The Great British Bake Off: where are they now? (copy)
As The Great British Bake Off returns for its 10th series, we look at what happened to the most popular personalities from years gone by
With summer drawing to a close it can only mean one thing: The Great British Bake Off is back. Returning to our screens for its third airing on Channel 4, presenters Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig and Prue Leith will be presiding over the 10th series to sort the star bakes from the soggy bottoms.
But before you pop the kettle on and put your feet up to watch the happenings in the now infamous white tent, here's the lowdown on what happened to the much-loved winners and contestants from seasons past.
2018: Rahul Mandal
Winner of Bake Off 2018, Rahul Mandal also won the nation’s hearts with his modest character and star bakes.
greatbritishbakeoff/Facebook
Since last summer the researcher has returned to his job at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the University of Sheffield. But he keeps fans updated on Instagram with his most recent culinary creations such as a grand chocolate and coffee tiered wedding cake he made for his colleague's nuptials.
2017: Sophie Faldo
GBBO 2017 winner Sophie Faldo surprised the judges with incredible flavour combinations and steely-eyed determination.
sophiefaldo/Instagram
Since winning the contest, Sophie has appeared on numerous TV shows and at festivals. She has also worked as a professional stuntwoman
2016: Candice Brown
Candice Brown – whose cheeky attitude and creative cakes (remember her marzipan peacock?) often left Paul Hollywood speechless – won series seven after wowing with a “humdinger of a showstopper” royal picnic. Since that 2016 Bake Off final, watched by 15.9 million viewers, the former teacher has appeared at food festivals and on TV, brought out a cookbook Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Family Treats and reportedly expressed a desire to launch her own lipstick range.
Ellis Parrinder/Ebury Press
2016: Andrew Smyth
2016 finalist Andrew Smyth was loved for his lilting Irish accent and precise bakes. After the competition ended, the Cambridge graduate returned to his job designing jet engines – he now works a four-day week so he can continue baking. Andrew created an edible jet engine for Prince William when he visited Rolls-Royce, the GBBO star's workplace. Andrew has also appeared at several festivals and spoken of his love of combining engineering and baking.
2015: Nadiya Hussain
2015: Tamal Ray
Richard Gray/ EMPICS Entertainment2014: Nancy Birtwhistle
Nancy Birtwhistle is best remembered for her stunning windmill cake. Since winning series five in 2014, the Hull-born retiree has demonstrated at food festivals, taught in schools, appeared as an after-dinner speaker and been on the other side of the fence as a cake judge. Nancy also baked a cake for EastEnders’ 30th birthday and continues to showcase recipes on her website.
2013: Frances Quinn
In 2013, Frances Quinn beat Kimberley Wilson and Ruby Tandoh to win series four. She’s known for her creativity and attention to detail, fashioning edible masterpieces such as these Barbara Hepworth shortbread sculptures, chocolate charcoal briquettes and a world-record-breaking giant Jaffa cake. In 2015, Frances' Quintessential Baking was published and she’s worked for big name brands such as Tate & Lyle. Find some of her best recipes here.
frances_quinn/Instagram
2013: Ruby Tandoh
Being runner-up to Frances Quinn on series four didn’t stop Ruby Tandoh from carving out one of the most successful careers of all GBBO's contestants. As well as Crumb: The Baking Book (2014) and Flavour: Eat What You Love (2016), Ruby also writes about body image, sexuality and feminism in her latest book Eat Up: Appetite and Eating What You Want.
Ruby Tandoh/Twitter
2012: John Whaite
John Whaite won the GBBO trophy in 2012 and published his first book, John Whaite Bakes: Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood, in 2013. A regular contributor to loveFOOD.com, John's latest book, A Flash in the Pan, features one of our favourite recipes Philly Steak Nachos. Whaite also runs the Kitchen Cookery School in rural Lancashire and has previously been a presenter and judge on ITV's daytime cookery competition Chopping Block.
john_whaite/Instagram
2012: James Morton
Although 2012 finalist James Morton stuck to his original plans to go into medicine (he currently works as a doctor) he’s achieved fame as a baker and food writer. James’ first book Brilliant Bread (2013), which won the 2014 Guild of Food Writers Award, was followed by How Baking Works (2015) and Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home (2016). He’s written a column for the Sunday Mail and blogs at Baking James.
2011: Jo Wheatley
After winning series two in 2011, Jo Wheatley went on to pen two books: A Passion for Baking (2012) and Home Baking (2014). Jo’s also written for national publications including The Mirror, Sainsbury’s Magazine and HELLO!, and appeared on The One Show and This Morning.Her recipes and class dates can be found on her Jo's Blue Aga blog. Find a selection of her recipes here.
2010: Edd Kimber
Edd Kimber won the very first series of GBBO, which aired in 2010. He promptly ditched his job and has since gone on to forge a successful career as a food writer and TV personality, writing three cookbooks along the way: The Boy Who Bakes (2011), Say it with Cake (2012), and Patisserie Made Simple (2014). Ed’s worked at Raymond Blanc’s prestigious restaurant Le Manoir and had a stint as the resident baker on The Alan Titchmarsh Show. Catch his blog or try some of Edd's recipes.
theboywhobakes/Instagram
2010: Miranda Gore Browne
A runner-up in the first series, Miranda Gore Browne was named the ‘iced biscuit queen’ by Mary Berry. Miranda went on to write two cookbooks: Biscuit (2012), and Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can (2014). Her website hosts recipes, classes and online tutorials. See some of Miranda's recipes here.
mirandagorebrowne/Instagram
2010: Johnny Shepherd
Johnny Shepherd may not have reached the final in series one but that hasn’t stopped his success. As well as penning Puddings: Over 100 Classic Puddings (2016), he runs The Pudding Stop, a bakery and café in St Albans. He also has Penelope, a mobile pudding van serving sweat treats at St Albans City Station on weekdays and at Christopher Place Shopping Centre in St Albans during weekends.
Andrew Burton/Orion Publishing
Mary Berry's vanilla cupcakes with swirly icing
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