The Bake Is Back - the countdown to Great British Bake Off 2026 starts here

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Trailer for the new series just dropped - no transmission date yet though.

Anyone else excited to see how Nigella gets on as the new judge? A worthy successor to Pru and Mary, I think.

Yes, Nigella is kind of throwing things into her mouth sideways - it’s odd. Still, she gives good feedback. Mary Berry still my favourite though closely followed by Prue.

I think Nigella has veneers/crowns on her front two top teeth, hence she doesn’t want to bite with them as they can come off easily. So is eating at the side to protect them.

I agree, I don't think she was going to get better at baking on the show, but maybe she will at home with more practice - I hope she's inspired rather than put off by it.

A person calling themselves 'they' but a cake 'she' was one of my 'God, I'm old' moments... I think they knew she was a bit marmite and put her in as a sort of early-series character, knowing she was never going to win.

But she seems relentlessly positive, and it was touching to hear her blurt at the end something like 'See? I can make friends!' I hope this makes her more. 🤗

Is it bake off or personality off?

I think Tom won star baker due to his flavours and textures, which I think should always be worth more than how something looks.

But they said that Connie's had good flavours and textures, and she actually managed to finish hers. I agree that if that is all that matters, they may as well all ignore the brief from now on and concentrate on producing standard cakes, bread etc with superb textures that taste wonderful.

On the plus side, I was glad to see that they didn't impose some pointless biscuit house/shop/scenery task. It bores me rigid when it's more about construction than cooking skills.

I really am enjoying it. But I have been obsessed with the programme since series 1 and stuck with it even through the couple of series where PH was in a total grump and positively unpleasant to the bakers, and Matt Lucas had no interest in the bakers or baking. I think since Alison came it's been a warmer show, and I am very much enjoying Nigella gently taking Paul down a peg or two. I've had a go at some of the challenges from week 1 and enjoyed them immensely.

Of course there is diversity casting and C4 have an agenda about younger bakers. I'm absolutely in the demographic they have least interest in. But I have the greatest respect for the courage of the contestants, and I think we have no idea what they are going through if we haven't done it. My sister auditioned once and was totally overwhelmed by it, which none of us would have seen coming. It's high stakes, high pressure baking and if you get on, in front of an audience of millions.

So I start out with a basically positive attitude to the bakers. If there is one who gets on my nerves, it's normally a try hard one with a bit of an entitled attitude. And I always come round to liking them all by about half way through, so I get to the point I don't want anyone to go.

I appreciate others may not share the same level of obsession though...

I have just watched the show and I’m going to post my comments before I read anyone else’s so it’s a total unbiased/unswayed view.

To be honest I feel a bit baffled.

Firstly, I loved the episode and I loved all the contestants this week. Nobody annoyed me and it all felt much more mellow and relaxed compared to last week.

But I I don’t think Tom deserved Star Baker and I feel sad that Danni went. She came across as so lovely in this episode but I suppose it is to her detriment that she can’t taste what she’s cooking as that must have an impact and unfortunately it has led to her demise. I will miss her bubbly character in the coming weeks though.

I was disappointed with “Play it safe” Gary this week. I don’t think his approach will keep in the tent for much longer as sometimes you have to take a few risks to keep yourself and your bakes interesting.

There was a LOT of talking about Nans in the episode wasn’t there 😬

And as for Mo….. he’s a total enigma isn’t he?! Last week it was his ginger cat, and this week it was his born again parrot…. It’s hilarious. I can’t wait to see what animal anecdote we get next week 😂

The technical has gone a bit weird, though, hasn’t it? No recipes, even partial ones, just pictures/diagrams or samples to copy? Would they have pre-warned the contestants of this new development? I’d have lain down on the floor and cried if confronted with an iced gem to reproduce. Is it considered bad form to just copy the person on the nearest bench? Or to shout ‘Tom/Connie/Gary, how much sugar are you putting in the shortbread?’

I know they specifically cast for calm under stress, and an ability to remain likeable and articulate when being interrupted with questions in close up when they’re in the middle of trying a choux pastry again after the first effort tanked, but I’m always endlessly impressed by their good humour.

I’d be more ‘Ian from Bingate’ levels of ire from the moment I first started cracking an egg.😃

But it’s only a showstopper if the bake is brilliant as well. I do agree they need to show some creativity… (I had reservations about Georgie last year for this reason) but the absolute ultimate has got to be does it taste good.

Two DeadNans and one DeadGoat; plus one AlmostDeadParrot. I think the presenting line-up now really works well. Paul and Nigella really work well together; he seems less uptight around her and more genial. Enjoyed last night's episode. Not surprised that Danni went, but she was magnanimous in her defeat and had some lovely things to say about friends made.

