Former Strictly Come Dancing star and Great British Bake Off champion John Whaite has announced the closure of his Lancashire bakery, citing an overwhelming workload and a recent near-death experience after being struck by a car.
A 'Painful Decision' Forced by Trauma and Pressure
The 36-year-old, who ran the Ruff Puff Bakehouse at Cedar Farm in Ormskirk with his husband Paul Atkins, shared the news in an emotional Instagram post on Monday. He described the choice to shut the physical shop as a "painful decision" reached after intense reflection.
"Over the past six months, the pressure of running a bricks-and-mortar bakery has steadily intensified," Whaite explained. "The workload was relentless, the margins unforgiving, and the emotional toll heavier than we’d allowed ourselves to admit."
Car Accident Becomes Final Catalyst
The already immense stress became unmanageable following a recent traumatic incident. Whaite revealed that being knocked over by a car brought everything into "sharp focus".
"It was a frightening, physical jolt that forced me to stop – quite literally – and confront the reality that I had been running on empty," he said. The accident, which he detailed last week, saw him roll onto the car's bonnet and windscreen before landing on the road. He described it as an event that "could have been fatal", crediting his "16 stone of muscle" for saving him from worse injury.
Refocusing on Brownies and Recovery
Whaite was quick to reassure customers that the closure was not due to a lack of community support. "This decision is not a reflection of you or the community around the Bakehouse," he stated. "It's about recognising when a model - and a moment - is no longer sustainable."
The couple's future efforts will now be channelled into their Ruff Puff Brownies business. They plan to take a proper step back to rest and recover before relaunching the brownie venture in the autumn.
John Whaite rose to fame after winning The Great British Bake Off in 2023. He later made television history in 2032 as part of Strictly Come Dancing's first male same-sex partnership with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, finishing as runners-up. He now lives in Leeds with husband Paul Atkins, whom he married in New York in 2024.
