It's been a pretty bleak few months for news, but thank goodness we've had some bloody good TV to get us through - and as is traditional for autumn, it's only set to get better. With the 2024 series of The Great British Bake Off kicking off tonight, it's got us feeling all nostalgic about Bake Off champions of yesteryear. Just where are the likes of Edd Kimber, Frances Quinn, John Whaite and Giuseppe Dell'Anno now? Well, we’ve done the digging so you don’t have to, so let’s find out, shall we?
Edd Kimber – 2010
The first ever GBBO was a far cry from the show of today, with only ten contestants competing across just six weeks. There wasn't even a weekly Star Baker. In the end, former debt collector Edd Kimber (far left) was crowned the winner.
Following his big win, Edd – who worked at world-renowned restaurant Le Manoir – has released seven cookbooks and also runs food blog The Boy Who Bakes. He's a regular contributor to food magazines including BBC Good Food, Delicious and Waitrose Kitchen and made regular appearances on TV including Sunday Brunch, Saturday Kitchen, and Good Morning America.
Jo Wheatley – 2011
Mum-of-three Jo Wheatley triumphed over fellow finalists Holly Bell and Mary-Anne Boermans in 2011. Jo, who's now a grandmother, has released two cookbooks, A Passion For Baking and Home Baking, written a column for Sainsburys magazine and launched her own cookery school from home since winning Bake Off.
She now lives in Portugal with husband Rich. 'Enjoying my retirement. Never in my wildest dreams could you have told me I'd be where I am today. Life is fantastic,' she said.
John Whaite – 2012
Series three winner John Whaite went into the final as an underdog but baked his way to success and took home the trophy after impressing Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry with his heaven and hell chiffon cake.
John has been VERY busy since winning the show. Not only has he gained his patisserie diploma from Le Corden Bleu, released four cookery books, judged ITV cooking competition Chopping Block and had a residency on Lorraine from 2013 to 2016, but he opened his own cookery school, John Whaite's Kitchen. He even returned to his pre-Bake Off career in law in 2018 when he began working as a barrister. Oh, and let's not forget the small matter of placing runner up in the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing as part of the show's first ever male couple with Johannes Radebe.
Frances Quinn – 2013
Frances was crowned Bake Off winner in 2013 after creating a show-stopping three-tier wedding cake in the final. She released recipe book Quintessential Baking in 2015 and has made a number of TV and radio appearances on shows like This Morning.
Nancy Birtwhistle – 2014
Nancy beat 2014 favourite Richard Burr after creating a miniature version of Paris' Moulin Rouge. She now runs her own baking blog where she regularly shares recipes with fans and travels the country for the many food demonstrations she does.
Nancy, who has appeared on This Morning, has written a recipe book Sizzle & Drizzle, and three on green living sharing her tips and hacks - Clean & Green: 101 Hints And Tips For A More Eco-Friendly Home, Green Living Made Easy: 101 Eco Tips, Hacks And Recipes To Save Time And Money and The Green Gardening Handbook. Her fifth tome, Nancy's Green & Easy Kitchen, will be out in 2025.
Nadiya Hussain – 2015
The most famous and successful Bake Off contestants of all time, Nadiya won the hearts of the British public in 2015 with her incredible bakes. Since winning GBBO, her £3.7million fortune has been boosted by her TV shows including Nadiya’s Cook Once Eat Twice, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure and The Chronicles Of Nadiya, sales of her 12 cook books, children's books, a novel series AND memoir.
She was especially chosen to bake a cake for the late Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016. Having won awards, Nadiya’s ultimate honour came when she received an MBE in 2020.
Candice Brown – 2016
Candice was known for her lipstick choices just as much as she was for her bakes during her time on the show. Just like many Bake Off winners before her, Candice has released two recipe books Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Treats and Happy Cooking. As well as running her own pub in Bedfordshire, she regularly appears on shows like This Morning and Loose Women. She also competed in Dancing On Ice in 2018 but was eliminated first.
