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

I think Toby for Star Baker, Lesley leaving

Yes I’m sad but I think Lesley is for the high jump.

This (not very good) article says he chose a Baked Alaska for his wedding cake a few years later, so he obviously has a sense of humour about it.

Bake Off's Iain Watters' life 10 years after 'bin gate' Baked Alaska drama | Wales Online

Paul seems to like Tom so he’ll stay I think unfortunately.

Yay for Toby

Well done

😂😂

Jasmine is just too perfect, it's quite boring watching her.

I'm glad Aaron is still in, I like him Considering he almost left at the beginning he's doing really well.

I didn't attempt to follow along because the site wasn't working properly for me the last couple of days and I got fed up with it.

I enjoyed the episode more than I thought I would (as someone who is not that keen on meringue).

I can't criticise Jasmine for being too good, I like seeing her work. But all the bakers have improved so much as the weeks have gone by so she'll need to continue to be brilliant to win it.

I think it's a shame Lesley has gone but she didn't make a good meringue even once so it had to be her.

I'm happy to see a different person winning star baker and I thought Toby was brave to do his showstopper without lactose.

I like seeing a new Star Baker every week.

Jasmine is a great baker but it gets boring and starts to look like the competition is for second place. Has she ever had a bad week where she was even discussed as being near the bottom? I can only remember her being in star baker discussions.

She was only "safe" in week 1 but has been a favourite every week since. Tom started well but hasn't quite sustained it, though he's been saved by his showstopper a few times. The others have all been in danger at least once. Hard to say who will go over the next two weeks. I really want Aaron to stay but he could easily go out on a bad week.

I am in awe of Jasmine's skill and precision. Given she has several times said she only learned a skill that week, she is obviously talented, precise and hyper focused. But I was very glad Toby won this week.

No, I can't recall Jasmine having a bad week. But what a fantastic achievement for her.

There isn't a 2nd place! In the final they announce a winner but they don't rank 2nd and 3rd place.

@GetSetFake I'm in awe of your spreadsheet skills. That is as beautiful as a fabulous bake!

Not me, Wikipedia! I'm obsessed, but not that obsessed!

I love Toby and so pleased he finally got star baker
im still convinced there's some cunning editing going on and the winner will be unexpected
but I'm team Toby for the win

@GetSetFake am impressed with your record keeping! Iain is the only one left without a SB and the most LOWs - he must be low in the odds for making it to the final.
I want Aaron to go all the way, I’d like to see him win. Its hard to see anyone beating Jasmine at this stage.

As I said, not my record keeping, it's on the Series 16 Wikipedia page. Though I have to confess, when we were all saying Lesley had been robbed of Star Baker last week and I rewatched it and realised she'd been weaker than I remembered up to the Showstopper, it did occur to me that you could make a little chart to record the feedback for the first two challenges. Maybe next week!!

Aaron to win.
Or Toby
Unfortunately I doubt that Iain will go all the way.
Possibly Danish granny will make another appearance

She will appear as a life size model in the final, constructed from multi tiered cakes with blue and green coloured layers for the clothes.

Aaron is my favourite of the bakers left but I’m not sure he has the confidence to win. Tom and Jasmine both seem to be staggeringly confident which must help hugely in a pressured competition.

I watched it late last night (it was Quiz night on BBC2).

Was glad to see Toby taking dangerously but excelling. Jasmine is just amazing and good to see others challenging her.

Iain is driving me nuts. I find his constant trying to be funny irritating.

Sad to see Lesley go. It was the right decision but I liked her and she did some really good bakes.

Tom seemed like golden boy in the 1st two weeks and struggling more now.

A lot of them did the meringues you just blow torch at the end. I've always done closely baked, crispy ones with a slightly chewy middle. The soft sort looks revolting to me.

Isn’t it due to the time required? I have very limited experience of making good meringues (the type you describe) but they took at least 1.5 hours in the oven plus slow cooling. Would that be practical in the signature or technical tests?
I thought it was an odd choice of theme due to the time I’ve had the oven on but I’m not a meringueista!

I think you're right. Did Jasmine do little meringue kisses on her signature tarts? Those would work better in a short time than a larger meringue.

Given what she's said about having big gaps in her baking knowledge, I'm wondering if she has someone very good advising her. Or maybe she just has an excellent instinct for recipes which are uncomplicated and possible to make flawlessly in the time.

Sophie, a previous winner, was engaged to a chef and a few distinctly cheffy touches crept in, including tempering her chocolate on a marble slab and using a pouch of green apple puree. But also, like Jasmine, had a very calm and methodical approach which helped her stay unflappable.

Glad to see Toby get Star Baker. Jasmine is very good, calm and seemingly unflappable but oh my God I just want to see someone else do well.

Sad to see Lesley go. Me and DH were rooting for her as fellow Kent residents, but she really didn't have a good week. All I could think this week was that I nearly bought the blue dress she was wearing (it's Primark) and how I wished I had. Yes shallow I know.

I was disappointed for Lesley but props to her for actually managing to get a showstopper done when she had to redo the meringue (possibly twice?)
Sometimes Paul is very scathing about how messy the ones that go wrong are, but he and Pru were very complimentary about it.

I thought Tobys showstopper sounded great, I wanted to try it.