Where There's Cake, There's Hope...Bake Off 25

[GetSetFake]

The new series starts on Tuesday 2nd September and the bakers have been named. A few weeks earlier than recent seasons, so taking us nicely from late summer through to the cosiness of autumn.

No change to the team of Paul, Prue, Noel and Alison, which I thought worked well last year - it was a warmer and kinder programme than it has been for a few years.

The usual eclectic mix of contestants, but less of an age spread than some years - a lot of 30 somethings, no-one under 20 or over 60.

Anyone else excited for this season?

The Great British Bake Off confirms return date for season 16 and reveals cast | Radio Times

Sandi was bearable her first season but clearly uninterested.

Alison is wrong for the dog programme (although she has improved), bu t perfect for Bakeoff.

I know, the mind boggles. I think they did want a name, and were possibly also going for the surprise/novelty angle of having someone who is generally seen as a bit intellectual.
As I said earlier, her comments about the show reveal that she's not particularly intelligent in her thinking about how TV works and how the Bake Off, specifically, works. Either that or she understands it perfectly well and she's just trying to make herself seem superior. Which has the opposite effect and just makes her come across as very unlikable.

Edited: typos

Absolutely. It was like Gerald Ratner announcing all that their products were shit. It shows contempt for the consumer that actually pays your wages. There was just no need for it.

First time in years I'll actually get to watch. Excited.

Oh I hadn't realised it was tonight! Brilliant, checking in!

Oh very excited!

It will overlap the Bee by 30 minutes but Bake Off always trumps Bee for me.

Love that in the profile of the contestants there is a comment from Iain from Belfast that he hopes to rewrite the Bake Off legacy of Iain from Belfast. Gosh, Baked Alaska-gate is such a long time ago now.

That came up in my FB memories a couple days ago!!

Excited for this. Need to get in some baked goods before 8pm 😀

Looking forward to it 🥰

I've had a miserable day.. didn't realise it was tonight and feel so much better!!

I had a shift day and also didn't know it was today. Hope i stay awake. I do wish it aired at 8pm

Oh maybe it is 8pm..... off to check

Definitely 8pm.

I've just looked at the contestants and think there are 6 men and 6 women (although I might be wrong). I can see that they try to balance the sexes, but IRL I know only one man who bakes, yet most of the women I know do. Is this an age-related thing? I'm over 60 so wonder if young men are more into baking now. My DSs definitely aren't even though I encouraged them when they were young.

It's always been half men, half women and as diverse as they can make it from the very first series.

In the early series, there were often a few much weaker men obviously there to make up the numbers. But that changed quite quickly and there have been many very talented male bakers.

Yes - but I wanted to know if that reflected people's experience in real life. Do you know as many men who bake as the number of women? I'm just curious if times have changed and more men are interested in baking now. I grew up in the time when girls did cookery at school and the boys did woodwork. Boys weren't expected to bake (or sew). It would be nice to know that things have changed.

Sorry @LillyPJ I didn't read your post properly. I do know quite a few men that bake, including some in their 60s, but not as many as women. I suspect the numbers on the show don't reflect the numbers applying at all.

What do other posters think?

Really interesting article here with some new background info. Including that they think it's becoming a younger person's game because older bakers often run out of stamina. That'll have been Jeff and Nancy last year then.😪
16 secrets I discovered about Bake Off after visiting the tent

Eeeekk it’s almost time

Sat and ready 🙂

Settling in with my banana and walnut loaf,baked this afternoon.

So am I, but I doubt I will add whilst watching as I am too slow typing and watching.

Is this Jurassic Park skit really necessary?

Prue suits that beard!

Oh get on with it ffs!