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 love Alison too, she really makes me laugh.
I think she really sets the bakers at ease, which I'm sure it's needed at times!

Thanks for the lecture. Do you want a thread with just positive comments or would you welcome a diverse range of opinions

If I went to a lecture and it was like my last post I'd be on to Trades Descriptions.
I can only repeat myself:

• light-hearted thread
• different posters like different people (come to think of it, does that not count as 'diverse opinions?')

I realise you're worried about the nation's kids immediately rushing to copy Alison and climbing on the worktops, but worse things happen at sea, eh. Have a cuppa and some

*I must remember family fun means climbing onto a worktop because in my70 years I have never ever seen the need to do so. But then I am not an attention seeking, fake idiot. There is nothing genuine about her, even her laugh is fake

I am sure everyone will think it hilarious when their child copies her and climbs onto the worktop.

There is lighthearted and there is showing off to get attention. Mel and Sue never saw the need to do that nor did Sandi.*

Wow, you sound fun.

Also, Mel and Sue often joked around, there was an occasion of them chasing one another around the tent battling over who got to eat chocolate mousse. Another moment where sue was chattering away to a contestant and distracted her to the point she wrote the wrong thing on the cake; a squished bake from Sue's elbow and the two of them along with Mary snarfing down someone's leftovers while they were still baking.

It's light hearted and fun. I imagine during 12 hours of filming it's needed.

I am fun, just not a show off.

Yes it should be a fun lighthearted show and with Mel and Sue and Sandi it was.

But then I am not an attention seeking, fake idiot

Of course express your preferences but is the name-calling really necessary?

@mydogisthebest

As it is with Alison. I actually thought Sandi was terrible and I wasn't overly keen on Sue. I did like Mel a lot, she was probably my favourite of all presenters.

The fall from Alison would have been 5 minutes out of 12 hours, it was funny, so the producers included it. That's it.

I like Alison, wasn't sure how she'd be but I think she gets a lot of unnecessary negative comments.

I think her and Noel are better than Sandi or Matt and Noel, they are much less serious. I also think Prue and Paul have relaxed a bit. The four of them seem to want to keep it light.

Slightly to my surprise, I'm finding that Alison is my favourite presenter so far.

Thank you very much for the clarification. I am sure not many people realised this was a light hearted thread. I wonder if, when anyone disagrees with you, you always accuse them of pulling a cat’s bum face.Name calling is not really in the spirit of Mumsnet or a good way to keep this thread lighthearted.

Thank you also for giving me something else to worry about. The thought of the Nation’s children climbing on to work surfaces and hurting themselves had never occurred to me before. Now you have explained to me what I think, I feel I must take action. Probably I start by banning Alison Hammond from my kitchen, then see how it goes from there.

👀

Coffee and walnut and a nice Earl Grey, anyone?

Black Forest and a cup of chai for me please!

Yes please, my two favourites. Not too much milk in tea please and don’t spare on the cake.

We're kindred spirits!
Do you find it hard to find a coffee and walnut in a bakery these days? I wonder if it's considered a bit old-fashioned. I have a few bakeries near me but they never have it.

Black Forest is my other favourite.

Did anyone see Sumaya on Extra Slice? She seemed very young (which she is) and I was very impressed when they showed some of her best creations. I hadn’t watched some of the early episodes and I must say I was amazed by her artistry - probably up there with the best the show has seen.

Didn't she do the duck? That looked great.

I think she did. In honour of her pet?

I love, love, love Coffee and Walnut cake 😋
The only place I can find it these days (at least find it easily) is in Tesco.
Oh to have a real 70s version...... with a cup of scalding hot tea ☕️ 🥰😁

Is the Tesco one any good?
I have several more artisan-type bakeries in my neighbourhood, lovely, but a c&w wasteland. Wonder if I could persuade one of them to make or order in some as a trial? I can't be the only one in my corner of London who would buy it!

M&S have a Coffee and Walnut I think. I'm no fan (another cake im dissing - honestly I do like cake!!) but I'm sure the last one being offered at work was from M&S.

I’ve been thinking of making a BF gateau after watching GBBO. Never done one but it can’t be that hard 🤨

Don’t like coffee so won’t try a c & w cake but if you fancy having a go here’s a recipe!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coffee-walnut-cake

It's ok, satisfies a C&W craving every once in a while. I'm in Ireland, not sure it's available everywhere.
I see another poster has suggested M&S, there isn't one close to me but I must remember that when I'm near one.

The Co-op do one. I bought it when it was yellow stickered last year and enjoyed it very much. Also liked the M&S one.