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{{Short description|Scottish baker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}{{Use Scottish English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = James Morton
|name = James Morton
|image =
|image =
|image_size =
|image_size =
|caption =
|caption =
|birth_name = James Patrick Bowie Morton
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|05|26|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|05|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Inverness]], Scotland
|birth_place = [[Inverness]], Scotland
⚫
|known_for = ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]''<br/>''Brilliant Bread''
|residence = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
|nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]]
⚫
|known_for = [[The Great British Bake Off]]<br/>''Brilliant Bread''
|education = [[University of Glasgow]]
|education = [[University of Glasgow]]
|occupation = [[Author]], [[baker]], [[Physician|doctor]]
|occupation = Author, baker, doctor
|years_active = 2012–present
|years_active = 2012–present
|home_town = [[Hillswick]], [[Shetland]], Scotland
|parents = [[Tom Morton]]
|parents = [[Tom Morton]]
|relations =
|relations =
}}
}}
'''James Patrick Bowie Morton''' (born 26 May 1991) is a Scottish [[Physician|doctor]], [[baker]], [[author]] and [[reality television]] contestant, based in [[Glasgow]], who rose to fame when he became the runner up on the [[The Great British Bake Off (series 3)|third series]] of ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]''.
'''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 [[The Great British Bake Off (series 3)|third series]] of ''[[The Great British Bake Off]]''.


==Early life==
==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.<ref>Dingwall, John. [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/great-british-bake-star-james-2215263 "Great British Bake Off star James Morton says he has no plans to quit his medicine degree despite his TV success"], ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|The Daily Record]]'', Glasgow, 25 August 2013. Retrieved on 25 August 2013.</ref> He is the son of [[journalist]] and former Radio Scotland [[Radio presenter|radio presenter]] [[Tom Morton]].
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.<ref>Dingwall, John. [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/great-british-bake-star-james-2215263 "Great British Bake Off star James Morton says he has no plans to quit his medicine degree despite his TV success"], ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|The Daily Record]]'', Glasgow, 25 August 2013. Retrieved on 25 August 2013.</ref> He is the son of journalist and former Radio Scotland radio presenter [[Tom Morton]].


⚫
==''The Great British Bake Off''==
==Career==
⚫
===''The Great British Bake Off''===
{{Main|The Great British Bake Off (series 3)}}
{{Main|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.<ref>Runcie, Charlotte. [http://food.list.co.uk/article/54612-interview-great-british-bake-off-star-james-morton-on-balancing-full-time-study-with-baking-bread/ "Great British Bake Off star James Morton on balancing full-time study with baking bread"], ''[[The List (magazine)]]'', Glasgow, 6 September 2013. Retrieved on 9 September 2013.</ref>
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.<ref>Runcie, Charlotte. [http://food.list.co.uk/article/54612-interview-great-british-bake-off-star-james-morton-on-balancing-full-time-study-with-baking-bread/ "Great British Bake Off star James Morton on balancing full-time study with baking bread"], ''[[The List (magazine)|The List]]'', Glasgow, 6 September 2013. Retrieved on 9 September 2013.</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite news |date=16 October 2012 |first=Vicky |last=Frost |title=''Great British Bake Off'': John Whaite is surprise winner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/oct/16/great-british-bake-off-john-whaite |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=11 October 2022 }}</ref>

