Bake Off - an extra slice of the final

[NigelHarmansNewWife]

Well Josh was robbed I thought

I think they have messed up the judging at the last hurdle, for their own reasons. I feel sad about it; mind you, I am still aggrieved that Kim-Joy didn't win series 9

agree with almost everyone - Josh was robbed for sure.

Matty should have been gone in earlier weeks. But marketability seems to be what counts.

If they wanted it to be a self-improvement contest, they should have made that clear!!

Matty seems a nice enough guy but was always a bit clueless about baking and had some real disasters. I wouldn't be rushing out to buy any of his books even if he was the winner - whereas I might have with Josh! Maybe Josh will do one anyway.

Sometimes they seem to look at past bakes, and other times not, which is quite unfair. Juergen should have been in his final. Probably Tasha too. Abbi shouldn't have been out so early. It's become way too much about the story and background and journey than the baking, and there are already too many journeys on TV!

I agree that Abbi left too early, she was a really interesting baker so it was a shame not to see her continue.

very much agree with this

@Scruffington

I'd LOVE if they announced Hollywood wouldn't be returning for the next series. He's a charmless oaf.

Just for a nanosecond there I thought you were saying he wasn't coming back - then was disappointed to see I'd misread your post. I'd love someone else in his place (maybe Fred Siriex or Tommy Banks or Angelica Bell from Family Cooking Showdown?)

Paul Hollywood seems to think the show is about him, and he's consistently an irritant for me - especially when he seems to sneak up on contestants, intimidating them. I know Prue also checks in on them but she's more encouraging I think, particularly when he's been harsh on judging. 🌹

Matty is adorable and I was really pleased for him, but Josh has been consistently good throughout and I think he's been portrayed quite unfairly in the edits - lots of shots of other contestants looking pleased for each other and saying 'well done' etc. throughout the series, but vietually every shot of Josh during other people's judging seemed to show him looking glum or pissed off. Maybe he's not a demonstrative bloke, but it did feel as if they were casting him in a certain light. I felt incredibly sorry for him last night.

Josh was definitely robbed. Thing is all of their showstoppers were rather rubbish looking. Certainly not one was show stopping. I thought Matty's looked terrible, the middle layer just had icing bits blobbed on and not even smoothed.

Not sure I will bother watching again. Noel really annoys me because he is just there to say weird things and try to put the contestants off. Wish he had gone instead of Matt. Alison seems good and generally nice to everyone. I have never really forgiven the loss of Mel and Sue though.

At least the marrow got a star turn!

I am really pleased Matty won. Paul and Pru both said his showstopper was delicious and Josh and Dan's were not as good.

As far as I remember it has always been the last bake that really counts so Matty definitely did deserve to win

Did anyone else think that Mattys dad came across as very negative in the video? Like he wasn’t into baking (not blokey enough?). Glad if so that matty pursued his own path

And to think back in week 1 Matty couldn't even make buttercream! 🤣

Just shows how much he improved over the weeks

I thought it was a good decision, but Paul was totally unnecessarily rude to Josh. It was bordering on cruel.

This. I recall a fairly recent final where a female contestant (can't remember her name but she had dark hair a fringe and wore glasses) fell at the final hurdle after being the best all the way through. That's what happened this year. When I saw Josh decorating his cake I thought there was a good chance he'd fudged it as it just looked pretty amateur.
The music at the end made me cry!

Yes I thought that too. Matty comes across as such a lovely humble man. I bet his students love him.

Well he has form for that doesn't he? Remember the semi-final when Jurgen was sent home. In the signature Paul gave a handshake to each of the other three. Shakes for three out of four? Just cruel. Always thought Jurgen should have made that final, if not won the whole thing.

I much prefer Pru. She doesn’t have obvious favourites. Knows how to critique constructively. Though mostly because she doesn't think her handshake is in the same league as saving a child's life.

Paul H is vile. The judging of Josh's showstopper was appalling. I turned it off at that point because it was obvious they had already decided Matty was to win, Paul never liked Josh. I was also shocked Tash didn't make the final. She was robbed too. I won't watch again. I've had enough of Noel too, he adds nothing. Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson would make far better judges, Prue can stay.

I always think if Paul has been negative Pru tries to find something positive to say.
Not always but mostly
PH is so up his own ars* but the public put him there.
It's a persona though hopefully

Love "charmless loaf" for Paul.

Nothing against Matty, seems a nice enough lad but no way should he have even got to the final. Poor Josh. He looked almost tearful at Hollywood's nasty comments. And agree that they were deliberately harsh to justify giving it to Matty.

I always say I'll stop watching and then get sucked in as there must be nothing else to watch at the same time. Can't stand Prue or Hollywood 😁

I would get rid of Paul (would have got rid when it moved to channel 4 tbh). And I would bring in Jane Asher - she knows a thing or two about baking! And actually I think it might be time for a change from Prue as well, and maybe get someone a bit different like Rachel Khoo?

The show definitely needs a good shake up.

Paul is so far up himself, you can’t see his feet. He spoils Bake Off for me.

I was pleased for Matty.

Me too, he is just icky. So unattractive.

Jane Asher is an excellent idea @MissyB1 ! Where do I sign the petition 😂

Yes so many new possible presenters. Even some of the former bakers are now presenters. Pru Paul and Noel are dull.

only just watched, glad to see the majority view is Josh was robbed. He had every right to be gutted and hid it well. Matty - nice guy, no great talent. Why bother doing a technical in the final if it didn’t count? Underwhelming vibe did remind me of the equally underwhelming wedding cake challenge yonks back

Surely they will make some big changes for next year? I can’t see the show surviving if it carries on the same. I won’t watch it next year if they don’t do something, it doesn’t feel genuine anymore.