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

Jasmine is really very good.
Tom needs to be a bit more safe next week. Id eat most things but the black cheesecake didn't appeal at all.

What spoils the programme for me is the banal humour that isn’t humorous.

Pretty much been a feature since the programme started. I guess you always have the option of watching a straight cooking programme but they can be very dull.

I like the humorous banter, Alison really makes me laugh.

I love Alison I think she's really warm and engages well with the bakers. Matt and Noel were a poor combination and it felt neither was very interested in food, baking or the bakers themselves

I thought Tom was very funny yesterday when he said he couldn't multitask because of his hair! 🤣

I like the banter between the bakers and presenters - it always appears good natured with fondness, giving the impression its a jolly supportive tent.

It does. She is a great baker.

Same jokes about plums and quickies not necessary

Jasmine never puts a foot wrong, despite production trying to insert some level of jeopardy. Last night was episode 8 of 10, and she won her 4th Star Baker 🌟 - can anyone really see someone other than Jasmine winning? I can't.

I’m in awe at the wonders the contestants bake. Stunning stuff last night.
is there anywhere you can get photos of the episodes bakes ?

Every year DH suggests i should enter because I can make the occassional decent dessert (pavlova, cheesecake etc) or cakes, but i haven't the faintest idea about at least half the stuff they make on bake off. Ive never even successfully made custard!
Most of my baking errors I attribute to not having a glass oven door so I cant see when it's gone horribly wrong nearly ready!
I was a bit sceptical about the idea of a self supported trifle, yesterday and im not entirely convinced it wasnt really a cake! (Im sure there is a similar challenge where they make a layered cake that has to have a mousse in it)

Those trifles did nothing for me! I can just about tolerate a Birds trifle but the idea of extra gelatine - Ych a fi.

I've really struggled with Tom since the episode (a couple of weeks ago?) where he quoted 'strong and stable' and said, obviously completely sincerely 'Thereas May - wasn't that a great time for the country?!'

No, Tom, no it wasn't. Piss off.

I do find him smug, and to me he has the attitude of someone who has always been praised for what he does, so he lacks that crucial ability to think 'wait, does it actually look a bit shit with black/red food colouring in?' Whereas, yes, Jasmine was a tiny bit on the over-classic side this week, but it was beautiful and beautifully done, and I reckon she'd gain confidence to do her own thing more if she won.

Aaron is the one who's really grown on me. I didn't love him at first and thought he came across a bit silly/affected. But he seems to have calmed down and I love the sound of his flavours.

Yes, they had to do a layered mousse cake in 2022. This was my go at it, I can't remember what theirs were like. Not a million miles away from a free standing trifle.

I don't think there's as much of that as there used to be - thank goodness. The 'soggy bottom' type remarks are tiresome but generally I do think it's improved.

@GetSetFake that looks absolutely delicious 😋

Everyone said that about Jurgen a couple of years ago and then he had a nightmare week and got sent home in the semifinal. Don’t forget that it’s already happened and they know who the winner is so they can edit it how they want to make us think someone is/isn’t going to win.

Having said that Jasmine has clearly been the most consistently good baker and therefore probably should win, but one bad week is all it takes on Bake Off.

When there's an obvious a frontrunner, somehow they almost always seem to have a nightmare in the final. There was (Richard? - builder) the year Nancy won, for instance.

That looks amazing and I wouldn't have a scooby how to even start that... DH is quite deluded (he wouldn't know where to start making a sponge cake so he doesnt notice that bake off is several levels above what I make at home! 😄)

Agree with really good bakers sometimes having a wobble ...or an absolute disaster - Dylan (last year?) had a shocker in the semi final/final and several years ago there was a young contestant called Steph iirc who had been amazing and then completely went to pieces in the semi final

Jasmine doesn't seem like a panicker so far. But we haven't seen her reaction to failure yet, as she hasn't failed at anything. I guess it's possible she might move away from her "keep it simple, do it perfectly" strategy and find herself out of her depth. Otherwise, I think the only way she can lose is for someone else to raise their game to produce something complex, creative, delicious and also perfectly executed. Not impossible but Tom, Toby or Aaron would have to really up their game over the final two weeks.

Agree she looks virtually unflappable

There's people I know in real life who could do a great job on the show with their specialism, bread or cake, etc. But I don't know anyone who would be good at all or even most of the categories of baking they cover on the show.

Except if you're an identified favourite like Rahul, who had a mare in the semi final and final yet had already been crowded as the favourite so wasn't sent home. Yes that was seven years ago, and no, I'm not over it 😞

My favourite is Toby but I fully expect Jasmine to win

Has anyone else been to the recording of The Extra Slice? Or going to the last 2?

I’m going for the third time, and this time I’m at the last episode and will get to see the Final of GGBO before it is aired. Can’t wait!