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?!

Personally I love Noel, Sandy and Pru. I also love Kim Joy but think Rahul is not as sweet and non threatening as he makes out. Did anyone see how false his congratulations to Manon/Kim? (cannot remember who) was this week? Said with a fake smile through gritted teeth

Paul can go bury himself under a mountain of bread rolls for all I care. His handshakes are cringey and his ego too big for a tent.

If you can record it and fast forward though the ads, it's very little different in terms of its pace from what it was on the BBC.

I think some of us can explain away our issues with it by referring to the presenters, the judges, the contestants - but for me I think it's just run its course. It was great to start with, but there are only so many cooking triumphs and disasters, and even things to bake, that can be contrived (and let's face it, like all other reality shows this one is staged and contrived. It's not just about the standard of baking).
A PP has mentioned that the technical challenges are just becoming more and more bizarre, which surely is about trying to create drama where there might be none.

When it first began however many years ago I was sitting agog in front of the TV when the programme started. This season I've recorded every episode but so far have only bothered to watch the first two. Much as I have loved it in the past, now I feel that I've seen it all before.

I have not watched it since it defected and won't until it's back on the beeb with Mary and three other people who aren't Paul, Mel or Sue.

Yep, it’s not holding my attention either. I don’t dislike any of the judges or presenters as such but no one is that interesting either.

I think it's far better gab the BBC version (minus the ad breaks). I think Noel and Sandy are fab together. Can't even remember Sue and whatshername being on it!

@WheresMyAlex I was going to ask if she's a murderino too!

but this thread is confirming my suspicion that I am a cantankerous cynical bitch

Welcome to the club!

PP mentioned the sewing bee - I loved that. I also loved The Great Pottery Throw Down. Both are much more sedate than GBBO with nice, normal, non-character people. I mean the guy on the Throw Down is completely weird and does fake crying but the contestants are usually great. When's that back on?!

I also used to love Hair when it was on BBC3 and presented by Steve Jones. I mean I hate the guy but he was good on that. Then it moved to BBC1 (I think) and Kathryn Ryan took over and the format changed and I bailed

The adverts are so tiresome

I want to see the bakes judged once they’re cooked not ten minutes later after the ads

The showstoppers are fucking ridiculous architecture rather than any discernible baking talent

I keep imagining that Kev off Grand Designs will rock up as a judge and start waffling on about the bake’s structural integrity

I’m warming to Noel but they ain’t no Mel n Sue

The contestants are spectacularly meh with the exception of Kim-Joy & Rahul

And I want the historical learny bit back, loved that

Yeah, it’s pretty much gone to shit

KimJoy’s ‘inspired’ space turtle idea was ripped off from Terry Pratchett.

I love it Noel and Sandi are funny!! Noel is very kind to the contestants as well he’s lovely.

Kim joy is just a nice sweet girl, don’t think you fake that level or nice.

I record it and watch later.

Rahul is this year's Ruby. You're bloody good at baking mate. Stop being a drip.

I'm not keen either. I think it's Noel's voiceovers that will make me turn off permanently - he just sounds so creepy. And I never thought I'd say it, but I do miss Mary's lairs

like the C4 one better

prefer Pru to Mary and sandi and Noel to Sue and Mel

I prefer it.

I prefer Prue to Mary Berry. The latter reminds me of a great aunt who I found terrifying as a child.

I do like to play the “who would Paul like to shag” game with this round of contestants. Ruby being no.1.

Kim joy is just a nice sweet girl, don’t think you fake that level or nice.

I disagree, I think that level of nice can only be fake.

Agree with PP - I miss the history bits as well.

For a show about home bakers it's really jumped the shark in terms of the challenges. Like others have said, I think it's just had its day. I think Paul is a twat and the handshake is cringeworthy, I'm ambivalent about Noel and Sandi and slightly negative but not enough to put me off about Pru. I just don't recognise any home baker waking up and thinking they'd make a fucking biscuit chandelier. My OH loves it but I was on my laptop throughout the whole episode last night.

I’m so obsessed with Rahul I want to start a fan club!

Love Noel, enjoying it so far.

It's definitely gone stale this year. We start watching it but somehow it doesn't hold the attention like the BBC version.

I think Paul would probably most like to shag himself

Trumped up lardarse

I dislike Prue, who was a bit homophobic to my lovely Antony on the Extra Slice two weeks ago.

And I can't be doing with Toksvig, especially when (again on Extra Slice) she said she 'didn't like puddings' - add that to her comment, when she was first cast as a presenter and asked if she'd watched the show, 'I don't watch television' - this from a person who makes their living out of television.

I don't mind the presenters. But I'm not keen on many of the contestants. Rahul seems very fake to me, so over the top with his worried looking face and constant apologising even when he's done well. Kimjoy makes me feel very uncomfortable- it's like a she's not human, she's very odd cartoon character. Most of the others are okay.

Don't get me started on extra slice! I like Jo Brand, but that twit that walks around with a whisk in his hand being rude to people/ about people.... He drives me mad! Why is he there? Jo managed fine on her own in the past!

Much prefer pru to Mary berry but don’t like the Noel and Sandi combo they don’t seem to like each other, wish they’d replace Sandi with someone else.

omg i love that guy on extra slice

Apart from the adverts, I actually think I prefer it now which I never anticipated doing!

Love Noel and much prefer him to Sue. Find Mel and Sandi much of a muchness in the same way as Pru and Mary. Paul is still sleazy Paul although he needs to chill out with the handshakes as they are losing their value!

I thank C4 have breathed a bit of freshness into the themes and show stoppers. Really like most of the contestants too.

I quite like this years contestents. But by god Hollywood isn’t half loose with the handshakes.

They can’t all be the best ginger cake you’ve ever tasted.