What happened to Sophie Faldo? Great British Bake Off 2017 winner

As Channel 4 viewers look forward to a rerun of the classic 2017 series, plenty are wondering what happened to Sophie Faldo, the eventual winner.

Since her triumph four years ago, Faldo has gone onto enjoy a varied career in the food industry.

Here’s everything you need to know about what happened to Sophie Faldo..

Sophie Faldo won the 2017 series of Bake Off (Credit: Alamy/Everett Collection Inc)

What happened to Sophie Faldo?

Since winning the 2017 series, Faldo has held several positions across the food industry.

Among her interesting career moves, the 36-year-old has turned her hand to presenting, professional baking and recipe writing.

READ MORE: How to watch the Great British Bake Off in the United States

In the aftermath of her Bake Off success, Faldo co-presented an episode of the TV series Travels with a Goat, in which she took viewers on a journey through southern Kenya with Spanish food vlogger Abraham Bandera Baez.

Faldo has also started her own food business, dubbed Sophie Faldo Couture Cakes, selling top of the range baked goods and wedding cakes.

To top it off, she even made the shortlist for a Woman of the Future award in 2018. Clearly Bake Off was just the beginning.

Sophie started her own food business after winning Bake Off (Credit: channel 4)

Were Sophie and Steven from Great British Bake Off a couple?

After the series 8 final aired, rumours began circulating that Faldo was dating fellow finalist Steven Carter-Bailey.

Fans began speculating when the show’s epilogue revealed that both Faldo and Carter Bailey were planning a Scandinavian trip together.

READ MORE: Is Bake Off 2021 cancelled? Latest updates on series

The revelation that the duo dubbed themselves “best baking friends forever” also fuelled the gossip mill, as well as by series of affectionate social media posts between the two.

However, despite the apparent plausibility of the claims, Faldo has since quashed the rumours. As she told The Radio Times in a 2019 interview: “There were rumours I was having an affair with Steven even though he’s got a partner and I have a boyfriend.”

Audiences clearly still have a while to wait before their first confirmed Bake Off romance.

The Bake Off winner with her boyfriend David Slattery (Credit: Alamy/WENN Rights Ltd)

Is Sophie Faldo married?

Despite the rumours around Faldo’s relationship with her co-star, the truth is that Faldo remained in a committed relationship with her pre-show partner.

In fact, Faldo subsequently revealed that 26-year-old David Slattery had actually persuaded her to apply for Bake Off in the first place.

READ MORE: Here’s what Bake Off star Liam Charles is up to now 

After the final aired, both she and Slattery posed for a celebratory snap with the Bake Off trophy. Faldo posted the pic with the caption:

“And it’s the famous cake stand! Love to all the bakers, judges, presenters and crew. Thanks to the #gbbo fans for all the lovely messages.”

In a 2019 Daily Mail report, Faldo confirmed that she was still with Slattery, and that the couple were living together with their two cats.

This would seemingly quash any rumours of a tent-based 2017 affair.

Sophie Faldo is yet to release a cookbook (Credit: Alamy/WENN rights Ltd)

Does Sophie Faldo have any baking books?

Unlike many former Bake Off contestants, Faldo has yet to publish her debut cookbook.

Although the reasons for this are not totally clear, it seems as though Faldo abandoned the plans after an acrimonious split from her publisher in 2018.

READ MORE: Why did Mary Berry leave Bake Off and is she still friends with Paul Hollywood?

The book was tentatively titled “Something Sweet” and would have been released in 2018. However, the Daily Mail confirmed that Faldo is “reportedly reworking it after splitting from her management”.

Sadly, this means that fans may have to wait some time yet for a taste of Sophie Faldo’s cooking.

Sophie Faldo is a third cousin of golfer Nick Faldo (Credit: Alamy)

Is Sophie Faldo related to Nick Faldo?

Despite their dramatically different career paths, Sophie Faldo is in fact related to former golfer Nick Faldo.

A 2017 Sun interview confirmed that the three-time Masters champion is actually Sophie Faldo’s third cousin.

The Bake Off winner revealed during the interview that her triumph during the 2017 series was a complete surprise.

No doubt there will be many fans hoping that she continues her baking career, not least so that they can see what the fuss is about.