Bake Off winner and Strictly star John Whaite reveals steroid addiction

TV chef John Whaite has revealed his five-year addiction to steroids "made me want to end my life".

The 36-year-old is best known for winning The Great British Bake Off in 2012, and came second as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.

In an emotional video posted on Instagram, the 36-year-old revealed he had been "taking anabolic steroids illegally for five years, and these things have really, really messed with my life".

He said he was speaking out now in the hope that "young lads will think very carefully about how they treat their bodies".

Whaite is also known for fronting cooking segments on daytime shows such as ITV's Lorraine and Steph's Packed Lunch.

He told his followers he began taking steroids during lockdown "because I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw".

Whaite explained he has bulimia, an eating disorder, and body dysmorphia, where a person perceives defects in their own body which are often less noticeable to others.

He said: "The more people acknowledged how I looked on steroids, the more I felt good about myself, I felt valid."

He said one side effect was that his testicles had shrunk: "I've got tiny balls now, there's your headline," he said.

Whaite also said steroids had led to him having acne and an unregulated sex drive.