to be seriously considering giving up on GBBO?

[FancyPantSusan]

I've always been a devoted GBBO fan.

However, I'm really struggling to cope with the C4 version.

I absolutely hate the adverts and I don't think the programme is gripping enough to cope with adverts. I find myself chatting with DH during the adverts then carrying on our conversation over the top of GBBO when it comes back on. When it was on BBC with no adverts, me and DH never uttered a word

I find Noel Fielding very tiresome. He's just not particularly funny and his childish "I have no idea what baking is, I'm just going to stand near you and make jokes" interactions with the contestants I'm finding quite hard to put up with. Having said that, I always found Sue Perkins to be a bit of a knob so I guess I can't be too harsh on Noel.

I'm also finding this year's crop of contestants very challenging. It seems to be edging towards a typical C4 "personality parade" and I can't help but feel that some people are putting on a bit of a show for the cameras. We have:
Kim Joy's "Oh I'm so crazy and whacky but also a little bit adorable";
Ruby's "I'm completely gorgeous look at my pout. Oh a little swear word slipped out accidentally on purpose. Aren't I naughty and foul mouthed and hilarious";
Jon's "Look at my loud Hawaiian shirt, I'm clearly crazy and a really good laugh. Oh and I love my daughters, aren't I just swell?";
Karen's "I'm also hilarious. I'm an older woman very painfully and performatively not giving a shit. Wasn't it hilarious when I sat shoveling crisps into my gob when everyone else was still cooking that one week? See, told you, hilarious";
Briony's "Oh look, I'm so lovely and mumsy"
Rahul's "I'm still learning lots about the UK and, conveniently, fitting into the cultural stereotype of the acceptable immigrant. I'm very quiet and apologetic and that makes me adorable"

I really need to give up on this programme I think. Who's with me?!

I always think of that Question Time where she came across as a total Tory - no compassion at all. Just selfish. And she went on about how she voted Leave and is pro-Brexit, and someone tried to talk about helping the homeless and she said "oh shut up" or something. Ugh

WHAT!

I didn't see that.

I did like Prue - but now I don't. If what you have said is true (and I have no reason to doubt a fellow MNer and GBBO aficionado) she sounds a cow!

I have two of her cookery books. They are going to the charity shop. Bitch!

Ohh didn't know sewing bee had been renewed! Love that, also can't sew to save my life.

My favourite had to be the Great Pottery Throwdown. Something magical about watching Keith Brymer Jones cry over a bit of clay. All Hollywood has is handshakes, this guy gives real tears.
Gutted it's been scrapped though.

I saw that too SchadenfreudePersonified and it did put me off her.

I've only watched a couple of the Extra Slice episodes of this new series.

They feel really long and drawn-out. They don't stand up to advert breaks. Plus I have that they get mediocre male "comedians" (all of whom look like archetypal man-spreaders) on there who just seem to dominate. Fuck off.

Plus, Jo Brand pisses me off immensely with her "ummm" after every fucking joke/punchline.

What really bugs me about the C4 version is that the bakers don't seem to have practiced, and there are so many underbaked cakes in a tent seemingly without fans to keep the cakes cool. They also don't seem to be given sufficient time for tasks so they have to rush, or underprove, or not finish items.

I still miss Selasi

Was Extra Slice always this long? It feels never ending today.

They've scrapped the pottery throw down??!! Nooooooooooooo!

I hate the adverts and Noel, and am struggling to warm to Prue, and I miss Mel and Sue, but otherwise I love it as much as ever.

I don’t think Rahul’s self-doubt thing is an act. I work with a lot of Indian people and their parental and school culture is really harsh. Lots of criticism, constant undermining, and very little praise. They still have corporal punishment in schools for even minor misdemeanours. When I make a banana bread, my mother behaves as if I’d won a Nobel prize. My work friend made us the most incredible chicken curry and all her mother said was, ‘Too much salt’.

I bloody love Noel, and I enjoy the fake awkward bits with him and Sandi. Rahul gets on my nerves, love Kim Joy, like Briony, am warming to Ruby.

I did quite like Prue, until I read the comment above about her being a massive tory :-(

I love Sewing Bee, really looking forward to it being back next year, albeit in a slightly apprehensive manner due to lack of Claudia.

Have just binge-watched 'Bake Off the Professionals' on more4 over the last few days, was fun. Great presenters (Liam from GBBO yay!) and harsh but fair judges with no Hollywood handshakes in sight!

harsh but fair judges with no Hollywood handshakes in sight!

Nirvana!

Oh, I'm annoyed now about Pottery Throwdown, I absolutely loved that. I watched in fascination.

Oh, I'm annoyed now about Pottery Throwdown, I absolutely loved that. I watched in fascination.

I know. It was really short-sighted of the Beeb, I think; I keep seeing ads and leaflets and articles about pottery classes. It seems to be on the rise in popularity. The show got good ratings too, so they didn't even have that as a rationale.