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

Yes, I am another one who finds her voice very very annoying. She seemed to talk a lot more this week and I ended up muting the sound every time she appeared on my screen

Thankfully it’s not Strictly and her progress more likely based on skill instead of public opinion.

Sumayah is a lovely positive person, obviously very clever and I think one of the best bakers in the tent. She could easily be the youngest ever winner.

I wonder if the intolerance of her voice is a generational thing? I’m mid 50s and it grates hugely with me too. The Labour chap on QT last night had the same vocal fry and uptick, albeit a bit milder. Maybe people younger than me just don’t notice it the same way because it’s a normal thing for people of their age? “Speaking from the throat” was frowned upon by my elders as I was growing up!

When this series started nearly everybody's accent grated on me and I found them quite hard to follow. I guess it depends where you are from, which you find easiest.

I'm loving nearly all the contestants, haven't wanted anyone to leave the last three weeks. I could let Christian go and keep the rest to the final. Andy was fabulous on Extra Slice, so natural. Haven't watched Nelly yet, I agree Noel sounded gutted to say her name.

Re pretty Dylan, I wouldn't call him sulky but he obviously didn't 'feel' his showstopper this week. Even before he dropped one layer he wasn't enthusiastic/engaged - they kept going on about he doesn't like this time of year but hopefully he'll be back to normal next week (as it isn't actually autumn in the tent).

Christiaan's accent is so bizarre. I'm fascinated trying to work out whether it's consistent or just completely random which words he uses Australian/Scottish/Lancashire (I think) sounds in.

I've never heard anybody Dutch sound like him before. It sounds like he's putting it on, but I don't think he is!

Just watched it and god, yes Leomie was so annoying. Like an animated selfie - all affected gestures and looks. Thought Iain was quite funny, especially his obvious adoration of Nellie. I reckon TV might pick Andy and Nellie up as a double act, especially as she was saying they’re now close friends.

I watched Nellie on her Instagram. She was saying to watch her on Extra Slice because she was “Magnicifent”. 😂 I love Nellie ❤️

My initial response to Sumayah's voice was quite negative and I have been absolutely fascinated by the discussions on here. I'm in my 60s and found it difficult to listen to at first because it seemed so unempowered. But the more I've learned about vocal fry, the more I've realised it's a generational thing and those of us harrumphing about it are just showing we are a bit out of touch with contemporary culture.

I found two interesting links about it. The first one, from the comedy Loudermilk, is quite hard to watch out of context and perhaps sums up the misogynistic aspect to the objections. This rude, entitled, slightly older man laying into a young girl doing a minimum wage job - just yuk.

The second link is more positive and quite thought provoking. Vocal fry only becomes a problem when it's young women doing it. And, cuttingly, it suggests that “if people are having a problem with these reporters on the radio, what it means is they’re old.” .
What Is Vocal Fry?

I love an Extra Slice. In fact I enjoy it more than Bake Off. I especially enjoyed the guests this week, especially Iain. Someone very clever digs out and adds quips to random bits of Bake Off and I always have a good laugh.

Nelly and Andy for their own show. TV gold.

I don’t object to being perceived as old or as out of touch with contemporary culture 🤷‍♀️ I defend my right to have an opinion on issues, and my opinion here is that vocal fry sounds affected, disempowers the speaker somewhat (research has shown that it has a negative influence, for example, on how the speaker is perceived by employers) and is irritating to listen to.

dentists can be some of the thickest people on God's earth, been lucky at school, good memory for facts but can barely get themselves dressed in the morning or hold a conversation been a registered dental nurse for 22 years so it's not any standard really

I'm just watching the series on catchup now and that duck was absolutely amazing; she's a really talented woman.
How they chose the jeans over that I don't know, as it was the most hyperreal cake there by a long chalk.

I admit I haven't watched/read these pieces, but I'd counter your points by saying I don't think it's entirely a question of older men, young women and minimum-wage jobs; I can recall watching several TV shows with young female 'talking head' experts – historians etc – employing vocal fry. I feel irritated by that, and I'm not male, and these women are pretty privileged, probably not earning minimum wage.
And to the point that vocal fry only becomes a problem when it's young women doing it, I'd ask, do older women/men of any age do it? Because I've always thought it's only or at least largely young women who employ it.

It might have been that the duck was rice crispy treat, and the jeans were all cake. Much easier to model in crispy treat than cake. But they didn't say that.

Well, you'd need to read the article really!

Checking in

Evening all

Missed watching live last week so just caught up. Before this evening's

Absolute gutted Nelly has done 😢😢😢

Meringue nest doesn't feel like dessert to me. More a last minute oh shit I need a dessert so shove some cream and fruit on a supermarket puck.

Evening everyone

Nelly 😢😢

Evening

I'm watching "live' for what feels like the first time ever!!

Ooh no, have to disagree, my sister is the Pavlova queen and trust me that's a proper dessert.

"Food is emotion to me" Oh dear, Dylan.

I bloody love a pavlova.