SOGGY bottoms, collapsed soufflés, and Paul Hollywood's ruthless comments always guarantee a truly unmissable Great British Bake Off series.
But after the white tent closes it doors, what has happened to all the winners from the years gone by?
Who are the Great British Bake Off winners?
Edd Kimber (Series 1 - 2010)
Edd Kimber was The Great British Bake Off’s first-ever champion.
After launching to fame in series one he ditched his debt-collecting job and became a full-time food writer following his win.
Edd has so far penned five cookery books.
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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.
He wrote in the Telegraph in 2016: “When the finale aired I still remember people applauding the idea that a man could win a baking show.”
He is the author of The Boy Who Bakes (2011), Say It With Cake (2012), Patisserie Made Simple (2014), One Tin Bakes (2020), and Small Batch Bakes (2022).
Joanne Wheatley (Series 2 - 2011)
Housewife Joanne Wheatley won the second series of 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 told Sainsbury's Magazine: “Bake Off totally changed my life. “I couldn't believe it when my books became bestsellers.”
In November 2020, she and her husband Richard moved to Portugal and now live in Lisbon, and enjoy a quieter life out of the spotlight.
John Whaite (Series 3 - 2012)
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 career as a celebrity chef.
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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 five cookbooks, and an autobiography.
He has previously admitted the pressure of winning the show can be “daunting and overwhelming” but he has learned to deal with fame.
John 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.
John is also the resident cook on Steph's Packed Lunch.
Frances Quinn (Series 4 - 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.
Frances has also appeared in Vogue and 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)
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 and gives baking demonstrations across the UK.
Nadiya Hussain (Series 6 - 2015)
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 the 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, and released a whopping 12 cook books.
She was also selected to bake late Queen Elizabeth's birthday cake when the monarch turned 90 in April 2016.
Candice Brown (Series 7 - 2016)
Since being crowned the winner of series 7 (and the last BBC winner) Candice Brown has turned herself into a fashion icon and cooking wizard.
During her time in the competition, she 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.
Candice now runs her own pub in Bedfordshire called The Green Man.
Sophie Faldo (Series 8 - 2017)
Sophie Faldo 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, but her cookbook Something Sweet was put on hold.
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 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 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)
David Atherton 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 to have not won Star Baker, since it was introduced in series two.
David 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 in 2021, which is called Good to Eat: Read food to nourish and sustain your life.
Peter Sawkins (Series 11 - 2020)
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 celebrated victory after what judges on the Channel 4 show described as the closest finale yet.
The 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 at the time 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!!!"
Syabira Yusoff (series 13 - 2022)
Syabira Yusoff from London, was crowned the Great British Bake Off 2022 winner. The Malaysian-born baker showed off her impressive skills in the kitchen once again and secured her spot as the Top Baker of the series. On hearing her win, Syabira said: “Thank you so much. I can’t believe it, honestly it hasn’t sunk in yet, this is the biggest achievement in my life." Since winning Bake Off she regularly shares her cooking journey and recipes with her Instagram followers.
Syabira also launched a Malaysian masterclass for her followers.
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.”
