GBBO 2015

The Hill Billy

It's that time of year again folks! I thought I'd start a thread for the post-episode analysis.

Fire up your ovens!

foodaholic

I think I get hungrier every year watching it - had to settle for a frozen bounty bar as no BFG 🙈

The Hill Billy

Some interesting characters in the show this year.

I'd been hoping that Stu would get a run at it as he seemed somewhat unorthodox from the start, but he tried to be a bit too clever with his bakes. Dorret annoys me already. Ugne & Nadiya should be good for laughs.

On the cake side of things - Madeira was an interesting choice for the technical challenge as it is a fairly basic bake. The Black Forest Gateau was a cracker for the showstopper as it's my favourite cake. I would have been tasting by the fistful.

My top contenders so far - Marie, Nadiya, Flora & Tamal.

Mary is looking hot as ever.

frostyjacks

Flora seems to be the front runner so far judging by the Daily Mail. Was glad Stu went, looked a bit too dressed up for baking.

The Hill Billy

He must had been roasting in that hat.

Dizzyblonde

Stu just didn't seem to have enough basic knowledge of baking to back up all the fancy stuff. Dorret annoys me too, I don't know if it was just nerves but all the over-confident talk put me off.

I made the mistake of not having any cake in the house last night. That won't happen again

twignme

It seems that the winner's name has already been leaked, the bookies have suspended betting on the outcome. No spoilers on here please!

frostyjacks

They should have a live final to avoid that in the future

LizT

frostyjacks wrote: »

They should have a live final to avoid that in the future

I'm surprised they even take bets on it, given the fact that all the production team plus the winner's friends and family know already.

Interesting first episode, think there will be some good characters this year. Nice mix of ages as well.

The Hill Billy

The Hill Billy wrote: »

My top contenders so far - Marie, Nadiya, Flora & Tamal.

Well, well, well... Poor ol' Marie had a bit of a 'mare last night. Sorry to see her go, I think that she had real potential.

It was a funny one. Nobody really stood out last night - to me anyway.

Toto Wolfcastle

When I saw Marie's biscuits for the show stopper I thought she'd be in trouble. They were very basic.

Eeden

Is it going to be bread week this week?

Toto Wolfcastle

Yep. The showstopper is to build something out of bread.

Shiminay

Baguettes!

frostyjacks

That lion...wow. Impressive.

Toto Wolfcastle

I made baguettes today. They didn't looks like Paul's but they were delicious.

Dizzyblonde

Bread week is one of my favourites and I wasn't disappointed. The signature breads were fabulous, I'd love to have tasted them.
That lion was truly amazing, and it was no surprise that Dorret was the one to go. She'd been sailing close to the wind.

Toto Wolfcastle

Desserts week tonight. Is anyone making anything nice for it? I made this chocolate and caramel mousse. I ended up knocking over the bowl of unwhisked egg whites and I put too much water in the caramel (I'd be very entertaining in the tent!) but it tastes nice and it's definitely setting.

frostyjacks

Don't have much of a sweet tooth, but if I had to I'd make banoffee pie. Quick and easy, and I can pretend the bananas make it a little bit healthy. Paul has some job to top last weeks show stopper, he's set the bar very high for himself.

Dizzyblonde

That mousse looks good. Oh no @ the egg whites though -I bet there'll be a few nice messes in the tent tonight too

I won't get a chance to make anything in advance, I'll have to hit the chocolate if it all gets too much...

pwurple

Watched a bit of this last night... Crumbs but a wind torte was a new one on me. Quite a bit of faffery for an inside out pavlova!

The cheesecakes looked great though.

Dizzyblonde

I'd eat the windtorte but I wouldn't go to all that trouble to make one. I wouldn't mind having a go at making creme brulee after seeing it last night.

RacoonQueen

UPC didn't record this last week for me Sat down to watch it at the weekend and it wasn't there

aperocot

RacoonQueen wrote: »

UPC didn't record this last week for me Sat down to watch it at the weekend and it wasn't there

You were "free from" GBBO so. This week is "free from" week - I guess you're ahead of the crowd.

Gluten free, dairy free, and whatnot tomorrow!

JohnK

RacoonQueen wrote: »

UPC didn't record this last week for me Sat down to watch it at the weekend and it wasn't there

Yeah the UPC series link doesn't seem to be picking it up at all so I keep having to set mine to record each week; and not much use to you now but typically it's repeated on a Sunday afternoon.

