John Whaite facts for kids

John Robert Whaite, born on May 23, 1989, is a talented English baker. He became famous after winning the third season of the TV show The Great British Bake Off in 2012. Today, he is a well-known chef, a TV personality, and an author who writes cookbooks.

Early Life and Education

John Whaite grew up on a farm in Wrightington, Lancashire. He has two sisters, Jane and Victoria. John became interested in baking when he was seven years old. When he was older, he decided to use his mother's maiden name, Whaite, as his surname.

He was accepted to Oxford University to study languages. However, he chose to study Law at the University of Manchester instead, to be closer to his family. In 2012, he earned a top degree in Law. He even took his final exams while he was filming Bake Off. After winning the show, John decided to follow his passion for cooking. He took classes at Le Cordon Bleu in London to become a professional chef.

Career Highlights

Television Appearances

In 2012, John Whaite competed in the third season of The Great British Bake Off on BBC Two. During one episode, he hurt his finger and could not finish a bake. Despite this, he made it to the final and won the show. His winning bakes included an Italian sausage and roasted vegetable pithivier, fondant fancies, and a heaven and hell chiffon cake.

John has appeared as a chef on many TV shows. He was a regular chef on the ITV breakfast show Lorraine, hosted by Lorraine Kelly. He also appeared on This Morning, What's Cooking?, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, and Sunday Brunch.

In April 2016, John started co-hosting Chopping Block. This was an ITV cooking competition show with Rosemary Shrager. Four couples competed in daily challenges to win a prize. A second season of the show aired in March 2017. John also makes regular appearances on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch with presenter Steph McGovern.

In August 2021, John Whaite joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with professional dancer Johannes Radebe. They made history as the first male same-sex dance couple on the show. They danced their way to the final, finishing as one of the top two couples.

Cookery and Writing

After his success on Bake Off, John continued to learn more about cooking. He studied for a special diploma in pastry making at Le Cordon Bleu, London.

In 2015, John opened his own cookery school called John Whaite's Kitchen. It was located in a renovated 400-year-old building on his family's farm in Wrightington. The school offered cooking classes to the public.

John Whaite is also a successful author. He has written several cookbooks. His first book, John Whaite Bakes, was released in April 2013. His second book, John Whaite Bakes at Home, came out in March 2014. He then published Perfect Plates in 5 Ingredients in April 2016. His fourth book, Comfort: Food to soothe the soul, was published in October 2017. In 2019, he wrote A Flash in the Pan, which has recipes for cooking using only a stovetop pan.

John also wrote a food column for The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Live Performances

John Whaite performed in the Strictly Come Dancing – the Live Tour 2022. This tour allowed fans to see their favorite dancers and celebrities from the TV show perform live on stage.

Personal Life

John Whaite lives in Leeds with his husband, Paul Atkins. Paul is a graphic designer. John announced their engagement in July 2017. In January 2024, John and Paul had a surprise wedding ceremony in New York. The couple had been together for many years before they got married.

In 2019, John spent time working on a 100-acre farm in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. He found this opportunity through a program called World-wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

See also

In Spanish: John Whaite para niños