Dancing on Eggshells: Kitchen, Ballroom & The Messy Inbetween

by John Whaite

A fascinating memoir from the  Bake Off  Winner, BBC's  Strictly Come Dancing  Runner Up and popular TV Baker

Well-known as the third-series winner of  The Great British Bake Off  and runner up of  Strictly  in 2021 with his same-sex dancing partner Johannes Radebe, John Whaite's personal story is a complicated narrative that embraces coming out on  Bake Off , his ongoing body dysmorphia and bulimia as well as mental health challenges and a changing relationship with his mother, particularly after the break-up of his parents marriage.

Each chapter takes an element of food or culture and loops it back to John's northern upbringing above a fish and chip shop which instilled a strong a work ethic, as well as using baking as a form of meditation. He also talks about how gay people in the 1990s had to choreograph their every move depending on the people they were surrounded by to ensure they were protected - the dance on eggshells - and how  Strictly  changed his life and relationship with his long-term partner, Paul, for the good.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Audiobook, LGBT, Biography, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Chloe Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook so it was nice to listen to John narrate his own story. Could do without the recipes at the end of most chapters but I do love his honesty and sincerity, he's a real good egg. Pun fully intended.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mix of biography and philosophy. Like other reviews, I would have liked John to dive deeper into events of his life, but you can sense he's fiercely protective of his loved ones (and himself with good reason considering events of his past, bless his heart) and it must have been challenging deciding how much to divulge. And he's still so young. If he writes a sequel in his later years, perhaps he will share more details. Overall, it's a good read I'd recommend.

I finished this book just after reading John's Instagram post about Steph's Packed Lunch coming to an end. While I've never seen the show as I live in the states (norJohn's bare arse...don't go there quite yet, John), it's just another bump in the road for this talented, intelligent, beautiful human. You've got this.

[Hamish Calvert · Rating 3 out of 5]

biggest gag was john deleting all the episodes of desperate housewives, the horror!!

[Otone · Rating 2 out of 5]

John was of course inspirational on Strictly but…I should probably stop reading celebrity memoirs.

[Steven Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

John’s frankness is refreshing, his commitment inspiring and his journey moving. I only wish there’d been more content about his GBBO and Strictly experiences and fewer recipes (I’d not expected the book to be interspersed with the latter).

[Chris Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Whaite is a very likeable young man, who tells his life experiences in an interesting and honest way. To say it made me laugh and cry is an understatement. I've been a fan since he first appeared on bake-off and remain a fan still. He's certainly made some questionable choices, but haven't we all.

I think it depends on your own temperament and prejudges on whether you enjoy this not overly long book - I liked it, my husband who read it at my recommendation, wanted to tell him to stop the self indulgence and grow up! So, not for everyone, but those with a bit of empathy will enjoy.

[Annabel Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t want to listen to this as an audiobook, but I’ve been dying to get my mitts on it since it came out but couldn’t justify the expense of a hardback edition. Listening to it read by John was lovely, though and, especially the chapter about Strictly, I found myself listening away with a big old smile on my face. You could call me a super fan, I am quite obsessed with this man, so listening was a good experience.

I probably will still need to buy it when it comes out in paperback though because the recipes didn’t translate well to audio and though I skipped them all, I also want them all.

Poor old John, he’s ever such a complex character, but self-aware and working on it. I loved the insights in to his partner, Paul, in this book, too, whom I now feel a bit of warmth towards that was missing before; probably a testament to his lack of presence across the socials, which is no bad thing.

Anyway, a good book for fans of JW to indulge in, I think. I like him just as much coming out of this book as going in.

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAITE a minute ... I have a song in my head. It is now an earworm.

Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
And that's my heart that's breaking
Down this long-distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since you've been gone away
I ain't missing you
No matter
What my friends say

...wrong Waite ....

[Elizabeth Ree stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have watched the Great British Bake Off since the start and I picked John as the winner in the first week of Series 3 and also a fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I knew I was going to love this book. Saved it for when I was on holidays so I had the time to read it without interruptions. It’s a very raw, honest book.
Full of admiration for John and all that he has achieved and also his loyal now husband Paul. Wishing them all the best in the future and hope to see more of John on tv in the not too distant future. Was also pleasantly surprised with the recipes included.

[Karen Cossar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on Audible which I regret - John Waite is so enthusiastic when reading, but I didn't realise the book has recipes and I wish I had these written.

I enjoyed this because it was (painfully at times) honest and you don't get that in autobiographies much. Would have loved to hear more stories from the GBBO and Strictly times, but I really enjoyed.

[Georgie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good insight into who John is, warts and all. I hadn't realised he was such a complex person, just shows what you can hide behind a smile! I really do hope he can conquer those demons once and for all. Overall I enjoyed the book, but the recipes were annoying and I skipped those, felt almost like a filler!

[Rahrahreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the recipes in Dancing on Eggshells look delicious but their inclusion took me out of the wider story. The prose clunked terribly in places, and the book could have perhaps done with a more vicious edit, but it wasn't all bad. Celebrity biographies are largely written to a formula and this one adheres to that formula faithfully without appearing to be insincere.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard for me to rate a memoir—especially by someone whom I like a lot. I admire John for telling his truth and sharing so much of his life. The writing isn’t my favorite style, but I’m impressed that he was able to write it! I appreciate knowing more about him and, as always, love his recipes.

[Liz C · Rating 5 out of 5]

God read

I read this really quickly and enjoyed it . I like John, he comes over as being a nice man, intelligent and fun. I would never have thought he had so many insecurities and doubts. I hope he works these out and has a happy and productive life.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book generally interesting. I have been following him in Instagram for a while, but living in Denmark I have missed out on a lot of background information that I think John was presuming everyone knew, so not everything made sense to me.
I think he did a great job narrating this.

[Kayleigh Coe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, although having the recipes is different, it did kind of distract from the story as such. Another clear example of what is happening behind someone's smile though, along with the truth of the *strictly curse*

[Gemma Birkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like John, it was a great insight into his story.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two and a half stars

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very honest (but raw) memoir - very enjoyable read.

[David Cooper]

This was a thoroughly good read - warts and all. The recipes interspersed throughout the book were a nice touch as well - along with some stories about them.

[Lexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. He is such a nice guy. Honest and open. Worth a read

[Gareth Johnstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short on detail, though a fast easy read. I'll never follow any of the recipes he includes, but they seem delicious.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was fine. Celebrity autobiographies are a genre that I can possibly skip in the future.