John Whaite on new show ‘Chopping Block’ and why he couldn’t do it without his boyfriend
By Will Stroude
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost four years since John Whaite won over Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood (and the rest of the British public) on series three of The Great British Bake Off, but now the 27-year-old lad from Lancashire is headed over the the other side to act as a mentor and judge alongside TV chef royalty Rosemary Shrager on ITV’s brand new series Chopping Block.
The show sees the pair running a one-week residential cookery school, where four competitive couples are pitted against each other in daily challenges, with the aim of scooping the grand prize of £1000 at the end of the week. Airing daily at 3pm on ITV for the next four weeks, we caught up with former Attitude cover star John to find out more…
Hi John! How would you describe the new series, Chopping Block for those who don’t know?
Well it’s almost a great big fusion of Coach trip, Come Dine with Me and Master Chef; it’s like a hodge-podge of the nation’s favourite shows. It’s really good fun. You get the natural entertainment from the couples and their personalities, you get me and Rosemary having a good giggle, and you get all the food aswell. I think people are enjoying the mix of entertainment and food – it’s the best of both worlds.
What it been like working alongside Rosemary? I imagine she’s formidable but fun.
She’s great fun. She’s very well-respected in the food industry but she knows how to have a good laugh. I learnt a lot from her, but she’s not so serious she can’t have a giggle. We met before in cookery circles, and we auditioned together about 18 months ago. It all happened very quickly.
What are the couples taking part like? Are there any that people are going to love, or who’ll drive people mad?
Generally everyone was quite alright – we had a few people arguing and few people fighting though! In one of the episodes later in the series there’s almost a bit of fisticuffs going on, but it doesn’t quite get that far because I step in! But people get really quite naughty and funny, but I actually became really attached to them, because you’re teaching them and they’re sort of relying on you to teach them. I didn’t mind if people got emotional, because I’ve been there myself on Bake Off, so i can understand it – but no one got divorced, let’s put it that way!
We see the couples living together too for the duration of the show – that must add to the intensity?
It is a point of difference, because you do get to see how they react to things, and how they might wind each other up, saying ‘I won, you didn’t!’ But it’s also nice to see when they do have downtime that they all get along, so even though there’s competitive tension in the kitchen, they do get on well together.
What level of cooking skills do they actually have when they join you?
They’re all amateur. Some people actually joined up saying ‘I’m a really good cook, I can do this’, and but they turned out to be quite poor! But that’s what we’re there for, to help. Some are really quite proficient at cooking and others didn’t even know what an egg is. It’s an interesting mix, but in every group there’s one person who’ll be a bit better than the other, so it’s fair.
How have you found it going from TV contestant to TV mentor?
Well it’s only been four years [since Bake Off] but actually it’s been a long hard slog to learn my craft and learn my trade. I’m really loving it. but I think I definitely bring to the table an empathy that often other mentors might not have because they’ve not been on the other side of the table like I have. I feel like I can empathise with the students, but then again there’s a level of expectation and if they don’t fulfill that, there are consequences. [laughs]
what’s been the highlight of the last few years since you won the Bake Off?
There’s nothing quite so dramatic, but on Chopping Block, I think it was the fourth week, my jeans didn’t fit and someone had to go and get me pair of black tracksuit bottoms; that’s when I realised I can’t continue eating at the rate I’m eating at, otherise I’m going to chew myself into a very wide and early grave! So that’s probably been the standout point: Nothing showbiz-y, just the realisation that my ass is getting fat! [laughs]
Bake Off‘s really been praised for promoting diversity within such a traditional format: You won as an openly gay man, we had British Muslim Nadya winning last year. It must feel nice to feel a part of that?
It is a positive thing, but we shouldn’t find that positive! The fact that Britain’s such a diverse place, we have gay rights, religious rights, and while we’re still working towards equality we shouldn’t be surprised. As long as we don’t take our eye off the ball, and keep fighting for our rights, it’ll only get better and get less ‘surprising’. But of course it’s a great thing.
Do you ever worry about being held up as a role model now you’re a prominent gay figure? Is it something that crosses you mind?
I don’t get worried about it at all. I’ve always been open, I’ve always been out since day one, and to an extent I’m not defined by it. I’m proud of who I am, and I’m proud to fight for my rights and for gay rights, but I’m not defined by it: it’s just one of the pillars that makes up me. I’m a chef, I play the guitar… it’s just one side of me. I am proud of it, but I don’t feel the need to sing it from the rooftops because I don’t think we should have to, we should just naturally slot in and feel comfortable being who we are. I hope that people look at me as a gay role model, but mainly I hope people see me as a role model who’s happy and content. I think that’s more important than just being ‘a gay man’.
Of course you and you partner Paul featured on the cover of our first ever edition of Love & Marriage back in 2014 to celebrate the introduction of equal marriage. it got such a great response, I remember people saying how rare it still was to see two guys being romantic on a magazine cover.
Yeah I didn’t hear any negativity about it, and I felt immensely proud to be sharing that with my partner, because he’s been in the background from the Bake Off until now; he’s been instrumental in my career, a sort of silent partner in it all. So for him to have a bit of appreciation, and to show people that I’ve not just won the Bake Off and runaway with someone more famous or more rich or more better looking – because there are people out there like that – but I’m proud to say that I’ve been with him for so long. And he’s put up with me throughout this for the last eight years. So it was a moment of immense pride for me. To be able to say that I have a partner and I love him and he’s part of my life and I’m part of his life – it’s an incredible thing.
Chopping Block airs weekdays at 3pm on ITV.
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