As a child, food and home-cooking were a big part of life for David Atherton.
Unbeknown to him, but that childhood in Ruswarp would stand him in good stead.
The winner of the 2019 series of The Great British Bake-Off, David is still a health advisor for the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), has published cookbooks, hosts a podcast “Sticky Bun Boys” and works as a tv presenter.
Not bad for someone who didn’t want to make a career out of food or go on television.
David, who now lives in London, was back in Whitby this week, which despite having left when he was 18, still refers to it as his hometown.
Speaking to The Whitby Cast, the weekly podcast by The Anchor, David shares his favourite food corners in the town, what filming Bake Off was really like behind the scenes and why the art of food appeals so much.
One of the first things he made clear when he started filming Bake Off was for the credits to say he was from Whitby.
David grew up in Ruswarp and went to Caedemon School and had loved food from a young age, he recalls.
He told The Whitby Cast: “I don’t remember it but my mum said from a young age I was obsessed with food, I loved baking and cooking, but told people I didn’t want to do it as a job because I might not enjoy it.
“Even when I was younger, I think I thought of it as my therapy, my getaway, it was my play. While I liked food, I never wanted to be on television but with Bake Off – I thought ‘this could be fun’.”
David joined the show as a reserve and went on to win what is still one of the most popular shows on television.
It has changed the course of his career and life, but still returns ‘home’ as much as possible.
He said: “When they say where are you from, I said on the show ‘can I say Whitby please?’ I don’t want to say I am from London because I am not. I live in London but it’s not my home. I still see Whitby (as home).
“Having been born in the town and grew up, until I was 18. My parents stayed here, I’ve got a brother and a sister still living here and I come back all the time – you don’t lose it as being home. Whitby is going to be the constant in my life.”
As a youngster, David recalls his first job was aged 12 working in the ice-cream factory at Beacon Farm for £2 an hour. He also worked at the cafe in Goathland and what was Vintneys restaurant as well as cleaning holiday cottages.
Where does he like to eat nowadays when he comes home?
He says: “When I come home, the need is Botham’s. I genuinely love it. Lemon buns are like I am tasting my past and the nostalgia.
“But Mary’s just down the road in Sandsend, that is phenomenal and would stand up in East London and beat all its neighbours.”
Whitby has and still is changing, he says and David laments the loss of facilities such as banks but added people in Whitby are more willing to take risks and be creative. Whitby Gin, he says, as an example.
David added: “There is always somebody doing something. Whitby is a survivor. I love the villages. Ones like Castleton still have such life, they are not just holiday cottages. As long as we keep real Whitby people in areas then it will survive.”
Read the full chat with David in this week’s Whitby Cast
