Strictly contestant and Bake Off winner John Whaite has created an account on OnlyFans after quitting TV, saying that the river had “run dry”. Whaite, 35, defended his decision to post explicit content to the adult site, despite previously saying he regretted joining the platform back in 2022.
Announcing his return to OnlyFans, Whaite explained the process behind the decision to his fans on Instagram. The baker wrote: “I’ve had a lot of DMs about why I’ve re-joined OnlyFans, when I regretted it last time.
“Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that who we are, or at least little parts of us, can change. I for one don’t want to live my life stuck in a steadfast template that restricts my next move.
“Secondly, I enjoy performance. I enjoy being a show off. I enjoy building my body and celebrating the results. That’s not for everyone and that’s OK – if you don’t like meat just walk on by the butcher’s shop.
“Last time being on OF didn’t gel with my role on daytime television. But I quite the TV industry 18 months ago and haven’t looked back. I had an incredible 12-year-long career and achieved some extraordinary milestones that I’ll proudly take with me to the grave.
“I loved it (mostly) while it lasted, and made some wonderful friendships which I’ll cherish, but that river, for me, had run dry. It didn’t set me alight anymore.”
Whaite, who won The Great British Bake Off in 2012 and now bakes for a living through his company Ruff Puff Brownies, said that since launching the business: “I’m treating my OF career as precisely that – business. It cycles money into the economy, it puts food on my table, it gives some people a little bit of cheeky joy – it’s a service.
“If it’s not for you, simply pass it by, and know that I’ll always be using this platform for food, humour, and little glimpses into my life. We’ll all be dead, buried and long forgotten one day, so I’m grabbing the bull by the horns and living this one shot at life to the fullest.
“And if you want to judge, go ahead, I won’t stop you. Our worlds may be slightly different but neither of us have fallen off them…yet.”
Whaite’s decision was met with a lot of support from friends and fans. Comedian Elle Taylor commented: “Big fan of both your brownies and your buns x”. Fellow Strictly contestant Michelle Visage also weighed in, saying: “You do you baby.”
Whaite originally set up his account whilst drunk on holiday in 2022. He later shared he joined the platform because he was struggling to find work as Strictly came to end.
The star initially made a lot of money but feared he would lose work on daytime TV. He told Attitude at the time: “The more I was on it, the more money I was making, the more I was willing to give more.
“I had to be in control of that behaviour and say, ‘Nope, stop this now, before it goes too far’.” I regret it deeply,” Whaite said, adding: “I have to live with the consequences of my actions.”