The Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite has revealed his life was ‘derailed’ by the show after work dried up.
The 30-year-old was a 23-year-old law student when he appeared on GBBO – then on BBC2 – in 2012 and was crowned champion over Brendan Lynch and James Morton.
After the series aired, John was offered a six figure deal to write two cookery books and was paid ‘entire salaries worth of income for a job here, a week of work there’.
However, the cook admits that when series four of the competition rolled around on TV, introducing a new group of baking stars, the lucrative offers stopped rolling in and it had an effect on his mental health.
Writing in The Telegraph, John explained: ‘As the next batch of Bake Off stars emerged, my appeal shrank. Year on year, the working days became fewer and financial offers were smaller. The life to which I had become accustomed slowly dissolved.
‘With more days alone at home, waiting by the phone like an anxious 1980s teenager urging their crush to call, my already depressed state of mind worsened. I became lonely and sad. I drank more than I should have and posted unwisely on Instagram and Twitter.
‘Some days I’d wish I had never been on the show, because in reality, it totally derailed me from a steady lifepath.’
John said he does not blame the BBC or the production company for failing to give him advice on how to cope with the ‘transcience of the industry’, saying he would have been attracted to the fame either way, but believes there should be ‘serious reform’ on how Bake Off stars are ‘guided through post-show life’.
The Chopping Block star went on to open his own cookery school in a renovated barn and has since written books for an independent publishing house and moved back up North.
He added that he would ‘absolutely’ enter GBBO again, but would approach it differently.
The Great British Bake Off kicks off its 10th series tonight with its youngest batch of bakers yet – with seven of the 13 bakers under the age of 30.
They include a geography teacher, a fashion designer and a veterinary surgeon.
Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are back as judges, while Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig return to host.
The Great British Bake Off is on at 8pm on Channel 4.
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For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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