Bake Off - an extra slice of the final

[NigelHarmansNewWife]

Well Josh was robbed I thought

I definitely do not think Tasha was robbed.

I was expecting Josh to win but if Matty's cake tasted much better then, obviously, Matty won.

It has always been based on the final bake. No account is taken off all the previous weeks. I think it would be better if they scored them every week and the person with the highest scores wins

I think Josh should have won but I loved that moment when it actually occurred to Matty that he was actually in with a chance!

I tried saying the same on r/bakeoff, but they all bullied me into silence. They didn't like that I gave them a 'spoiler' (I didn't realise that was a rule of the sub.. Cause my life doesn't revolve around reddit!) Imagine not wanting to see spoilers and then going on the forum that discusses the show... Just after the result was announced. Ridiculous. But that's bullies for you!

Just wanted to chime in and say that I totally agree. In other years, the stitch-ups were less obvious... Or just down to a poor judging process; for example, I think Stephen should've won in 2017. Sophie was amazing, but Stephen was exceptional. He ran out of steam at the end sadly. Sophie won with a bake that was as amazing as Stephen's in Week 2-4. She was great at the end, he was great at the start.

However, it's just egregious now: Tasha or Josh should've won this year. They both received a standing ovation for their bakes from the judges; Josh was consistently 8-9/10, and Tasha had some 9-10/10's several times. 2019 was even worse: Steph should've won that fair and square... Star baker 4 times, whereas David didn't get that once!

I know it's just a TV show, but it's sad to see amazingly talented people passed over for someone who's chummiest with the judges/team. I guess I've felt like that has happened to me many times, so I empathise. I think it's Paul's personality that makes me so passionately against it - people say he puts on this persona for Bake Off, but I have to disagree; when he went to America for his eponymously-named TV show, he was embarrassingly rude "would you serve this tea to the Queen of England?!" You're not a monarch, Paul! lol.

I'll conclude with this: it would be more logical to judge the winner over the entire process. They have done this inconsistently (e.g. the year Rahul won, they considered the entire season. They said so explicitly. I think Rahul deserved to win, even though I much prefer Kim-Joy's personality). Additionally, the winner isn't necessarily the one who goes on to do the best: Liam didn't win, but he's gone on to co-present Bake Off: The Professionals with Tom Allen. Lastly, if they're going to base it all on personality, then Saku should've won!

That is all lol

This series has been a bit boring (apart from Saku & Nichola), so I've only been half-watching. I thought Matty went home in the 4th week! I was stunned when I realised he was still in it, and in the final (instead of Tasha). I thought Tasha was better than Dan as well.

I'm glad I'm not a betting woman - I'd always lose! I thought it was going to be Josh, Tasha and Cristy in the final.

(Sorry for several messages together, I thought I was replying to people on here! Just realised you can't do that lol)

I'm sooooooo happy to see that this place doesn't like Paul either! I'm so sick of him. Pru is alright, I guess. Loving other people's suggestions of Jamie Oliver, Rachel Khoo and Nigella for judges. Bake Off was great because it was pure and nice, but Channel 4 ruined it. I miss Mary and Mel & Sue so much. Mary kept Paul in check.

Jamie Oliver, Nigella, James Acaster (he was so funny in the celebrity Bake Off!) and Tom Allen/Roisin Conarty please <3

The people in r/bakeoff all love Paul and insist his horrible personality is just an act 😣no wonder they're so horrible if you dare talk about bake off on r/bake off! Horrible attracts horrible! Oh, and they were so mean to Rahul :(

Even taking last bakes only, Josh was basically no.1 for first n second bake. Am also surprised Matty's showstopper a perfect bake after it was underbaked then put back. I knew after Paul's remark it was going to be Matty and though his personality is great, it's so unfair on Josh. I switched off immediately after the announcement n didn't see the celebration. And Josh was doing it for his granny do he must feel doubly disappointed.

The stitch up was too obvious this year.
Oh, and did anyone else feel that the mood among the bakers on the last day was strange? Flat and not happy, chummy as usual?
Poor season overall but worst final

(Sorry I don't want to hog this thread, I'm just happy to see someone else is a night owl lol)

I keep seeing people saying they're happy for Matty because he's lovely. Matty is lovely & handsome and seems like a great boyfriend to Lara.... but this is a baking competition. I think some get attached to a particular person and then see it as "that person is being mean to my guy" when we criticise them.

I was quite attached to Tasha, being disabled myself. She would have been the best winner if they were going for a 'journey'. It must've been so difficult to navigate being on TV with an ear loop. She's the inspirational one, not Matty imo. She should've been runner up, and Josh no.1.

If you go back and watch the first episode, you can see that most of the bakes there were better than Matty's finale showstopper. If I were to create 'tiers' (pardon the pun) of the contestants' talent, this would be it:

Tier 1 (Strongest): Josh & Tasha
Tier 2: Cristy, Dan, Abbi, Nichola, Rowan
Tier 3: Matty, Dana, Saku, Keith
Tier 4 (Weakest): Amos

Obviously there's some subjectivity as to who's in Tier 2 and 3, but I'd say that's a pretty accurate representation of the contestants' ability. I'm going by how the judges have reacted to their bakes, their creativity & the finesse of their bakes. For example, I think Abbi is weaker technically, but her flavours were unique, just like Tasha's tahini robin.

Yes I was thinking of Liam Charles who came 5th on a previous GBBO and now co-presents on the 'Professionals' and the children's versions I think? 🌹

Liam would be great. They could even have guest presenters who were former bakers to add a bit more tech talk? Noel’s contributions are just pointless

I think the correct person won based on the final show. It is never based on previous shows and the showstopper always has a greater weighting and Josh messed up , he overbaked one of his cakes and his flavour wasn't great on the other whereas they said Matty's cake was the best chocolate cake ever and the flavour of other was amazing.
I always feel slightly underwhelmed by the cakes the produce in the final showstopper, I think the pressure must end up being so great that it just seems to end up with rather underwhelming bakes.

Edited to add, I would have loved Tasha to win but she did have some bad weeks and deserved to go out when she did unfortunately. She just seemed to fall apart in her last couple of shows.

It has always been played as a cup knockout competition rather than a league with previous performances onky ever considered if the margins are v v tight. And the weighting of the showstopper has always been significantly more than the technical.

Just watched on catch up.
Was disappointed with the final.
Can't help but compare the cakes to any number of showstoppers from past seasons. It wasn't a tricky brief, no big disasters but nothing was super wow.

His showstopper seemingly tasted fabulous and that’s what counts with a cake.

But in the history of Bake Off has a final ever produced something inedible? They couldn't eat Matty's technical offering. And then he goes on to win? I wonder if his showstopper was actually as delicious as they said? 🤣

Anyone watching an extra slice

Yes.
it felt like Paul mocked Alison when he did exaggerated clapping...

Yes he was mean again

She handled it well.

Found you all!

were you proud @cheshirecatssmile
he came across so well

I'll second that.

Very very proud of him

Deffo robbed
But josh isn't telly where Matty is.

Alison at least voice the surprise at matty winning

She did.

I watched "An Extra Slice" last night. I don't usually watch it.
Matty is very telegenic as is his partner Lara.
Loved his reaction to his and his Dad's footie hero congratulating him.

I thought Josh was great but I thought he got a bit smug and complacent towards the end and did slip up on his showstopper. Matty’s showstopper was wonky and could’ve been better decorated but I think on balance he was the best winner as he’s learnt so much.

But I wanted Tasha to win too. And she didn’t get to the finals.