GBBO 4th thread - Will it be Ruby Tuesday in Final Week?..

[Myimaginarycathasfleas]

...or will Kim Joy claim the title? Will Rahul nail it with a bake they DO have in India?

It’s anyone’s to lose.

lets face it there is no such thing as a too big pastry

It's like saying there is too much cream, or chocolate, or rum, or too many raspberries/strawberries/ whatever deliciousness is incorporated.

Just. Doesn't. Happen.

When it's down to the last few, there is plenty of space and spare ovens, they should make the judges do some of the challenges.

Also, I'd love to see them sneak a few genuine professional cakes in, and see if Paul could spot the difference.
On the Technical Bake, they could easily have one position with a photo of Mr.Kipling....

It's somewhat concerning that KJ works as a mental health professional yet panics and is almost reduced to tears over a chocolate mousse.
How does she handle stress at work?
She had a wobble then got a grip and carried on, I can't fault her for that. Working in school, I have often seen staff in tears in the staff room then pull themselves together and go back in to do their job.

I agree with you Smiled, I do think they're all a bit crap compared to previous years.

Please, not Rahul. He's completely joyless and acting like he's only doing it because someone else told him to and he'd much rather be doing something else.... which is all true.

Ruby has really stepped up. KJ is too invested in her cutesy, fluffy wuffyness though I do quite like her.

I don’t think the camera man is a fan of KJ either. They zoomed on her tears a lot (despite disliking her, I didn’t think that was fair) but last night they focused a bit on her habit of looking around and not looking too pleased that the others were getting on with it. She made a remark when Ruby got star baker about Ruby being like the rest of them now which I thought was passive aggressive. She isn’t all fluffy kittens and rainbows I think!

And I wondered why nobody went over to show her what she was doing wrong? I’m sure in other years the contestants helped each other out a little? Maybe the rules have changed and they are not allowed to, maybe they did and she still couldn’t get it right or maybe she pisses them all off so much they couldn’t be arsed. Though I imagine Rahul was blissfully unaware she was even in the same kitchen!

I feel like channel four are so keen to have the drama of a disaster they have forgotten we viewers like to see brilliance too.
The last two weeks have felt so mean spirited, tough comments, shit bakes, and signatures that are anything but.
I'm grumpy and yet still watching.

I’m sure in other years the contestants helped each other out a little? I think people in this series did help each other in earlier rounds.
Are we quite sure there was no sabotage going on with Briony's salt and sugar mishap?

Kim Joy is like your friend at school, who pretended not to have done her homework/have spent very little time on their homework, only to score top marks and sit in the front row beaming. I don't think we are seeing her actual personality on there. I think Ruby should win.

I suspect Ruby will win; I’m wondering whether KJ and Rahul could cope with the media attention of winning.

Oh gosh I’d say KJ would lap it up!!!!!

Have to disagree with you there, there is such a thing as too big a pastry. There is definitely no such thing as too many pastries. 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰 🍰 🎂 🥧 🍰

🤢 not envy

I agree that it’s turned unpleasant and rather unhappy in the last couple of weeks. Last night I didn’t find it comfortable viewing. I actually feel desperately sorry for Rahul because he really isn’t socially comfortable and able to engage in any repartee.
The challenges are over-difficult and designed with failure in mind rather than giving the opportunity to showcase skill.
I’m quite sad to be writing this

Thanks Fleas. Checking in for next week

Sunny you have hit the nail on the head. The show was always a feel good show. I often baked something that day (very limited baking) and looked forward to settling down to watch it. I enjoyed seeing people compete in a good natured way and it was usually high praise for the good baking. Now it is too critical and negative. I like the presenters but the BBC are simply better at making positive, happy competitions. C4 should not have messed with the formula.

Last night's was squirm-inducing for me; PH behaving like a bloated, snide bully, KIm-Joy's eyelash-fluttering pseudo coyness, Rahul's face like a cat's arse and Ruby flashing her dècollete and threatening to flounce were a nauseating viewing.
Quite frankly I don't care who wins, this series has turned into the PH Ego Show and it's no where as good as previous series.
Manon's leaving was simply unfair and unjustified.

SunnySomer that’s exactly how I feel. I don’t like this tough stance that PH is taking. I do feel he is actually trying to bring the bakers to tears.

And setting them up to fail does not make for good television.

You’re right about Rahul too, he doesn’t get the ‘bants’ and so he ends up being the joke himself. I’m not keen on all the backing into the limelight that he does but I do feel he’s out of his depth with the repartee.

Mary used to keep PH in check a little bit, she'd pull him back down if he got too arsey but Prue is more of an accomplice and so he can be as arsey as he wants, which is a lot. To state that they'd set a technical that was pretty much impossible and then tear their arses off because they didn't quite make it was nasty.

And yes I think they got rid of the French baker neatly before French baking week. Gits

Ruby will win because she comes across as an all round good egg. KJ is too marmite and Rahul is painful to watch, bless him.

Aren't their ingredients provided by the show? For patisserie I can't imagine much salt would be provided, but a lot of sugar would be. I can't see how she would pick the wrong one. I find that odd.

I want Kim Joy to win. But I think Rahul will unless he falls apart in the final. The presenters all seem very invested in raising his self esteem...

Agree its not as good this series, a victim of its own success, PH ego and the commercial stakes involved now perhaps. In the innocent first days it was actually about recognisable baking. I actually prefer the pottery and sewing series to watch for that very reason. Very very sadly the throwdown - made by the same production company as gbbo -has been axed by the BBC. Now there was a programme that was all about talent and pushing contestants to do their very best. With a judge who routinely blubbed with joy when presented with excellent work or a contestant who had accomplished a personal best. And useful critiques which meant you actually learned about pottery technique and history. (as opposed to dont over-ice a christmas biscuit chandelier which seems to be my only memorable take away from this series of gbbo 🙄). But I guess its all about the ratings, even with the BBC.

Kim Joy doesn't make anything tasty though the judges only make comments about the exquisite pipework and cutesie decoration but never seem overwhelmed by the flavours. She's only made it to the final by making it look good.

Raul's grimace. FFS it's a cooking show not an execution. Grow up man.

Rahul*

When it's down to the last few, there is plenty of space and spare ovens, they should make the judges do some of the challenges.

choccy - That is inspired . . .