GBBO Snowflakes

[rackhampearl]

Preparing for a flaming here but it has to be said. Is it just me or are the contestants on GBBO become more emotional each year? A little bit of criticism from Paul and Prue and it looks like they're gonna have a melt down. I get it's a competition and you want to win of course but it's really not that serious. It's bleeding baking for Christ sake. They're acting rather childish imo. Thoughts?

But we knew lets face it

I think Rahul did well considering he had to start again from scratch and had less time than the other two. They took away all of his progress and only gave him 15 mins extra. He lost about 15-20 mins that the other two had.

But then the door fell off the oven for one ckntestant and they didn't guve them extra time.

It was favouritism thriugh and through and the others mays well of not been there. Because even though he was shit on so many challenges, he seemed to always get through. And his attitude was horrible.

Dont care about contestants heritage but do care that the producers have ballsed up one of the few tv programmes that was wildly popular because of the format

THIS ^

We don't all want faux drama and sob-stories! Tell them after the results if appropriate.

We just want an interesting, enjoyable piece of light entertainment that we can sit and watch with our kids and perhaps try to make the challenges ourselves.

No way would I attempt Rahul's Playdough Apocalypse (even though I could probably succeed!0 because it looked VILE!

I'd love to see Paul and Pru baking in real time during the technical

So would I!

I feel like the producers are trying to make things as difficult as possible for the contestants to build as much drama as possible. I'd prefer the contestants get a chance to shine and produce some amazing things. I also miss the history bits.

I love Kim-Joy's designs, she very artistic and I love all the cute cats and kawaii stuff.

I think the contestants are putting themselves under too much pressure. They aren't on the show for fun. Many of them are very conscious of the future careers and not fucking everything up.

Am I alone in having enjoyed this series and thinking that Rahul deserved to win?

No - I enjoyed this series! - I always love Bake-Off and, despite being resistant to the thought of Mel and Sue being replaced, find I actually prefer lovely Noel and Sandi.

Kim Joy and Ruby were my way-out favs from early on, but Rahul probably did deserve to win if his mid-way form was anything to go by but - and here's my only criticism - there is definitely a point to be made about the over-reaching for 'unusual' bakes, coupled with the fact that they don't give them enough time to make a good job of complicated multi-stage processes that need setting/cooling time, etc.

I'd really, really like them to take note of all the criticisms on this front and just go back to bakes that inspire home-bakers - 'hmmm I'd like to have a go at that' - and which can really show off who is the best baker, with some decorating flair.

Bring back the history bits and make the bakes more achievable. I want to see great things, not the man-made drama

I'm not convinced the right person one, but on GBBO as a whole, I couldn't stand it on BBC and gave up after two episodes of series one. I tried again when it became a big thing. Nope, still couldn't stand it. I loathed Mel and Sue and I actually wasn't overkeen on Mary Berry.

When it shifted to C4, I thought I'd give it one last try. And I liked it. I much prefer Noel and Sandi and I also prefer Prue. Go figure.

I've just had a look for pictures of the final showstoppers with no luck. But I did find lots of publicity shots for multiple series - all icing identical red cakes or rainbow cupcakes. Someone's been having fun with Photoshop!

I would love for the series to go back to achievable bakes. It doesn't matter if some challenges get repeated (and there's enough recipes in the world that they don't need to!). It used to be aspirational and it isn't now. Open fire cooking!? Simpler bakes, enough time and supporting each other (including judges!). That was what I watched for.

And the updates on what people were doing in the end. Meet ups are nice but I want to hear about them teaching WI classes!

I came late to the GBBO party - never watched it on BBC (mainly because I'm not keen on Mel and Sue) and only started when it went to C4. Love Noel and Sandi and Prue. Paul H overdoes the 'demon eyes' a bit too much for my liking, and he ought to lay off the fake tan I think.

I have to say I've really enjoyed this series. Kim Joy, Rahul and Ruby were my early front runners, so it was good to see all 3 in the final. I'm assuming they have judged the winner over the series as a whole, and not just the final in which case Rahul deserved to win. A couple of his showstoppers midway through were amazing I thought.

Some of K-J's decorating was fabulous - that's definitely where her talent lies - and Ruby is just fun and seems to enjoy it all.

