Great British Bake Off 2024

[Pepper Pig]

The contestants.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... nts-ranked

[mistakened]

I am hoping that in the second "mystery" segment that they ask them to make standard items such as a Victoria Sponge or Quiche Lorraine without a recipe.

Moira

[Earthmaiden]

Has there ever been a time when there wasn't even a basic recipe - perhaps without much methodology? I haven't watched for a while, I can't abide Paul Hollywood.

[mistakened]

Sorry, I meant without a recipe or method.

Moira

[Suffs]

Has there ever been a time when there wasn't even a basic recipe - perhaps without much methodology? I haven't watched for a while, I can't abide Paul Hollywood.

I think some of them would struggle to make shortcrust pastry without a written recipe.

I can’t abide PH either, and I’m not that keen on PL. However I adore Noël Fielding

[Busybee]

I think GBBO has evolved into a very different beast to what it was in the early Mary Berry days. I still watch it but not quite so avidly.

Somehow it doesn’t feel as kind as it used to be, more reality tv than a baking show.

I’m always amazed at how some bakers get through the selection process as they seem to have very little knowledge or experience, often having only started baking since Covid etc. It used to be full of slightly more mature ladies who had been baking for years.

BB

[miss mouse]

I can’t abide PH either, and I’m not that keen on PL. However I adore Noël Fielding !!!

I feel the same way.

[Pepper Pig]

I liked Matt Lucas and Sandi but they were desperately underused. I think Noel and Alison are a good combo although she is a bit OTT.

Not keen on the P's. Absolutely love Jo and Tom on An Extra Slice though.

[halfateabag]

I try and watch it but OH is not keen or we spend evenings apart. I watch far too much 'Food' TV for his liking, unless there is part travelogue involved. I like all the presenters for some reason, we are all individuals ! !

When we were on the cruise last Crimbo there was a passenger who was the spitting image of PH and after a tipple or 5 I asked him for a handshake ! I then noticed that lots of others were doing the same ! Quite a giggle.

I think I could construct a Vicky Sarnie without a recipe. As long as we did not have to guess the weights of ingredients.

I never measure ingredients when making dumplings, I just do it by eye...

[Lokelani]

I used to love this and the Great British Sewing Bee. Maybe I should give it another go. I just find myself thinking that they have deliberately chosen some contestants more for the drama they will create, over better bakers/sewers.

I guess Busybee sums it up for me, a bit too reality TV.

Oh & I can't stand the long pause before announcing winners etc. That is drawn out to a really irritating length these days, for me.

[miss mouse]

Oh & I can't stand the long pause before announcing winners etc. That is drawn out to a really irritating length these days, for me.

It's ridiculous, Masterchef does it as well. The audience expected must be 5 YO, I hated it when I was 5 though.

[Badger's Mate]

It’s designed to be an entertaining TV show - the contestants are chosen with that in mind. I think the tasks are deliberately set with tight deadlines for reasons of jeopardy and consequent dramatic effect. Those aspects mean that we are not seeing ’Britain’s best bakers’; it grates with me when we’re told that.

That said, many former contestants are now household names and several have gone on to make a living from their appearance on the show.

[mistakened]

Those aspects mean that we are not seeing ’Britain’s best bakers’

Just those who are happy to be on TV, it discourages slow people like me, not that I make any claims for my baking

Moira

[Stokey Sue]

There's also a lot of emphasis on "artistic" baking - creating Paul Hollywood out of biscuits, or a gateau topped with a woodland scene, which while fun to see, is not baking as we know it, at least to those of us who can just about make a Christmas cake look different to a regular one.

[Earthmaiden]

I don't know if they still do it but it used to horrify me how contestants would throw away whole batches of mixture they were unhappy with and start again. Of course, it means they are rushed at the end and probably won't win but the message it sends out about being acceptable to waste all that food really grates with me. They should have one shot.

[Pepper Pig]

And don’t forget that those of us over 60 are not Channel 4’s target audience! See Sunday Brunch/Gogglebox. I think we have to settle for Countdown.

[Suffs]

Countdown?!?!?! Never!!!

Only Connect is more my style.

[Pepper Pig]

But not Channel 4.

[Suffs]

I think I rarely watch C4 … Bake Off and sometimes The Simpsons are the only ones that spring to mind …

[Pepper Pig]

C4 is my go/to news channel. Much more impartial than the BBC or Sky, and very high quality journalism.