has confessed to cheating on his fiancé after getting ‘somewhat swept up’ in his newfound celebrity status after winning The .
In 2012 John, now 34, took part in the third series of the series, after beating finalists Brendan Lynch and James Morton.
However, in the years since he’s shared that winning the show ‘derailed’ his life, previously sharing it pushed him towards drinking.
Now John, who was 23 when he won the show, has admitted he got wrapped up in the perks that came with becoming famous, which left him regularly .
While he’d been with for five years at that time, John said he ‘tested boundaries’ of their relationship.
After being catapulted into a world of ‘freebies, champagne hampers, meals out and holidays’ as well as screen tests, red carpets, parties and a six-figure book deal, he cheated on his partner.
‘[There were] Drunken fondles and experiments with various soap stars and celebrities,’ he told .
Reflecting on his actions, John has now acknowledged that he got ‘somewhat swept away with it all’.
In the same interview, John revealed that nine years later his relationship was also tested after he ‘fell in love’ with Strictly Come Dancing professional partner Johannes Radebe.
The baker and Johannes, 36, made show history when they became the first same-sex couple to take to the dance floor in 2021.
John, who was still with Paul at the time, admitted: ‘I fell in love with him. I can’t speak for him – because I’m not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there.
He continued: ‘So yes, I fell in love with Johannes. I still love Johannes. Of course I do.’
The baker said he told Paul, a graphic designer, about his feelings toward Johannes which resulted in them agreeing on some ‘time apart’.
The couple, who are now engaged, eventually reconciled, with John explaining: ‘I look at Paul and what he’s put up with over the years and how he’s nurtured me and stood by me, and who would throw that away? I couldn’t.’
While John said he still spoke to Johannes occasionally, he would cut contact if it became ‘tricky’ for his partner.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC and iPlayer later this year.
