Bake Off is back – but what happened to previous winners like Edd Kimber, Frances Quinn and Nancy Birtwhistle?

Series one winner Edd Kimber. Photo: Matt Crossick/PA Wire

The seventh series of Great British Bake Off reunites hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins with judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, who will spend the next nine weeks or so dishing out sage advice, withering looks and barely concealed innuendos to the remaining 11 contestants.

Obviously someone has already been voted off the show but there’s no spoiler alert here – rather than dissect every crumb of the opening show and reveal the first departure, here is a reminder of the previous six series winners.

Series one – Edd Kimber

Series two winner John Whaite arriving for the 2013 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena, London. Photo: Ian West/PA Wire

Cinnamon and banana cupcakes and showstopper success won the inaugural series for Kimber in the days when every episode was shot at a different location (there were only 10 bakers and six contestants in those days though).

He now makes a living from his baking, has written three cookbooks and appeared as a resident baker on The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

Series two – Joanne Wheatley

Great British Bake Off series four winner Frances Quinn. Photo: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire

Raspberries were the order of the day in the final for Wheatley – she included them in her mille feuille with blueberries and also mixed them in mini meringues with white chocolate and pistachio. That first place in the technical challenge probably helped too.

Since then she’s written two books, has a monthly column in Sainsbury’s magazine and runs cookery courses from her Essex home.

Series three – John Whaite

Queen Elizabeth II was baked a cake by series six winner Nadiya Hussain. Photo: John Stillwell/PA Wire

An all-male final rounded off series three with law student Whaite coming out on top.

His signature dish was an Italian sausage and roasted vegetable pithivier later followed by a heaven and hell-themed chiffon cake.

Whaite sat his law exams while Bake Off was filming but after his success in the now-famous tent he chose to pursue a baking career instead. He’s also written a couple of books, set up a chocolate shop and opened a cookery school on his family’s diary farm.

Series four – Frances Quinn

Despite placing third in the final’s technical challenge (pretzels), Quinn’s rainbow picnic pie and her Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed wedding cake showstopper won over Paul and Mary.

Her post-show career saw her write the book Quinntessential Baking, released in August last year.

Series five – Nancy Birtwhistle

Nancy’s fruity viennoiserie, a first place in the back-to-basics technical challenge (Victoria sandwiches, tarte au citron and scones) and her windmill pièce montée secured victory in the series probably best remembered for bingate – when controversy over the perceived sabotage of a baked Alaska broke out on social media.

Since the show Birtwhistle has been working on a book expected to be out this year.

Series six – Nadiya Hussain

Iced buns, mille feuille and classic British cakes were the tasks set in the final of last series.

First place in the technical challenge helped Hussain on her way to victory along with her simply named My Big Fat British Wedding Cake showstopper.

As well as regularly appearing on The One Show on BBC One her cookery show The Chronicles of Nadiya is currently airing on the same channel.