I really liked Nikki. Hope she does well. Mo was funny when he talked about resurrecting his parrot with a hairdryer, but there still seems an innate sadness within him. I'm glad Connie was able to get past her unfortunate cookies.

Loved the Iced Gems. I used to meet up with friends to play Mafia (the game that is basically The Traitors); our host used to ask that we all bring multipacks of Iced Gems and the victor won the sugary spoils. Brilliant.

I think Second Helpings really found its feet this week. Enjoyed it much more

Oh, what had changed? I watched about half of the first week's episode, but thought it was weirdly low-energy and didn't seem to know what it was for...?

At least An Extra Slice, while it had its issues, was upfront about its format -- interview with departing baker, audience members with cakes, disastrous cake photos etc.

On the Bake Down podcast, Howard and Jane said that in their day, they weren't allowed to even look at the others during technicals and certainly weren't allowed to help each other. But they also weren't allowed to use pre made cutters or fondant, so the rules have definitely got a little laxer over time in some ways.

They have had a few surprises in the technicals over the last couple of series. Initially I thought the Coffee and Walnut cake was diabolical for week 1 but when you looked closely it was basically know how to make a Victoria Sponge and basic buttercream, which really anyone getting onto Bake Off should know. I think this week's was harder, I wouldn't be sure of the ratio for shortbread.

"Ian from Bingate ire..." 😂

I haven't been watching this series after watching every other past one. Why? I am up to here with contestants "identity" being centred for their "specialness" rather than the baking. I watched Sewing Bee again recently and worry that identity will overcome sewing as the central theme.

Sorry, meant to add that I will watch through this thread .

I was pleased to see Danni was way more comfortable in the tent this week and I agree that she was the correct person to have to leave this week.

Danni seemed lovely, a very unique soul, and despite being part of a neurodivergent family I
learned a lot from her ❤️

Shannon really reminded me of someone all last week, and I realised it's Jessica Knappett (I know they have different physiques). It's the face shape, nose and slightly the expressions.

I caught up! There was a bit yesterday where Noel said to Danni ‘you’re not like anyone else and that’s why you’re great’ that really made me tear up unexpectedly. It was so sweet to see someone who obviously struggles in lots of ways get such a lovely lovely comment.

I think she was the right one to go, but I really hope she got a boost from it all.

@AlphabetBird yes. That bit was rather lovely. And I noticed that Nigel’s was celebrating to get it right with Danni.

I wonder if al this year's technicals will be recipeless....

In an ideal world it should look and taste amazing, but it doesn't seem to happen often. I remember Frances a few years ago making the most beautiful cakes but they were always let down on taste, or lack of. I think the judges will get stricter as the weeks go by and they can see just what people are capable of

I completely agree re the technical challenges. There are things they are allowed to do now they were never allowed years ago. I assume that's the trade off for the no recipe whatsoever.

I wonder how many re-takes there are due to swearing when someone takes out their biscuits or cakes and they are burnt? They are times when I’d certainly blow my cool when interrupted to say “you know time is tight”. And if either Amanda or Neil touch the equipment or worse the actual food,

Just caught up with last night's episode. I never despised Prue but I'm loving the quality of judging coming from Nigella. It's a breath of fresh air to actually hear comments with substance. I did find Prue tended to stick to "well I really like that, it's delicious" and at times I thought she made comments that were no more expert than I could make. She just seemed to mostly say it tasted nice or not and especially loved it if it was packed with booze. Paul still got a few comments in but it's nice to hear a bit more from his fellow judge like in the Mary days. It'll be interesting to see what Nigella says in bread week and whether Paul agrees!

I was also surprised by the choice of star baker (Tom I think), but Nigella had moments earlier in the judging room, declared that his biscuits were the best, so it crossed my mind that maybe there was a robust debate that Nigella won. The edit did suggest he didn't deserve it as much, so I can only assume they cut out several minutes of Nigella's praise in favour of the rather mean "did you drop it?" question from Paul. 😂

I think Danni was the right choice for leaving as her bakes went a bit wrong both weeks. There's a couple of others not too far behind but no one standing out clearly in the lead yet. Too early to say. I sometimes wonder if there's a bit of chaos in the tent, it starts to be catching as the mood, energy and confidence across the group becomes more tense. Maybe that's why some years, everyone seems to be doing great or everyone seems to be slightly on edge. Someone dropping their cake or freaking out next to me, might make me feel nervous as well.

Anyway, enjoying it so far this year.

Just caught up, still love it.

Definitely something with Nigella’s teeth, but I still really like her.

Oh Danni, bless her.