Television: How to make sure a post-Bake Off career rises

 

Law student John Whaite, 23, has been crowned the surprise winner of The Great British Bake Off, after impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with his "Heaven and Hell" chiffon cake, a monster gateau that required 18 eggs, 600 grams of dark chocolate and one kilogram of sugar. But what's for afters?

Last year's winner, Jo Wheatley, 42, released a book, A Passion for Baking, which went straight in at number two in the non-fiction charts. She now teaches bakery masterclasses from her home and has a blog, Blue AGA. Winning the competition in 2010 allowed Edd Kimber to quit his job as a debt collector to focus on baking. This month he releases his second recipe book, Say It With Cake. Like Wheatley, he also runs bakery classes and a popular blog (The Boy Who Bakes).

We saw Whaite's mother confiding to the camera that she hoped, despite his obvious talent with pastries, that he would continue with his planned career in law (he was studying for his finals while filming the show).

However, it looks like the allure of buttery fingers and floury hair is too much for this year's winner. Despite graduating with a first, Whaite has now confirmed that he is saving up to go to Paris to train as a pâtissier. But don't be too disappointed, Mum. Just think of all the delicious confections coming your way.

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