YES! The Great British Bake Off is back for it’s seventh instalment. Phew. Newly self-confessed fan Snoop Dogg will be terribly pleased.
We’ve got the same stalwart heroes at the helm: presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins bringing the ‘oo er missus’ and ‘hello sailor’ to the gingham altar; and judges Paul 'Big-Hands' Hollywood, and Mary ‘Grande-Dame’ Berry. Plus there’s a whole new crop of bakers, all bright eyes, sticky fingers and soggy bottoms.
But what of the previous winners? What’s Nadiya been up to? What about Jo, winner of the first ever GBBO? Don’t worry, we’ve got you: Here’s the definitive guide to previous winners… you’re welcome.
Edd Kimber, 2010
Fresh-faced Edd used a cinnamon and banana cake to claim the first ever GBBO crown at Fulham Palace back when they toured the country for each episode. After his victory, Edd quit debt-collecting, worked a stint for legendary chef Raymond Blanc at his Le Manoir restaurant in Oxfordshire before moving to London.
He’s got three baking books in his locker, most recently Patisserie Made Simple, has been on Sunday Brunch and The Alan Titchmarsh Show, and performed a Yoda-like role for some more recent GBBO bakers offering advice, guidance and help for their journeys. What a guy.
Jo Wheatley, 2011
Jo’s millefeuille and petit fours showstopper won her the first all-female final over Holly Bell and Mary-Anne Boermans. Jo’s been busy since winning the show, and runs her own cookery classes and blog under the guise Jo’s Blue Aga. Like Edd before her she’s appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show but also The One Show and Channel 4’s What’s Cooking? As well as writing a column for The Sun.
Her next venture is opening soon and will be her own country pub, café and restaurant in Cambridgeshire. Go on Jo, you’re smashing it.
John Whaite, 2012
He was 23 when he won the first all-male final, beating off Brendan Lynch and James Morton in the process with his incredible heaven and hell chiffon cake.
He now runs his own Cookery School on his family’s farm in Lancashire called John Whaite’s Kitchen and is the resident chef on TV’s Lorraine. He has, of course, got three books out as well.
He also got kind hot. Blimey.
Frances Quinn, 2013
The Mighty (Frances) Quinn had art at the core of her best bakes, not least her series winning showstopper Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding Cake on finals day. Quinn’s only released one book since her series win but we’ll let her off because of its great title: Quinntessential Baking, geddit? Bravo.
Frances makes special cakes to order, and she won our hearts with her Smell My Cheese Cake for Steve Coogan’s production company Baby Cow… lovely stuff. She also crafted 67 biscuit ‘medals’ for our Team GB Olympians on their heroic return from Rio. Winner.
Nancy Birtwhistle, 2014
Nancy may be retired and not chasing the career of a master baker, but she’s far from relaxing. She now judges baking contests, teaches in schools and does after-dinner speaking, where we imagine she just lays into the pudding you’ve just finished.
Nancy does still create recipes but hasn’t been published, yet. She puts them all on her website… and she even rears her own chickens, guinea fowl and turkeys. We love you Nancy.
Nadiya Hussain, 2015
Nadiya’s win was perhaps the most emotional, even Mary shed a tear while Nadiya poured out her heart. Nads beat Tamal Ray and Ian Cumming in a tense final where she created her incredible My Big Fat British Wedding Cake masterpiece.
Since her victory Nadiya has been BUSY… she’s released a cookery book and has a children’s book on the way. She’s done Desert Island Discs on Radio 4, has a two-part BBC series looking at her roots called The Chronicles of Nadiya, and is set to be judging this year’s Junior Bake Off. Breath. Anything else? Oh yes… the small matter of baking the Queen’s 90th Birthday cake. Incredible. Nadiya we salute you.