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

I think Georgie is so pretty. And can bake too, I'm jealous! Shame I don't share her hatred for raisins in cakes 🐷

I don't think he does know he's smashed it at that point. What he's produced is not what he hoped for so he is disappointed in himself. But it's hard to warm to the OTT devastation when it's not going well and the OTT triumph when he succeeds. The footballer leap when the meringues came out was such a contrast to the kicked puppy earlier in the programme.

I've said before he is clearly very focused and ambitious. He's said he wants a restaurant out of it and he is very photogenic so could have a media career if he does well - or even if he doesn't, Liam didn't get to the final stages.

Sometimes it's hard to warm to the ones who want it so desperately - Sandro was the same, and Ruby Tandoh had a very similar vibe. I think a lot of us prefer an underdog who grows in confidence over the series (e.g.Nadia) and the naked ambition is slightly at odds with the Bake Off culture .

But - it takes a huge amount of work and focus for most people to get on the programme - and Dylan has clearly worked his socks off. He does desperately want to win, and I think he may well do that.

Oh..I got hand shake, win technical and star baker all in one show? smirk Well, it's ok, but I could have done better and you know it wasn't even like it was any good any if it

So Alison not Ilyin!

Never have we had so many dramatic falls in one series. In fact I'm struggling to remember any dramatic falls in past series.

There has been a distinct lack of bake breakage this season though.
Most years at least one showstopper hits the floor and someone has a disaster with the kitchenaid.

@GetSetFake yes, Dylan reminds me very much of Sandro.

Why on earth was she on the worktop in the first place?

Ahem. I thought so.

Agreed! Nothing against the lad, but he's my least favourite too. I'd like to see Christiaan out too.

I’m not a fan of Dylan but he’s very talented and has such original ideas. He’s just very intense!

I thought Sumaya was great, so artistic and skilled. Fantastic to have those skills and the confidence to go on tv at that age.

I want Gill or Georgie to win!

Dylan is very talented I hope he wins. What’s wrong with desperately wanting to win? It is a competition after all.
Andy was my favourite overall.

Ready for tonight!

We are now at the point where it's a shame if anyone goes, as they're all great.

I want Christiaan to go next, because I like the others more and his accent(s) kill me!

I would love Gill and Georgie to be in the final
not fussed who else to be honest
I like them all although Christiaan's accent thing bemuses me.

I miss Sumayah :(

70s Week? What do we think that might involve?

I can think of lots of classic 70s cakes, but they are still classics and people still make them.

Black Forest Gâteau and Pineapple Upside Down Cake come to mind. Flicking through our very well used 1974 Bero Cookbook, there are some very retro strawberry boat tarts using packet jelly and rice paper sails, a harlequin gâteau with multicoloured buttercream and sprinkles on the sides, a strawberry tart with a sponge flan ring and more packet jelly, and yes, a stunning pineapple upside down cake.

But pretty much everything else would be at home in a modern cookbook. I think it's going to be tricky for them to guess what the technical might be? Maybe Vol au Vents?

The 70s cookbooks in my possession have a lot of aspic in them. My main memories along with the pineapple upside down cake are butterfly cakes, angel cake and pink blancmange rabbits in green jelly. And mousse made with whisked evaporated milk mixed with jelly.

My granny used to make that mousse.

I've never seen a blancmange rabbit in real life but I'd love to!

I remember making fruit flan in Home Economics!!

I still have nightmares about bunny shaped blancmange at birthday parties.

I do remember marshmallow with rice paper faces and ice cream cone heads fondly though.

I’d have eaten the whole rabbit myself. I was that strange child that loved blancmange. I wonder if you can still buy the packets.

Dylan helping Christian felt genuine and heart warming.

The changing accent every third word is still utterly fascinating.

I have not been able to type, I've been too busy drooling at all the lovely flavours....

Ooooo I love banoffee pie

I didn't hear of banoffee until the 90s.