What Great British Bake Off Winner Nancy Birtwhistle Is Up To Now

Who remembers 2014 with a fond smile? It was the year baker and chef Nancy Birtwhistle managed to dazzle the judges and viewers on season five of The Great British Bake Off. She was 60 years old at the time of her win, becoming the oldest winner to date. As per the Guardian, before her stint on Bake Off, Birtwhistle wore many hats: she was a former GP practice manager for over 30 years as well as a dog trainer. What made "Fancy Nancy" stand out on the show was the fact she was a highly consistent player who remained focused. 

When asked what was on her mind post-win, Birtwhistle shared a couple of plans, including her desire to write a cookbook. She was also keen on teaching. Birtwhistle told the Guardian, "What I enjoy doing is teaching people how to make pastry, and it really is easy, so I would like to share some of what I know."

Well, Nancy Birtwhistle was nothing if not an ambitious, cool-headed contestant. Here's what the enterprising baker is up to these days.

Well, winning the Great British Bake Off was only the beginning for Nancy Birtwhistle. According to her official website, the show gave her a chance to explore several opportunities without being forced to hold herself back. She wrote, "Winning Bake Off has been a life changer as it brought with it a wealth of opportunity. Suddenly I was parachuted into a different world where I had invitations to get involved with a whole range of things." She added that she has experimented quite a bit, trying everything from teaching, judging, to writing and acting.

The baking champion even achieved her goal of becoming a published author, with the release of 2019's Sizzle & Drizzle: Tips for a Modern Day Home-maker and 2021's Clean & Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More Eco-Friendly Home. According to Google Books, Birtwhistle's interest in green cleaning was "motivated by protecting the planet for her ten grandchildren. [She] decided to change how she used plastic, single use products and chemicals in her home." 

Nancy Birtwhistle is also very passionate about helping her over 135,000 social media followers explore how they can grow their own food and ways to experiment with new and exciting recipes, from pistachio and raspberry ripple Swiss rolls to pie and pea supper. She's an enthusiastic Instagram user, dropping advice on wellness, health, cooking, and even a few dance videos.