“I mean, you don't go into 'Bake Off' expecting anything. There's no big-money prize, no contract. It's not like 'The X Factor,' where you're promised the Earth. In a way, it's a big gamble. If you're in an ordinary job - and will have to go back to an ordinary job - it's a risk. Your bosses might not like what they see of you on TV and fire you!”

English baker, chef, television presenter, and author

John Robert Whaite is an English baker, chef, television presenter, and author best known for winning the third series of The Great British Bake Off in 2012. He has built a public career around food and television, moving from baking into work as a chef and presenter. He is also an author, and his profile is closely tied to the success that first brought him widespread attention.