Bake off 2024 ... when will there be buns in the oven?

[Hobnobswantshernameback]

Any news yet on when the new series is due to start?
can we expect the same presenting/ judging line up as last year?
Do we think the Hollywood handshake will return?
And please god no tacky theme weeks

Am I alone in not getting the love for Nelly? The five stars for the babies is of course heartbreaking but that aside, I find her almost creepy in her constant sleazy comments and I don’t think it would be half as endearing if she was a man?

I think Nelly is a lovey woman but I’d only be able to cope with her in small doses. She’s just like a very good friend of mine and after Ive been with her I feel drained 🤣

I like Nelly, but biased, as it was my mum’s name. Is Nelly going to be the new Jurgen? We think Dylan looks like a Disney Prince. We thought the first week seemed stronger than this week, but we are quite enjoying it.

Any Extra Slice fans here? I’m going to the recording in a couple of weeks time - can’t wait cake 🧁 🍰

I can't watch Extra Slice because I find Tom Allen's whiny voice too annoying. As soon as he's not on the programme I'll watch it.

i am not a fan of tom allen in any capacity and i also can't watch extra slice because of him.
i fastforward the actual programme until andy's on it as he is a friend of a friend (have met him irl and he's lovely)

I agree. I don’t warm to her at all

Have you been asked to bake or are you just going along? I think you'll have a great time. I really like Tom Allen and find his story of growing up as a teen channeling a 50s housewife very moving and funny.

I wonder if those of you who hate his whiny voice are the same people who thought this intake was too camp?

@GetSetFake no baking, just in the audience. I went last year and loved it. I’m a big fan of Jo Brand.

Is she really sleazy? I know she's making lots of comments about her and Noel being soulmates, but that doesn't seem sleazy, just quite funny. You're right that if it was a bloke it might be sleazy, but that's because of the power imbalance between men and women, surely?

I don't find her sleazy at all. Happy to be corrected here, but I don't think she's said anything remotely sexual or otherwise icky. I think she loves Noel in a Bake Off fan way, and, as I said before, I do think they're kindred spirits. I find it really sweet.
You are right too in that there is the power imbalance to consider even if she were making comments one could construe as 'sleazy'.

Maybe sleazy isn’t the word but yeah I find her constant drooling over Noel and Paul icky and the comment about her buns at the end a bit embarrassing. Just don’t get the love for her.

As I say, I found the comment about the buns at the end quite embarrassing and I just think it’s tedious.

Glad it’s not just me. Seems we’re alone on a thread of Nelly lovers.

@GetSetFake I'm fine with camp, and am happy with all the contestants, but Tom Allen is just really annoying. He's quite rude to the people on Extra Slice, but they aren't allowed to call him out on it because that's his persona. I just don't like to watch him and don't find him funny at all.

I adore Nelly! Comes across as warm, funny, genuine and just lovely.
Dont get the sleazy comments at all? She made a joke about buns, very in the spirit of bake off I feel (the hosts have made similar jokes!).

I love Nelly too. She's really warm and funny but also very confident. I'd love to be her friend in real life!

I know what you mean about Nelly. Her exurberance would put me off a bit in real life. However, I warmed to her when she was explaining about her babies. Despite our 'tell all' culture these days, there was something very genuine about her vulnerability in that moment. I'm keeping an open mind about her.

On the whole, I'm not a fan of sexual innuendo and, much as I loved Mel & Sue, I got very tired of some of their jokes when they were presenting.

I like the fact that she's not afraid to talk about difficult, painful things, but she talks in a very matter-of-fact way. E.g. when she said that even in a dark wood there's always a light, I could imagine someone else saying it in a deep-and-meaningless way that would really annoy me , but with Nellie, I just thought, 'Yes.'
At the risk of indulging in national stereotypes, I think she is very un-British about things, which I find refreshing.

I thought the buns innuendo was so light and harmless, I could not be put off or offended by it.

Having said all that, my actual favourite might be Andy, who I think is hilariously witty and a sweetheart.

I'm a Nelly fan, she really makes me laugh and touched me this week with her little stars.

I've just watched the 2nd episode today and I love Nelly. Don't find her sleazy at all. I'm a fan!

Big Nelly fan here too!

Are we bready to rumble then?

Let's get bready to rumble 🤣

Ah, look at Alison and Noel in their colour coordinated outfits.