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James Morton (baker)

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James Morton
Born (1991-05-26) 26 May 1991 (age 33)
Inverness, Scotland
EducationUniversity of Glasgow
Occupation(s)Author, baker, doctor
Years active2012–present
Known forThe Great British Bake Off
Brilliant Bread
ParentTom Morton

James Patrick Bowie Morton (born 26 May 1991) is a Scottish doctor, baker, author and reality television contestant, based in Glasgow, who rose to fame when he became the runner up on the third series of The Great British Bake Off.

Early life

James Morton was born in Inverness, Scotland, but from the age of three grew up in the Shetland Islands. He was introduced to baking by his maternal grandmother, who taught him after school each day.[1] He is the son of journalist and former Radio Scotland radio presenter Tom Morton.

The Great British Bake Off

Main article: The Great British Bake Off (series 3)

In the first Summer of his medical degree at the University of Glasgow, Morton worked washing dishes at a small Glasgow deli. A keen bread baker already, here he was exposed to the wide variation of bread production and results. From then on, he studied baking as a science rather than a craft, often preferring to read peer-review cereal journals than cookbooks. He watched The Great British Bake Off (Series 2) during 2011 and decided to apply after pressure from his university friends.[2]

When originally aired, Morton became a fan favourite for "his relaxed, laid-back approach and love of experimentation". In the finals week, his Signature bake's bottom was "soggy", and he baked five cakes instead of only one as instructed for his Showstopper, both of which failed to impress the judges. He became one of two runners-up, losing to winner John Whaite.[3]

Morton participated in the Bake Off's 2016 Xmas Special show, leading for much of the show but losing out to Chetna Makan after a series of errors in the showstopper round.

Post-Bake Off baking activities

Morton has amassed a large following on Twitter and Instagram and founded a popular baking blog. He wrote a regular column in the "7 Days" supplement of the Sunday Mail newspaper from 2013 to 2018. He regularly composes comment and recipes for a wide variety of online and print publications.[4] He has been a guest celebrity on numerous television shows, including Sunday Brunch and Big Fat Quiz of the Year.[5] In October 2013, he was a guest presenter on RBS: Finding Scotland's Real Heroes and has toured Scotland with his bread demonstration shows "James Morton Kneads to Raise Some Dough" and "James Morton’s Stollen Christmas", taking them to large festivals such as Dundee Flower and Food Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[6]

He released his first book, Brilliant Bread, in August 2013, published by Ebury Publishing. It received a nomination for the best cookbook at the 2013 André Simon Awards[7] and winning the Guild of Food Writers Award 2014 for best cookbook.[8] His second book, How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't), was released on 12 March 2015.[9] In 2019, he wrote another book on baking Super Sourdough.[10]

Morton also wrote books outside of baking. Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home was published in 2016.[11] His home brews won national awards – his Oatmeal Extra Pale being brewed by Dark Star Brewing Company in 2014 and Skeleton Blues by Stewart Brewing in 2015.[12]

In 2019, he co-wrote Shetland: Cooking on the Edge of the World with his father, Tom Morton. This book about the food and life on the Scottish islands he grew up in received critical acclaim, being shortlisted for the Andre Simon Food Book 2019,[13] the Edward Stanford Travel Food & Drink Book 2019[14] and the Fortnum and Mason Cookery Book 2019.[15] However, the book was criticised by the some over what they perceived as a negative portrayal of some islanders.[16][17]

Medicine

Besides baking, Morton graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in medicine and began work as a junior doctor in the NHS.[18]

Books

  • Brilliant Bread (2013)
  • How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't) (2015)
  • Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home (2016)
  • Shetland: Cooking on the Edge of the World (2018)
  • Super Sourdough (2019)
  • Sourdough: From Scratch (2021)
  • Brew: From Scratch (2021)

References

  1. ^ Dingwall, John. "Great British Bake Off star James Morton says he has no plans to quit his medicine degree despite his TV success", The Daily Record, Glasgow, 25 August 2013. Retrieved on 25 August 2013.
  2. ^ Runcie, Charlotte. "Great British Bake Off star James Morton on balancing full-time study with baking bread", The List, Glasgow, 6 September 2013. Retrieved on 9 September 2013.
  3. ^ Frost, Vicky (16 October 2012). "Great British Bake Off: John Whaite is surprise winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. ^ Eames, Tom. "'Great British Bake Off': James Morton lambasts online haters", Digital Spy, London, 22 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.
  5. ^ Channel 4. "Scrapbook for Sunday Brunch" Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Sunday Brunch, London, 28 September 2013. Retrieved on 28 October 2013.
  6. ^ "James Morton: Kneads to Raise Dough listing on Broadway Baby". broadwaybaby.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. ^ Robinson, Jancis. "Andre Simon 2013 Shortlist", UK, December 2013
  8. ^ Guild of Food Writers. GFW Awards 2014 Winners Archived 14 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine June 2014
  9. ^ Morton, James (12 March 2015). How Baking Works. Retrieved 6 May 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Didcock, Barry (9 September 2019). "Face To Face: Bake Off star and cookery writer James Morton". The Herald.
  11. ^ Gallagher, Caitlin (22 June 2018). "This Contestant Is Very Likely Going To Be Your Next 'Great British Baking Show' Crush". Bustle.
  12. ^ Hayward, Tim (3 April 2014). "Home brewing is cool again". Financial Times.
  13. ^ "Recent shortlists of the Andre Simon Memorial Fund Awards – the annual awards for food and drink books". www.andresimon.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Travel Cookery Book of the Year". edwardstanfordawards. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  15. ^ Pope, Ellen (12 April 2019). "Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards Announce Shortlist | Chatting Food Magazine". Chatting Food. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  16. ^ Murrie, Ewan (11 October 2018). "Bake Off finalist James Morton's book stirs up Shetland". BBC.
  17. ^ Grant, Katie (11 October 2018). "Bake Off finalist faces heat from Shetlanders over 'unscrupulous baby seal bludgeoners" poem". iNews.
  18. ^ Handley, Emily. "From chemistry to cronuts: The rise of the student baker", The Independent, London, 8 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.
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