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

We loved Nelly in our house, so sad to see her go. The mum of dd’s best friend is from Slovakia and is just like Nelly, so we feel like someone we know is on bake-off this year

She’s given us some real giggles over the last few weeks.

Looking forward to steamed puddings, they are one of my favourites, and had them at our wedding!

Well, yes, she is putting the accent on just for that word. It's for comedy value . Just like Noel does an operatic 'Bake' sometimes for the same reason.

I'm a week behind, so have skipped to the end to avoid spoilering myself.
Andy had a bad week but I was sad to see him go; he was a sweetheart and I love an Essex accent, particularly on the word frangipane. He looked so sad.
Gill so deserved Star Bake. She really makes me laugh, I love her and her 'northern portions'.
I think Sumayah is rude. She must know that Noel and Alison coming round is part of the deal. I find her sneery and too cool for school. She needs to learn some manners, and to speak properly without trailing off into giggles all the time, too.
Georgie is a bit of a dark horse but I agree with pps she needs to raise her level and really wow the judges.
Dylan is a very interesting baker and I thought his chocolate frangipanes looked delicious.
I LOVE Nelly and love how she and Noel seem to be comedy soulmates.
Christiaan started well but I feel like he's plateaud a bit.
Illyin I just can't quite warm to, not sure why. I liked her at first but I find her a bit stressy now. She is probably a better baker than she's showing on this.

Nelly was great but she wasn't the best baker, she just had the liveliest personality

When is the final? I'm looking at alarm at my diary, which seems to have a lot going on on Tuesdays these next few weeks

It needs a lively personality though as they’re all a bit serious (maybe not Gill but haven’t really warmed up to her as I did Nelly!)

Dylan came across as a right bratty this week. If it were based on personally the stroppy pup woulf be gone and Nelly still in.

Sumayah did well - I like her personality - she's young, vocal fry is a thing some young girls put on for some reason. A generational shibboleth if you like. Every generation has one.

I found Nelly to be a bit irritating and full of herself (she knows she’s funny) but was surprised it was her and not Dylan who went home. I did like Andy though, genuine and funny.

I think Gill is warming up to be more of a character. As i said before though it must be tricky to cook and be a character whilst cooking. I felt for Dylan dropping his first bake on the showstopper (is that the word) and I agreed with the judges, his Diwali cake didn’t have much light about it. Christian was annoying good with his showstopper with stained glass windows. Was surprised to see how many showstoppers had carrot cake in them, I tried making this for the first time this month, not as easy as you think!

Carrot cake is the most familiar of the "cakes including a vegetable" genre.
I was wondering if sweetcorn counted as a vegetable for the purposes of the brief, and whether cornmeal counted as both a vegetable and a flour.

I was very sorry to see Nelly go. I'd like Gill to win. Sumayah is a dentistry student, apparently. She must be bright and hard-working to have got the grades for that.

Dylan is only 20, so I can cut him a little slack, I suppose, but he's got a lot of growing up to do. Works as a retail assistant, recently took a gap year (from what?) and did a lot of travelling, and spends a lot of time skateboarding and painting. Hmm.

Nelly struck me as someone who hasn’t always had that level of confidence and has had to work to love herself and get herself there. I think that’s maybe why I warmed to her so much.

When I saw Nelly using spinach (!) in a cake, my mind went to the old lady in the Vicar of Dibley who made all sorts of weird and wonderful food combinations.

Yeah, I like Nelly but her last cake looked so very unappetising when cut open.

The production team must be crying - had to be Nelly or Dylan that went or it would have clearly been a fix, although I reckon they could have got away with Georgie if they'd put more emphasis on her first round. It won't be the same without Nelly though. She was really funny.

Just found out Gill is a Free Cakes For Kids baker which makes me love her even more. I'm in a different group but apparently one of our bakers knows her from the Bolton FCFK Instagram.

Sad to see Nelly go, but what a breath of fresh air she's been. I agree we haven't seen the last of her; she's a TV natural.

I've just googled this as I hadn't heard of it - how lovely!

It was me who said I didn't get the Nelly love the other week but I had warmed to her a bit over the last couple of episodes and can see that it'll be a big personality missing from the show now! Dylan's self pitying does my head in. Iliyin always looks like she's going to cry as well. I like Georgie, Gill and Sumayah- I think she's great for someone so young.

I think Sumayah’s great too, and don’t like this mean carping on about her voice.

She’s so cheerful and calm and collected and in control and skilled and takes criticism really well and isn’t afraid to be a little assertive. Quite remarkable for someone her age.

I do agree with the praise you give her but the vocal fry is incredibly annoying though.

I’m watching Extra Slice and the three guests are so annoying. I’m having to put up with them just so I can watch Nellie. I thought Iain Stirling was bad, but that Leomie Anderson is beating him hands down, with her hand waving and voice.

Oh my goodness, Nelly is fabulous 🤩

I hate the waft off, I would rather listen to Nelly some more.

Just watched this week's today..... I'm SO SAD to see Nelly go 😔