbon-black sink to complement the deep natural tones of the rest of the room.

Steven Carter-Bailey

Image: @spongecakesquaretin / Instagram

A finalist in series eight of The Great British Bake Off, Steven Carter-Bailey was admired for his clean lines and meticulous attention to detail.

Unsurprisingly, it seems that the baker is no different at home. He took to Instagram to reveal his simple yet homely kitchen, where white and wooden tones create a warm, practical space.

To replicate Steven’s interior design choices, select a matching brushed stainless steel double sink and chimney cooker hood, accessorised with simple white-gloss cabinets.

Ultra-thin oak-effect laminate worktops, a modern glass-ceramic hob and, of course, Bake Off’s iconic Slide&Hide electric oven work with the lightly marbled flooring and two-tone tiles to bring a homely finishing touch.

READ MORE: The beautiful homes of the world's best chefs

Featured image: Courtesy of Channel 4