Being chosen to appear on The Great British Bake Off is beyond the wildest dreams of many a keen amateur baker. But what happens when contestants wave goodbye to the TV crews and get back to real life? Kerry Fowler meets up with four of the show’s past stars to find out

EDD KIMBER

”It’s been a rollercoaster for me ever since”

Also known as The Boy Who Bakes, Edd won the first series back in 2010. As well as regular TV appearances and a critically acclaimed blog, he has three baking books under his apron

BEST BIT OF BAKE OFF ADVICE? I was a very shy, nervous person before the show. I remember talking to Sue Perkins about how I wasn’t that outgoing and she said: “You have no choice. You have to kick that out now.” I took that to heart.

“I remember gâteau Breton from a visit to Brittany when I was little”

WHAT DID THE YOUNG BOY WHO BAKES DREAM OF DOING? Before the show, all I wanted to do was to go and work in a little bakery in my home town. As it was the first series of Bake Off, people didn’t care about it like they do now, so it was a gentler experience, I think. But it’s been a happy rollercoaster for me ever since. I’m currently working on my fourth book, and I’m invited to teach baking all round the world, so life is good.

WHAT WERE YOUR SURVIVAL TACTICS AFTER THE SHOW? I was only 24 when I won, so I decided to give myself a year to explore all the opportunities that were thrown at me. My rule was that if, after 12 months, I was able to pay my rent (I’d moved to London) and was happy and enjoying my work, I would stick at it. I’ve lived by the same guidelines ever since – except I’m 34 now so I’m trying to earn enough to buy a house!