John Mincher, a baker born and raised in the West Midlands, earned the greatest accolade of Star Baker in the premier episode of The Great British Bake Off, series 15 which first aired on Tuesday 24th September. He started on good footing with his loaf cake and gained third place in the mini Battenberg, ‘taste and bake’ technical challenge, but it was John’s showstopper – a ‘Perfect Brunch’ inspired illusion cake designed to look like a pair of jeans and flavoured with Margarita cocktail – that cinched him the series’ first Star Baker.
John has been a hairdresser and an estate agent, however, he found his calling working in the NHS as Directorate Support Manager; ensuring schedules and operating theatre booking run smoothly. He first learnt to bake with his nan, “making fairy cakes and pies, and now bakes to honour his nan’s memory and pass on the skills she taught him to his two young nephews. He loves classic bakes with a twist – using herbs and other flavourings to give his bakes something different. His favourite bake, though, is a classic lemon tart,” explains a press release from Channel 4.
“I have dreamt of being in the Tent since the first ever episode!” John says, “To find myself in the tent has, literally, been a dream come true. I was actually recovering from an operation at home when I got the call… I wasn’t sure if I was high on painkillers and I had dreamt it, or if the call was actually real!
“I will never, ever forget the first “On your marks, get set… BAKE”, followed by the sheer, panic-fuelled excitement. That moment will stay with me forever.
Just thinking of the Tent gives me goosebumps, seeing it for the first time was one of those pinch-me moments. What made it even more special was seeing it for the first time with my fellow Bakers. It’s a bond that we will all cherish forever.”
The Great British Bake Off continues every Tuesday on Channel 4 from 8pm.
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