Sophie Faldo – 2017
Sophie was the first Bake Off winner to be crowned after the show's big move from the BBC to Channel 4 but her win was spoiled when new judge Prue Leith accidentally tweeted the news hours before the final aired. Oops!
Sophie, who admitted that she struggled with life in the limelight after she won the show, has set up her own couture wedding cake business. A trained stuntwoman who appeared in action movie Three Seconds, she returned to the famous tent in 2023 and emerged victorious after being crowned the winner of The Great Christmas Bake Off.
Rahul Mandal – 2018
Nuclear research scientist Dr Rahul beat the odds (remember when the glass smashed into his mixture in the final?) to bake his way to victory and became a national treasure in the process. Rahul returned to his job at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Department since winning Bake Off and is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).
Rahul, who continues to bake and share his creations with fans on Instagram and writes for The Times, created a record-breaking cake in 2021, the first person to successfully include 100 different ingredients in a creation.
David Atherton – 2019
David made history when he became the first Bake Off champion to have never won Star Baker in 2019. Since then, he's begun writing a weekly cookery column for The Guardian and released his first cookbook, aptly titled My First Cookbook, followed by My First Christmas Cook Book. He also has a podcast, Sticky Bun Boys.
He has also appeared on Good Morning Britain, Blue Peter and Steph’s Packed Lunch. In 2022, he created a series of travelogues exploring North York Moors as the ‘capital of cake’.
Peter Sawkins – 2020
Then just 19, Edinburgh University student Peter became the youngest ever winner of The Great British Bake Off in 2020. The Bake Off superfan said, ‘I wanted this a lot. When I was 12 I was watching repeats of Bake Off back to back, and it got me into baking big time. I am a Bake Off nerd, and I think 12-year-old Peter would be in awe, and just the most excited giddy kid. I am that excited giddy kid right now.’
Since being crowned the winner, Peter graduated with a first class degree in accounting and finance from Edinburgh University and has been baking up a storm on Instagram. He recently had a stint in the pastry kitchen at the iconic Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, learning new skills and helping out during dinner service. He's also written a book (of course he has) titled Peter Bakes.
Giuseppe Dell’Anno – 2021
Giuseppe Dell'Anno took home the trophy in 2021 after beating fellow finalists Chigs Parmar and Crystelle Pereira with his incredible Mad Hatter's Tea Party spread, featuring mango and passion fruit panna cottas, orange and fig heart-shaped muffins, and asparagus and pea-filled choux pastries shaped like a caterpillar. He said after his win, The fact is that everything I have done to deserve this comes from his [my dad's] heritage, it's the best thank you note I can possibly send him.’
'I don't say often or lightly that I am proud of what I do, but in this case I am really proud of what I have done. It's unbelievable!'
Since his win, Giuseppe has cooked on live TV on Steph’s Packed Lunch, done voiceover work and written two cook books, Giuseppe’s Italian Bakes and Giuseppe’s Easy Bakes.
Syabira Yusoff – 2022
Dr Syabira, who has a PhD in genetics and worked as a cardiovascular researcher at King’s College London, flew the flag for Malaysia when she won the show. Following her win, she decided to take a career break from research and focus on baking. ‘I was busy with interviews, commissioned recipes, collaborations, and food festivals,’ she said.
But she decided to return to her day job. ‘Baking used to be an outlet for me when work was too stressful, so I want it to remain a hobby, rather than a job.’ She continues to bake in her spare time and shares her creations on Instagram.
Matty Edgell – 2023
Teacher Matty was crowned champion of the 14th series of the show in 2023. ‘I honestly never thought I would be good enough to be deemed a contestant, let alone scrape through certain weeks and get to the final,’ he said. Despite his triumph, he continues to be a PE and science teacher in Peterborough while maintaining his love for baking, which he shares online.