Great British Bake Off 2025

HeidiHeidi · 30-01-2025 12:20PM #1

This popped up on my FB today - the line-up for the SUTC 2025 series, with the headline that Prue Leith has stepped back from the specials (sounds like she'll still be doing the regular series).

Celebs to include Chris and Rosie Ramsey competing against each other, which should be fun! And Tommy Tiernan.

Something to look forward to!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/33075456/prue-leith-replaced-bake-off-celeb-lineup-revealed/

ednwireland · 02-09-2025 08:05PM

And it's back yaaaay

And Pru is still there phew

Mr.CoolGuy · 04-09-2025 02:31PM

After watching the first episode, the person who went home dug their own grave when they showed Paul that they weren't going to put in the effort

You've just had a terrible first two challenges, and then when asked if you've practiced your showstopper you reply with "I have-ish". You may as well have a big sign around your next saying "Couldn't give a f***"

miamee · 12-09-2025 11:33AM

I've only watched the first episode, I think I have one more to catch up on. Thankfully no spoilers in here! I thought the tasks for week one were tough enough, I don't remember if they always just jump in at the deep end, do they? Those swiss rolls seemed like a tricky start to the day but most of them did really well. I'll try and watch ep 2 today or over the weekend.

miamee · 12-09-2025 11:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123785233#Comment_123785233

Yes I think you could be right there, that and there swiss roll mush in the first challenge was desperate looking

HeidiHeidi · 12-09-2025 11:54AM

I'd meant to post when I watched Ep 1 - that fella who rescued the sliding mess of chocolate cake in the showstopper did some recovery job!

The fella who went I agree had a very lacksadaisical attitude compared to some (who are borderline neurotic at times!)

Some of the patterned swiss rolls were amazing - talk about visual impact! The Belfast skyscape and tartan really stick in my mind (and I've a memory like a goldfish for these programmes). The girl who drafted a picture of her own hand holding flowers is clearly a contender on the decoration front, it didn't particularly translate in the sponge that week, but I'm looking forward to seeing her decoration as the weeks go on.

This week's technical was a bit of a shocker - did anyone actually produce a full batch of decent-looking biscuits???

Hannibal_Smith · 30-09-2025 08:13PM

Wow. Those coffee cups are amazing!!

Mr.CoolGuy · 01-10-2025 04:15PM

Anyone know what the ratings are like for this show now?

They haven't changed anything in years, and every episode is the exact same. Even the contestants just seem like carbon copies of each other. Eg every season has one foreign lady, one middle aged man who doesn't care and gets kicked off in episode 2, one heavily-accented person from Wales/NI/Scotland etc.

I am so surprised they've not changed the format even a little bit. I can't be the only one who struggles now to look forward to an episode

siblers · 01-10-2025 11:40PM

They're a nice bunch but it's all quite boring. Although the change to the technical was pretty interesting this week

miamee · 07-10-2025 05:21PM

I've only just caught up on last week's episode. Some of the star bakes were really cool, they did well! I fully expected Toby or Nadia to go earlier in the episode, everyone else had a pretty good week.

miamee · 08-10-2025 03:57PM

And now I have just caught up on last night's episode - it was a tough call for the judges, there were a few contenders who were not terrible but had a bad week. Delighted for Jasmine getting the star baker again, she really seems to come up trumps every time and I'd put money on her being in the final.

GAAcailin · 09-10-2025 04:47AM

Jasmine seems to nail it every time. Am loving it this year, very talented bunch.

Those meatloaf creations were serious amount of work, didn’t look very appetising

miamee · 09-10-2025 09:27AM

No they really didn't look like anything I'd want to taste, the meat was very pink in all of them. Normally I'd love a taste of most things on it 😂

Badly Drunk Boy · 09-10-2025 10:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123890379#Comment_123890379

The meat was bad enough, but then to have eggs all the way through it? 🤢 🤮

miamee · 16-10-2025 11:24AM

The meringue week was a bit more appetising than the gala pies 😁 I enjoyed that episode, I know meringues are supposed to be super simple (according to my gran) but this episode made me think otherwise. Not surprised to see Lesley go home, she unfortunately did not have a great week but at least her showstopper was received relatively well so it wasn't too much of a downer.

I was laughing at Iain and his homage to the other Ian from Belfast, lol

miamee · 30-10-2025 03:46PM

The Bake Off threads used to be fairly busy, is no one really watching it any more? I still enjoy it but I don't have the channels and just watch on the Channel 4 player some time after it has aired so I end up posting here days afterwards. This was the first week that I was shocked by who they sent home! I was sure it was going to be Tom or Aaron after a not very good week for either of them, though Toby also had a not very good week. Last episode coming up soon!

freshpopcorn · 05-11-2025 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123948977#Comment_123948977

I used love this but I lost interest in the program.

Originally I found it was full of people who were good home bakers.

Now I find it's full of people who just practice, practice, practice things to get on the TV and I don't think they love baking.

