David Atherton: Where Are They Now?

Spoiler note: this post confirms that David Atherton won his season of Bake Off.

David Atherton won the tenth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2019, a home baker from Whitby who was 36 at the time and, unusually, never landed in the bottom or won a single Star Baker title on his way to the win. He built his victory on consistency and a health minded, thoughtful approach to baking rather than showy risk taking. Here is where the years since took him.

The win

Atherton took the 2019 title in the show's tenth series, closing out a run defined by steadiness rather than drama. Before Bake Off he worked as an international health adviser, and that background in health and nutrition would go on to shape the food career he built after the tent.

A children's cookbook author

Atherton's clearest post win identity is as an author for young readers. He built a bestselling series of children's cookbooks, including My First Cook Book in 2020, My First Green Cook Book in 2021, My First Baking Book in 2022, and My First Christmas Cook Book in 2023, with editions also published for the United States market. The books lean into fun, healthy, approachable recipes aimed at getting kids into the kitchen, which fits neatly with his health advising background. It is a distinctive niche among Bake Off champions, most of whom write for adult home bakers.

Where things stand now

As of recent public reporting, Atherton continues to write in the food space, including a food column for The Guardian where he shares healthy recipes, and he remains associated with his children's cookbook series and a healthy eating message. That makes his current activity well documented: an author and columnist who turned a Bake Off win into a sustained writing career with a clear point of view about food and health. He is one of the more purpose driven champions the show has produced.

To see how he fits among the show's other winners, our guide to every Great British Bake Off winner lays out the full list, and Edd Kimber, the show's very first champion, is another winner who built a durable career out of publishing.

The takeaway for fans

Atherton's story is a reminder that a Bake Off win can point in an unexpected direction, in his case toward getting children excited about cooking. The kid friendly bakes he is known for start with simple, forgiving recipes, and a basic baking sheet is often all a first bake needs. If you are working through the show's champions, the Great British Bake Off hub keeps every series in one place.