⚫
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==
During Morton's subsequent appearance on the show, he reached the final with bakes such as an "[[Timber framing|oak-framed]] [[Gingerbread|Gingerbread Barn]]" and "double [[Paris-Brest]] [[Choux pastry]] [[Bicycle]]," eventually losing out to winner [[John Whaite]].
⚫
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 (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]]'' newspaper from 2013 to 2018. He regularly composes comment and recipes for a wide variety of online and print publications.<ref>Eames, Tom. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s215/great-british-bake-off/news/a525622/great-british-bake-off-james-morton-lambasts-online-haters.html "'Great British Bake Off': James Morton lambasts online haters"], ''[[Digital Spy]]'', London, 22 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.</ref> He has been a guest celebrity on numerous television shows, including ''[[Sunday Brunch]]'' and ''[[Big Fat Quiz of the Year]]''.<ref>[[Channel 4]]. [http://scrapbook.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/bookmarks/series-2/episode-30 "Scrapbook for Sunday Brunch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184007/http://scrapbook.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/bookmarks/series-2/episode-30 |date=29 October 2013 }}, ''[[Sunday Brunch]]'', London, 28 September 2013. Retrieved on 28 October 2013.</ref> In October 2013, he was a guest presenter on ''[[The Royal Bank of Scotland|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 [[List of festivals in the United Kingdom|Dundee Flower and Food Festival]] and the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=James Morton: Kneads to Raise Dough listing on Broadway Baby|url=http://broadwaybaby.com/shows/james-morton-kneads-to-raise-dough/31921|access-date=2021-05-06|website=broadwaybaby.com|language=en}}</ref>


⚫
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 (wine)|André Simon Awards]]<ref>Robinson, Jancis. [http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/andre-simon-2013-shortlist-revealed "Andre Simon 2013 Shortlist"], UK, December 2013</ref> and winning the [[Guild of Food Writers]] Award 2014 for best cookbook.<ref>Guild of Food Writers. [http://www.gfw.co.uk/lifetime-achievement-awards.cfm GFW Awards 2014 Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614035916/http://www.gfw.co.uk/lifetime-achievement-awards.cfm |date=14 June 2014 }} June 2014</ref> His second book, ''How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't)'', was released on 12 March 2015.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Morton|first=James|title=How Baking Works|url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/109/1099187/how-baking-works/9780091959906.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.penguin.co.uk|date=12 March 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, he wrote another book on baking ''Super Sourdough''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17886611.face-face-bake-off-star-cookery-writer-james-morton/ |title=Face To Face: Bake Off star and cookery writer James Morton|first= Barry |last=Didcock|date=9 September 2019|work=The Herald }}</ref>
⚫
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.


Morton also wrote books outside of baking. ''Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home'' was published in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/whats-james-morton-doing-in-2018-the-great-british-baking-show-contestant-won-over-the-uk-with-his-creativity-style-9485802 |title=This Contestant Is Very Likely Going To Be Your Next 'Great British Baking Show' Crush|first= Caitlin|last= Gallagher|date=22 June 2018 |work=Bustle}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7502e586-bac7-11e3-8b15-00144feabdc0|title=Home brewing is cool again |work=Financial Times|first=Tim |last=Hayward |date=3 April 2014 }}</ref>
===After ''Bake Off''===
⚫
Morton has amassed a large following on [[Twitter]] and founded a popular baking [[blog]]. He began writing a regular column in the "7 Days" supplement of the [[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]] newspaper in early 2013. He regularly composes comment and recipes for a wide variety of online and print publications.<ref>Eames, Tom. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s215/great-british-bake-off/news/a525622/great-british-bake-off-james-morton-lambasts-online-haters.html "'Great British Bake Off': James Morton lambasts online haters"], ''[[Digital Spy]]'', London, 22 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.</ref> He has been a guest celebrity on numerous television shows, including [[Sunday Brunch]] and [[Big Fat Quiz of the Year]].<ref>[[Channel 4]]. [http://scrapbook.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/bookmarks/series-2/episode-30 "Scrapbook for Sunday Brunch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184007/http://scrapbook.channel4.com/programmes/sunday-brunch/bookmarks/series-2/episode-30 |date=29 October 2013 }}, ''[[Sunday Brunch]]'', London, 28 September 2013. Retrieved on 28 October 2013.</ref> In October 2013, he was a guest presenter on ''[[The Royal Bank of Scotland|RBS]]: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes'' and he tours 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 [[List of festivals in the United Kingdom|Dundee Flower and Food Festival]] and the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]].{{fact|date=April 2019}}