Penn · 05-11-2025 12:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123964227#Comment_123964227

Have to agree. That and the level of complexity in the technicals and showstoppers have gone way the f*ck too far that it feels like actual baking ability is a secondary or tertiary factor compared to knowledge of engineering to make a scone travel down a tightrope, or the technicals where they have to figure out how to make a "Flagermountissiere" which is a waffle from the Renaissance or something, but also make it vegan because it's vegan week (not to mention the standard cut to one of the contestants reading the instructions and loudly proclaiming "It doesn't say how long to bake it for!" as if that's not been a factor in every single technical which has ever happened on the show).

It's just gotten repetitive and overly complex to the point that I haven't bothered with it this year, and would struggle to remember anything or anyone from the 2-3 years before that.

HeidiHeidi · 05-11-2025 01:22PM

I watched it through - I get completely caught up and invested in the personalities, so once I start I have to finish it!

But agree wholeheartedly, all these reality "skill" shows get tired formulaic after a few years - contestants know what they're signing up for and have it rehearsed to death (despite the occasional "what actually IS a dessert" comments for camera 🙄) - at this stage I could nearly quote you the lines from Masterchef segments.

Thankfully both it and Strictly are getting a shake-up in presenters so that might freshen them up a bit.

I see Tom Daley is hosting a knitting show, I'm going to try and catch up on that - love him, and it'll be a novelty for a while, hopefully.

As for last night, I really thought Tom's showstopper would win it for him! Poor Aaron, his face when he realised that he'd just 100% blown it was a sight to behold, I really felt for him.

I suppose they just couldn't ignore Jasmine's amazing record throughout the series, she was a very deserving winner. But I thought Tom shaded it on the night.

TheIrishGrover · 05-11-2025 01:36PM

I'm not into reality TV at all. But I must admit, I do enjoy this and Gogglebox. But it really does depend on the contenstants and presenters.

For GBBO especially as the contestants are different each year. Some years they are fun and create interesting things. Other years they are a bit dull. I found this year's group to be a bit dull. Most quite push.

I did like some of the minor tweaks they made over the last couple of years and there could be more. Like not giving them instructions at all for one technical. Just ingredients and a sample to taste.

Yes, these things are edited and phrased for tension and to a strict formula but still pleasant TV. Plus, Hammond and Fielding are great fun.

Mr.CoolGuy · 05-11-2025 11:29PM

Has any previous contestants expanded more on the technical?

It seems that they have to be given a lot more information than they pretend they are. Half the time they all start by saying they've never heard of it, yet everytime by the end they've put out slightly **** carbon copies of the one Prue and Paul taste at the beginning. Even when the decoration is random, the contestants always seem to match it nearly exactly.

Do producers show them the finished product or drip feed them clues that get edited out?

miamee · 09-11-2025 10:29AM

I'm fairly sure if it's to be decorated a certain way, that is in the instructions. Some of them do misinterpret or misunderstand the instructions and you end up with an odd one.

Finished watching the final, think it was tight between Jasmine and Tom but Aaron was never going to win overall imo. Tom had a few bad weeks too but Jasmine has been consistently good throughout and deserved to win.

Badly Drunk Boy · 12-11-2025 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123964426#Comment_123964426

Tom didn't deserve to win, even if his final showstopper was a bit better. In the first bake of the final, he used citric acid instead of salt. That's fairly poor!

freshpopcorn · 20-11-2025 01:25AM

Christmas!

Mr.CoolGuy · 20-11-2025 09:33AM

No Robert Webb? they really jezzed that up

HeidiHeidi · 20-11-2025 10:49AM

When is it on?? Christmas Day? Or in the lead up?

HeidiHeidi · 04-01-2026 11:48AM

The Great British Bake Off 2026 confirms exciting format change | Radio Times https://share.google/dvEUPjnhe9ReCMp19

Get yer thinking caps on!

Loved the new year's pairs show - and loved that Selasi and Val win it (very deservedly!)

miamee · 05-01-2026 03:15PM

I just watched the Christmas special and New Years special yesterday (or was it Saturday?!), I did enjoy the NY one in pairs, it was lovely to see some of the old contestants working together. I'm not sure Giuseppe and Rahul were suited to working in a pair 😁

gmisk · 14-01-2026 08:02PM

Really enjoying junior bake off this year, Lyla the wee girl from Northern Ireland is pure sunshine.

miamee · 22-01-2026 09:08AM

Prue is leaving Bake Off! And reportedly to be replaced by Nigella Lawson. That's a bold choice, she'll be interesting to watch!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/37980648/nigella-lawson-new-bake-off-judge-prue-exit/

HeidiHeidi · 05-02-2026 11:42AM

Line up for Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C announced.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2026 line up announced - The Great British Bake Off https://share.google/gqiSyTyrkSLJKOQUO

Cherish Finden the new judge letting PH company.

Starting in spring. Can't wait!

Great British Bake Off 2025

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