Great British Bake Off: Past winners have their say ahead of final

TEN weeks ago, a dozen bakers entered a tent in a Berkshire field.

This Wednesday, either Ian Cumming, Tamal Ray or Nadiya Jamir Hussain will become 2015 champion of the Great British Bake Off.

Along the way they’ll have slaved, sweated and panickedover 30 bakes. But the real key figure is that up to 15 million people will watch them do it.

And the astonishing interest or more accurately national obsession will mean that for that winner everything will change in a heartbeat.

“Their life will never be the same again,” is the simple assessment of Jo Wheatley.

The Essex mum-of-three should know. This time back in 2011 she was a housewife whose biggest pride was the achievements of grown-up sons Billy, Jesse and Dylan.

Then she won Bake Off.

Jo Wheatley, GBBO winner 2011

“It was such a weird experience,” she tells The Sunday Post in the kitchen of her homely Ongar kitchen.

“I went from being totally unknown to being swamped with attention.

“Within three days, I had 1,500 emails congratulating me and asking me to do things.

“You go from an inconspicuous person walking along the street to people constantly calling out your name.

“There’s this perception that you’re somehow going to always be glamorous. So there’s pressure feeling you can’t nip to Sainsbury’s in your sloppy old tracksuit anymore.

“In the first few months you are on the steepest possible learning curve.

“In the end it is lovely, but it’s bizarre at first because no-one prepares you for this mad roller-coaster ride.”

And John Whaite, who won in 2012, says this year’s winner had better be prepared to work for success.

“Don’t expect you’re going to be showered with offers of TV shows and books because it doesn’t work like that,” said John, who went on to get professional qualifications and is now set to open his own Lancashire cookery school.

John Whaite, GBBO winner 2012 (PA)

“You’re suddenly a major reality TV star everyone wants a piece of.

“But then you find your own level. You’ve got to graft and be determined. There’s a lot of stress. I try not to stop and think about all I’ve done or I’d have a panic attack.

“But it’s all outweighed by the brilliant time I’ve had and I’d just advise the winner to enjoy it most of all.”

Perthshire teenager Flora Shedden lost out in agonising fashion last week when her final dream literally crumbled along with her cake carousel.

Over the coming months she’ll look to get her head down and focus on her art history course at St Andrews University.

The 19-year-old from near Dunkeld has shared her highs and lows exclusively with The Sunday Post every step of the way.

And as she looks back on her run all the way through to the semi-final, she has nothing but fond memories.

GBBO contestant Flora Shedden (BBC / Love Productions)

“There were a lot of highlights, from making daisy chains with Tamal, Mel and Sue, to cups of tea in the garden and meeting such a fantastic crew,” reveals Flora.

“I really think they deserve a lot of credit. They should all have their own TV show for being so entertaining. I also really enjoyed the dinner table chat with the bakers.

“There were plenty lows also normally happening alongside torrential rain and melting lemon curd.”

While it’s been the craziest four years of former champ Jo’s life, they’ve also been the best.

“It’s been wonderful and I pinch myself every day that it’s all happened,” she confides.

“I’m so thankful I took the chance and went on Bake Off.”

Baking went from being a hobby to a career she couldn’t have imagined having written bestselling books A Passion for Baking and Home Baking.

Flora, too, has found herself in much demand.

“There have been lots of offers, which is very flattering,” she admits.

“Who knows what’s coming next.

“What I do know is that the whole GBBO experience was surreal, exhausting, an honour and an opportunity to spend time with 60-odd amazing people.

“All in a tent in the lovely south. Not too bad, eh?”

Meanwhile Jo makes the latest of countless lucrative public appearances at the Cake and Bake Show Edinburgh later this month.

The three-day event will feature Great British Bake Off Live with Jo, John and other show favourites demonstrating their memorable creations.

Although she won’t be sharing a stage with Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry this time, Jo does so regularly.

“Mary’s just a natural treasure, beautiful inside, and Paul’s not scary he’s a pussycat!”

The judging duo themselves insist we’ll all be on the edge of our seats on Wednesday.

“It’s the best final we’ve ever had,” says Paul.

Mary adds: “It is the best without a doubt. You’ll be surprised.”

The Cake and Bake Show is at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre from October 30 to November 1. Visit thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk/edinburgh