I agree that some of the challenges have been difficult to say the least. I'd like them to do something like 'Wedding Week' or 'Kids week' with the showstopper something which might inspire other home bakers.

When all's said and done, I'm looking forward to next series already!

I know someone who knows Rahul, and apparently he's much less drippy in real life!

The show stoppers this year looked awful, all grey and sludge.

I don't know why the challenges aren't things people would actually bake - who would ever make a cake landscape?

I am pleased Rahul won although think it was a close run thing. Kim-Joy has always been really strong on the decoration, but Rahul's flavours have been top notch.

My thoughts about this series..

Although there have been some good bakes, overall I don't think it has been a stellar year quality wise.

I'm getting to like Noel better than I ever thought I would.

I agree with PP that some of the technicals have been a bit silly. It's like they are setting them up to struggle in order to make good telly of disasters. I would much rather they made a challenging but realistic bake. The pitta bread thing was ridiculous. Hardly any baking involved - pizza dough is not hard and dips are not what GBBO is about. It was more like a challenge from the Boy Scout book of camp fire cookouts. None of the finalists did well at it.

And yes, the final showstoppers all looked a bit thrown together and Rahul and Ruby's choux rocks all looked unappetising even if they tasted good. The brief really didn't help the contestants shine.

I agree with you OP. That Briony never stopped bloody crying.

I preferred GBBO when the emphasis was on the technicalities and history of baking
Exactly, I don't want to watch yet another tedious popularity contest.
I want to watch bakers being realistically challenged. They should pick the best bakers who apply to be on the show not the best bakers who they also think will be characters.
This is the first year I didn't bother to watch religiously. It's not about the baking anymore

With a potential multi-million future career on the line, I can see why the pressure is higher than it used to be. [from someone who has never watched an episode of GBBO before this year but has seen that the winners are making ££s from books, food lines, TV shows etc]

There was an episode a few weeks ago where Rahul should have gone - he had flopped in all three rounds and still went through, whereas if that had happened to anyone else, they'd have gone. He's been blatant favourite right from the beginning. I also don't think if Ruby or Kim-Joy's glass had exploded, that they'd have been given extra time. He also messed up the technical and still won!

I don't dislike him and he's clearly very talented but Kim-Joy should have won this one. I think she was robbed and if he'd gone a few weeks ago when he did very badly all round, the final would have been very different.

Paul Hollywood is a twat and if this show is to survive the first thing that needs to happen is his departure. He serves no purpose other than to look smug and be nasty. Prue is better without him Dark Lording it over the proceedings.

Noel and Sandi are fine. I prefer M&S but as replacements go they're pretty good.

Last night was a pile of wank. Doughnuts for a final? Cooking on a fire? And a pile of mould for a showstopper? The best showstopper was when they had to make all the things for the tea party. Think they had to make cakes and sausage roll type things. But the whole thing needs a rethink.

I don't blame them for getting upset when things don't go well, they're trying their hardest with unfamiliar equipment in a boiling marquee.

I can't bear them all holding hands and quivering though, it's like X Factor or BB. The woman who went out in the first week looked like she was about to collapse whilst waiting for the result.

The Showstoppers were truly awful and unappetising but the challenges didn't exactly play to their strengths.

And the contestants were just...not as good as previous years. Rahul was such a drip and I'm not surprised if they gave it to him because he might give a really tearful sob scene if he lost and no one wants to see that.

Ruby was better placed on the apprentice with her self pep talks. I wanted her to win for that reason alone. Lol

It definitely needs to get back to proper baking not ridiculous challenges

I personally know someone in real life who's a far superior baker to anyone on this series, they applied and didn't hear a thing. I know they get thousands of people entering, but every single week this year they'd present their creations and I'd think '*** would have that better'. And they would.

I wonder what the hell they are looking for when they cast it?

Yes to tedious popularity contest.

Even my kids don't want to watch it now.

I still have to endure MasterChef but I'm beginning to think I was kidding myself that they were learning skills!

I wonder what the hell they are looking for when they cast it?

Surely that's obvious. They're looking for good TV. So strong personalities, mix of characters and backgrounds, good chemistry between them all.

It's not solely about baking competency.