Every Tuesday evening, we've been glued to the sofa watching The Great British Bake Off [1]. We love the show just as much after it jumped from BBC to Channel 4, and this year's contestants have all been so adorable, we can't choose who we'd like to win in the upcoming final. As the series comes to a close — here are some shows you'll love just as much [2] to fill the void — now is a perfect time to catch up on what our favourite winners and previous contestants are up to. Take a look through our gallery to see what your favourites have been doing since they baked their way to stardom.
Nadiya Hussain
Nadiya "I can and I will" Hussain is easily one of the most popular and successful Bake Off contestants. Her win on the show promptly landed her a book deal (of course), but her warm and friendly persona also bagged her a TV show on the BBC – Nadiya's British Food Adventure – and a weekly recipe column in the Times.
Holly Bell
Holly Bell was runner up back in Series 2 of Bake Off. What's she doing now? She's launched her own brownie business, Mrs Bell's Brownies [3], and let us tell you: they are the most delicious brownies we have ever eaten.
Selasi Gbormittah
Everyone in the country found themselves falling for smooth Selasi, and since the show his love of baking has become his full-time job. He had a cupcake pop-up selling through Deliveroo (not delivering himself, sadly) and he's been making wedding cakes. He also put on a fundraising dinner for the survivors of Grenfell Tower.
John Whaite
Winner of season three, John Whaite, was in the middle of his law degree when he won Bake Off and he had a bit of a career shift after the show, writing four cookbooks. However, he announced recently that he's returning to the law, stating on Twitter "Many of you ask why I'm going back to a career in law. I care about access to justice. I want to devote myself to the untangling of families & to child welfare. When I graduated I didn't have confidence or calmness to be a barrister. But after years of TV & live shows, I'm ready."
Candice Brown
One of the most popular Bake Off contestants, Candice Brown has remained in the spotlight since the show, thanks to her appearance on Dancing On Ice. Her recent wedding was featured in Hello! magazine. She had 12 (!) wedding cakes, created by the Bake Off contestants that she shared the series with. Awwww.
Frances Quinn
Series Four winner Frances Quinn has really run with her creative streak when it comes to her baking and she's now known for baking unusual creations for celebrity clients, from a huge, record breaking Jaffa Cake, to her signature biscuit cakes.
Edd Kimber
Edd Kimber won the very first series of Bake Off and since then baking has become his full-time gig, which sounds a lot more fun than being a full-time debt collector. He's written three cookbooks and he also made a couple of TV shows.
Ruby Tandoh
Still very much part of the food scene, Ruby Tandoh has been making waves since she left the show. She's fighty, shouty, and often blazing a trail, fighting against any influencer who mentions wellness or clean eating. We're here for it.
Chetna Makin
One of our favourite contestants, Chetna, has been dishing up delicious food since she left the tent. She's now got a popular YouTube channel, Food With Chetna [4].
Howard Middleton and Val Stone
Howard Middleton achieved something a cult status after appearing on the show and dealing with Custardgate, but although he took voluntary redundancy after the show he didn't go into the food industry like many of the other contestants. Val Stone now teaches baking and judges cake contests. We're hoping her chat has just as many innuendos as it did on the show.
Tamal Ray
Dr. Tamal Ray didn't give up his medical career after Bake Off. And he still hasn't, instead he fits his Guardian column in around his shifts. He also made a medical TV show with Channel 4 called Be Your Own Doctor.
Sophie Faldo
Sophie was the winner of the first series hosted on Channel 4, which meant that we all found out she's won a little sooner than planned when Prue accidentally let it slip on Twitter. Since her win, the Royal Artillery veteran has written a patisserie cookbook and she still hangs out with her best Bake Off buddies Steven and Kate.