Mrs Fox

RacoonQueen wrote: »

UPC didn't record this last week for me Sat down to watch it at the weekend and it wasn't there

This happened to me on week 3

RacoonQueen

JohnK wrote: »

Yeah the UPC series link doesn't seem to be picking it up at all so I keep having to set mine to record each week; and not much use to you now but typically it's repeated on a Sunday afternoon.

Mrs Fox wrote: »

This happened to me on week 3

Universal problem so. Managed to watch week 3 myself, must remember tomorrow to set it to record. I do a lot of gluten free baking so like free from weeks

Mrs Fox

Only got to watch 'free form' week recorded. Delighted for Nadiya. I really enjoy watching her facial expressions. Sorry to see Ugne go, she's got some brilliant exciting ideas, that might have not gone her way but not totally disastrous, I don't think.

Jellybaby1

The free-from was definitely a huge challenge. I don't think they have done that before. What a pitta they didn't go for a real gluten free bread instead of the pitta! I'm recording tonight's episode so I won't look in here until I catch up.

Dizzyblonde

Poor Alvin, he had to go. I'd have hated to see Nadija leave although she had a very bad week. It's impossible to tell who'll win it at this stage although Mat turned out to be a dark horse.

I can't wait for next week and the pies

Mrs Fox

I feel awful for Alvin. Constantly apologising every time he's being criticised.
I hope Tamal makes it all the way to the final. I really like him.

Faith

I can't handle the tension of this show. The nun things last night nearly sent me over the edge. I was sitting in the edge of the couch, totally frozen at one point!

I put my (metaphorical) money on Nadia winning at the start, so I'm hoping she gets it. I don't want Ian to win because I find him too smug.

I hate this time of year, when the bake off is nearly over and won't be back for a year

Jellybaby1

This is a great series and I am thoroughly enjoying it. The bakers on the whole are a nice bunch. I think if I were a betting person, I'd find it hard to choose between Tamal and Nadiya. Ian has been impressive but poor Mat and his Royal Icing! Hilarious but sad at the same time! Sorry to see Paul go and he took it on the chin, really nice guy. I'm also having a giggle at the Extra Slice series. What was with that Nun thing? Who invites a nun to a party?? Roll on next week.

Tarzana2

I have a feeling Tamal will win. I think he is the most consistent of the three. He maybe hasn't wowed as much as Ian and Nadiya (I'm not even entertaining the notion of Flora getting to the final, so unfair does it seem), but has had many very impressive bakes throughout the series and I think he'll wow at the right time.

Mrs Fox

Aaaaaaah, my top 3 finalist as expected. Roll on Wednesday!

frostyjacks

Ian was lucky to stay in ahead of Flora. His well was a nice bit of engineering, but not a lot of work compared to the carousel Flora made.

Not sure who I'd like to see win it, maybe Nadia.

RacoonQueen

I'm just glad we don't have to watch the final just hearing ''I'm sorry'' all the time. That's what drove me mad about Flora.

The Hill Billy

C'mon Nadiya!!!

DenMan

Congratulations Nadiya. Well done!

Mrs Fox

So so happy for Nadiya, she truly deserves it. Even Mary was near to tears.

The Hill Billy

I am delighted for her! For someone so apparently lacking self-confidence - she really kept it together & delivered the goods when needed.
I know it is only a baking competition - but that girl is an inspiration!

Jellybaby1

Well, I've been away and recorded the semi-final and the final. I watched the semi this morning and oh gosh the pressure! I was eating lunch in order to get some energy to watch the final this afternoon but for some reason I had the wrong radio station on and the flippin' presenter announced the winner. I was so upset. What station I had on I don't know but I wanted to strangle that female announcer!! Grrrr!! Anyway I've just watched the final, and got through it in floods of tears. Nadiya deserved to win. However if I had to choose between those final cakes I would not have chosen Nadiya's mainly because I didn't think there was enough filling and the two layers were different heights both of which would have been criticised by the judges earlier in the series. I would have chosen either of the other two cakes. What a great series! Is it getting too emotional? Flippin' yes! Can Mary cope with all the emotion next year? I don't know, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. Next year, I will be more careful which radio station I have on. Grrrrr!

Dizzyblonde

I posted here last night and it disappeared. Gremlins!

I'm delighted that Nadiya won, she so deserved to. There wasn't dry eye in our house.

JohnK

The Christmas Masterclass is on tomorrow night, Thursday 17th, at 9pm on BBC2 and it'll be repeated on the 21st.