GBBO

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Seeing as the first thread is almost full, I thought I'd start a new one

For good measure, here is Monkseal's blog for this week.

I also add that thought that the presenters were great tonight - had a few LOL and dh raised his eyebrows " laughing at a cooking program " I think was muttered .....I was watching on the ipad with earphones!

Ruby is really irritating. Her mouth doesn't move, her negativity and her wonky head. Not someone that is inspiring and couldn't imagine her publishing a book - her personality doesn't sell I'm afraid.

Sadly, I dont think any of them are outstanding compared to the winners in the previous years. Last year I cant remember - had to google it. I think Ruth Clemons is the only one to have made anything successful from it and she was the runner up. Edd and Jo wash over me.

I can see Frances having a career as the new Jane Asher.

Whatever happens Frances will definitely get a book deal out of this! She has such great ideas and her presentation is stunning, can you imagine what she could turn out if she wasn't under pressure?!

Although I'm not Ruby's biggest fan I do think the level of vitriol she seems to attract is uncalled for. She's so young, she's not a tv professional, she's completely at the mercy of the editing process and yet some truly vile comments have been made about her, it's cruel and heartless and must be very hard for her and anyone who knows her to read.

Does anyone know if any of them are blogging this year? I really enjoyed the Doctor's one last year, a real behind the scenes, eye-opener that was.

i wish ruby would crack a smile now and then! i can't decide whether it annoys me or whether i just feel sorry for her.

i hope frances wins but i think she will come second with kimberly first. i think kimberly is better technically but frances is so imaginative and creative.

i had a soft spot for becca and gutted she didn't make the final- it was close between her and ruby.

Here is Ruby's blog

Here's Frances' blog

It's quite interesting that Kimberly doesn't seem to have a blog. Or has a link already been given?

Artificial banana flavour in the showstopper cake was a massive mistake.

You know what? I have totally warmed to Frances. Her whimsy has been really REALLY annoying but, for once, the canapé theme was a good one and they looked great. I'd be happy to see her win.

If I have one criticism of series four though, it's that I have really struggled to like pretty much all of the contestants (except Glenn, I liked him immediately). No idea why.

butimhungrynow.com is kimberleys

WHY did Francis not get star baker?? I think her signature opera thing (technical term) looked sooooo much better than anyone else's and from the judges comments hers and Kimberley's were equally meh on taste. Her canapés were fab too,

Used to love Kimberly but she comes across as slightly arrogant at times and I'm going off her. I've always liked Ruby, I think she's just young and overly nervous ( and she had all those exam pressures in early days and STILL go this far) but I'm not sure she's got the cool head it takes to win.

Francis is the best, love her creativity, and she comes across as lovely and not too up her own arse too! Am firmly in the Francis gang! (Though Kimberly can cook, oh yes she can! If she were less arrogant I wouldn't mind either her OR Francis as winner)

I think it's Frances who comes in for unfair judging, and she's dealt with it without any fuss at all. I like her more and more. I found Paul's handshake interesting - it was in recognition of something. That they've been hard on her until now? His smirk when she was describing her canapes I found appallingly rude.

If anyone seems to favour Ruby I think it's Mary, who talks about her so indulgently. And Ruby never flirts with Paul, as people in previous series have - can't remember any of them.

Oh! I have just found out (in my attempt to look up previous contestants but cba) that Kimberly is a psychologist and Beca is in the Military Wives choir which confirms her as being as generally annoying as suspected.

I like Ruby. I just looked at her blog (thanks bisjo) and wanted to make everything. A lot of the comments I have read about her have shocked and annoyed me, because they're just another form of misogynist conjecture, Madamcastafiore

"Right, that's it! I'm off to start the Ruby Appreciation Society."

I think Ruby and PH are ahead of you on that one

I can't see that PH fancies Ruby, just can't. It's a bit depressing that an attractive woman can't make it far without some people suggesting it's because of some bloke fancying her. Must check the calender to see if it's really 2013.
Glad to see that Ruby's blog is back and her latest recipe is Franzbroetchen which I mentioned in this or the last thread. I'll have to try some of her recipes.
I think no one did an opera cake yesterday to a standard everyone of last year's finalists would have been able to do.

Sad Beca's gone, she was the one who looked like the most fun and the most genuine.

Kimberley should win on baking prowess, but I wouldn't be surprised if Frances snuck in to win the final. She is much less annoying than she was. Ruby - oh, please.

If you're looking at it from a feminist perspective I think it's far more annoying to see a grown woman playing the faux modest, helpless maiden when she clearly knows she's a competent baker.

I really don't get the Ruby hate. She's obviously massively under confident. I feel sorry for her because life can be quite hard if you are like that. If its 'faux' then she's a bloody good actress never mind baker.
I agree Mary and Paul both seem a bit softer with her than the others but I think that's because they can see she's a bit younger than the others and they want to encourage her.

I agree with rootypig - if anyone is favouring Ruby it's Mary. She finds something nice to say about even her worst messes and is always making excuses for her - exams, lack of equipment, being young. Ruby's manner really winds me up but I think them indulging her makes it worse.

Bit meh about the final now. I didn't want Beca to go because I like her but I could see her stuff wasn't sophisticated enough last night. Not that fond of the others though - Kimberley comes across as so smug and false, all lighthearted 'such fun' until someone else gets praised then it's steely glares (or if she is criticised wide eyed astonishment). The way she talks gets on my nerves too - every other word is 'kind of' and describing herself as a 'flavour magpie' made me want to throw something at her. Guess I'll be cheering for Frances but only because the other 2 are so annoying.

Have loved this series in general though (I miss lovely Howard!) and really hope they don't mess with the format too much now it's going to BBC1.

I don't think she is as helpless as she makes out. I don't trust her as a result. I can't.put my.finger on it totally, but I cannot like her.

I can't be doing with the " she's soooo young" brigade. She's 21 not 12, a grown woman. She's not being asked to give lectures on her life experience, she's baking cakes. To my knowledge you don't need to be over 30 to do that. If my 11yo niece started baking she'd very soon be better than me and I'm 42. Age is irrelevant in this kind of arena.

Ruby is annoying me by the faux I'm not sure what I'm doing act. Calling the beetroot jelly 'other stuff'' ( can't remember exact quote) as if she hadn't been pracising all week and had the ingredients written down in front of her

I'm amazed that people seem to think confidence is something you just have. I've seen 20+ year olds throw up in the toilet before giving a presentation of their work to their fellow students. I've also seen plenty of 20 year old who are overly confident for no good reason. It's a personality thing rather than an age thing. And Ruby, as much as I like her baking, has reasons to lack confidence, her presentation mainly. It would be weirder if she were all confident about her bakes, espeacially the ones that look a mess.
I think she is the most naturally talented of the lot, there are so many comments about her flavours and textures being spot on. She just needs to nail presentation and timing. I assume Mary recognizes that and tries to support her.

Someone in the other thread linked the many faces of Ruby and it's easy to spot the fake "i'm so shocked at the positive feedback" smug face.

IME people with low self esteem/confidence don't pout and act petulant when things don't go their way, but the truth is I don't know the girl so she might be the real deal - it just doesn't look it!