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 [[André Simon (wine)|Andre Simon]] Food Book 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recent shortlists of the Andre Simon Memorial Fund Awards – the annual awards for food and drink books.|url=http://www.andresimon.co.uk/recent-shortlists.html|access-date=2021-05-06|website=www.andresimon.co.uk}}</ref> the [[Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards|Edward Stanford]] Travel Food & Drink Book 2019<ref>{{Cite web|title=Travel Cookery Book of the Year|url=https://www.edwardstanfordawards.com/travel-cookery-book-2019|access-date=2021-05-06|website=edwardstanfordawards|language=en|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512022230/https://www.edwardstanfordawards.com/travel-cookery-book-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Fortnum & Mason|Fortnum and Mason]] Cookery Book 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pope|first=Ellen|date=12 April 2019|title=Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards Announce Shortlist {{!}} Chatting Food Magazine|url=https://www.chattingfood.com/post/fortnum-and-mason-food-and-drink-awards-announce-shortlist|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Chatting Food|language=en}}</ref> However, the book was criticised by the some over what they perceived as a negative portrayal of some islanders.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45812270 |title= Bake Off finalist James Morton's book stirs up Shetland |first= Ewan |last=Murrie|date=11 October 2018|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/entertainment/gbbo-james-morton-shetland-book-207868 |title=Bake Off finalist faces heat from Shetlanders over 'unscrupulous baby seal bludgeoners" poem |first=Katie |last=Grant|date=11 October 2018 |work=iNews}}</ref>
⚫
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 (wine)|André Simon Awards]]<ref>Robinson, Jancis. [http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/andre-simon-2013-shortlist-revealed "Andre Simon 2013 Shortlist"], UK, December 2013</ref> and winning the [[Guild of Food Writers]] Award 2014 for best cookbook.<ref>Guild of Food Writers. [http://www.gfw.co.uk/lifetime-achievement-awards.cfm GFW Awards 2014 Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614035916/http://www.gfw.co.uk/lifetime-achievement-awards.cfm |date=14 June 2014 }} June 2014</ref> His second book, ''How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't)'', was released on 12 March 2015.{{fact|date=April 2019}}


==Medicine==
==Medicine==
As well as his career as a baker, Morton graduated from the [[University of Glasgow]] with a degree in medicine and has begun work as a junior doctor in the NHS.<ref>Handley, Emily. [https://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/from-chemistry-to-cronuts-the-rise-of-the-student-baker-8866040.html "From chemistry to cronuts: The rise of the student baker"], ''[[The Independent]]'', London, 8 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.</ref>
Besides baking, Morton graduated from the [[University of Glasgow]] with a degree in medicine and began work as a junior doctor in the NHS.<ref>Handley, Emily. [https://www.independent.co.uk/student/student-life/from-chemistry-to-cronuts-the-rise-of-the-student-baker-8866040.html "From chemistry to cronuts: The rise of the student baker"], ''[[The Independent]]'', London, 8 October 2013. Retrieved on 25 October 2013.</ref>


==Books==
==Books==
Line 44: Line 45:
*''How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't)'' (2015)
*''How Baking Works (and what to do when it doesn't)'' (2015)
*''Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home'' (2016)
*''Brew: The Foolproof Guide to Making World-Class Beer at Home'' (2016)
*''Shetland: Cooking at the Edge of the World'' (2018)
*''Shetland: Cooking on the Edge of the World'' (2018)
*”Super Sourdough” (2019)
*''Super Sourdough'' (2019)
*''Sourdough: From Scratch'' (2021)
*''Brew: From Scratch'' (2021)


==References==
==References==
Line 58: Line 61:
[[Category:1991 births]]
[[Category:1991 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]]
[[Category:People from Inverness]]
[[Category:People from Shetland]]
[[Category:Scottish chefs]]
[[Category:Scottish chefs]]
[[Category:Scottish food writers]]
[[Category:Scottish food writers]]

Latest revision as of 23:41, 14 December 2024

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  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.
[edit]
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