A former Strictly Come Dancing finalist has broken his silence on his OnlyFans return as he reveals his time on daytime TV has ‘run dry’.

Great British Bake Off alum John Whaite, 35, took to his social media page with a shirtless snap accompanied by a lengthy caption – where he proudly admitted he is living ‘this one sH๏τ at life to the fullest’. 

The GBBO winner defended his choice to re-join the X-rated subscription site and told his 297K followers that his 12 year TV career just ‘didn’t set him alight anymore’.

‘I’ve had a lot of DMs about why I’ve re-joined OnlyFans, when I regretted it last time,’ he began writing in the lengthy caption.

‘Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that who we are, or at least little parts of us, can change. 

A former Strictly Come Dancing finalist broke silence on his OnlyFans return as he revealed his time on daytime TV has ‘ran dry’

Great British Bake Off alum John Whaite (pictured) took to his social media page with a sultry shirtless snap accompanied by a lengthy caption – where he proudly admitted he is living ‘this one sH๏τ at life to the fullest’

‘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 quit 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.

‘Since launching @ruffpuffbrownies and seeing how successful an enterprise can be with nurture and care, I’ve learned about business – creativity, marketing, overheads, margins – all sorts of things that were once alien to me. 

‘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.

John got candid with his 297K followers, cherishing the extraordinary milestones he achieved while working in the TV industry for 12 years – but admitted it just ‘didn’t set him alight anymore’

John, who won the third series of the baking show impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in 2012, launched his profile under the name ‘Jonny Boy’ 

He left fans divided but plenty raced to support him in the comment section including music icon Michelle Visage

‘If it’s not for you, simply pᴀss it by, and know that I’ll always be using this platform for food, humour, and little glimpses into my life.’

He finished by reflecting: ‘We’ll all be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, buried and long forgotten one day, so I’m grabbing the bull by the horns and living this one sH๏τ 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.❤️’

Fans were left divided, with many praising John’s latest ‘business venture’ while raising eyebrows among others – as they wrote in the comment section:

‘Big fan of both your brownies and your buns x’;

‘Look at you speaking your truth with respect for yourself and for others. Now that’s worth following’;

‘We all change. We all evolve. I love you and your evolution. And I am so proud of you for building not one, but two businesses in just the last 12 months’;

‘You’re one smart cookie/brownie John. And your intelligence, work ethic and laser-sharp wit blew me away when we worked together. Go YOU xx’;

‘You are a wonder! Wishing you all the love, happiness, and fun in this wild world, John’;

American music icon Michelle Visage also raced to share her approval echoing: ‘You do you baby’.

The baker has become the first former Great British Bake Off star to join OnlyFans 

The TV star became one half of the first all-male Strictly couple alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe in 2021 with the pair going onto reach the BBC final 

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE What would Mary Berry say? Strictly’s John Whaite becomes first Bake Off star to join OnlyFans

Another follower commented though: ‘You were amazing on Strictly but I’m not sure I’m into pH๏τos of you with your pants half down. Why not use your talents in life to entertain? 

‘Lots of guys have bodies like yours, including my own son, but I just don’t get the flaunting so publicly but hope it makes you happy’ – to which the baker replied bluntly: ‘I’d definitely stay away – each to their own. X’

Another user penned agreeing: ‘Sorry but I think there is a time and place for a pic like this, love you and am a 70yr old mum of two amazing day sons, who make me feel loved and proud, no offence intended x.’

John, who won the third series of the baking show impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in 2012, launched his profile under the name ‘Jonny Boy’, writing in his bio: ‘The side of me you haven’t seen… yet.’

He has signed up to OnlyFans, promising to share ‘solo’ and ‘collaborative’ content at a cost of £10 per month or £27 for a three-month package, three years after starring on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV star reached the final alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe, 37, who he later confessed to ‘falling in love’ with and needing to take timeout from his long-term relationship.

But John and husband Paul Atkins are still going strong, last week celebrating their first wedding anniversary after narrowly avoiding the Strictly curse.

John’s signup to OnlyFans comes after he left Steph’s Packed Lunch when the daytime show was cancelled in 2023, and he announced his ‘career in television is now done.’

John found fame in 2012 when he won The Great British Bake Off, which at the time aired on BBC Two before moving to BBC One in 2014 

John’s marriage to husband Paul Atkins is going strong with the couple celebrating their one year wedding anniversary last week

John told MailOnline: ‘Since leaving the TV industry, I decided to focus on business.

‘Now I run two fairly successful and exciting businesses.

‘One sells brownies and cookies while the other is a meatier enterprise…

‘If you want to buy my sweet treats head to Ruff Puff Brownies and if you want to buy my meat head to my OnlyFans page.’

John was beaten in the Strictly final by EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who took home the glitter ball trophy in 2021.