Great British Bake Off 2019

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 19-09-2019 5:42pm

Penn wrote: »

F*ck me I hate her. I get that some people feel like they need something to make them stand out, but being Welsh isn't interesting. Everyone from Wales is Welsh.

Yup. Being a nationality isn’t interesting in and of itself.

Beca from series 4 talked about being Welsh a small bit but didn’t overdo it.

gmisk · 19-09-2019 5:52pm

I actually like them all this year....bar smug David.

Prue is great, Sandi and Noel are growing on me, Paul meh can take or leave him

LirW · 19-09-2019 7:08pm

gmisk wrote: »

I actually like them all this year....bar smug David.

Prue is great, Sandi and Noel are growing on me, Paul meh can take or leave him

I think it's a lot more back to the roots this year. The bakes are simpler, the contestants are as flawed as everyone else and it's not a cringe fest like last year. Last year seemed more like a casting show for the next food presenter and was purely a personality contest at the end.

stargazer 68 · 19-09-2019 9:04pm

Canadian bake off has just started. First person out was rubbish. Seemingly cake 'was not her forte ' ! Its fecking bake off

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 19-09-2019 11:27pm

LirW wrote: »

I think it's a lot more back to the roots this year. The bakes are simpler, the contestants are as flawed as everyone else and it's not a cringe fest like last year. Last year seemed more like a casting show for the next food presenter and was purely a personality contest at the end.

The bakers were always talented and above average though. This year: “I don’t do bread” and “I’ve never made rough puff pastry”.

j@utis · 20-09-2019 12:10pm

I'm very disappointed with this weeks episode. If you weren't told it was "dairy week", you wouldn't know. Signature bake - two tablespoons of yogurt doesn't make cake "dairy" desert; technical - ok, I suppose but still there was no emphasis on make your own curd cheese (a lot of gagging going on which was annoying); showstopper selection was a complete disaster, I would pick bread&butter pudding over baby blue and lime green sugar lumps anytime. I was expecting cheesecake, a lot of cheesecake! What about Baked Alaska? That would've been so fun to watch!

Posy · 23-09-2019 12:37am

What on earth will they be baking on Tuesday? What cakes do I buy to go with a twenties theme?!

HeidiHeidi · 23-09-2019 10:46pm

God, I'm so over Tom Allen on An Extra Slice - he's verging on obnoxious at this stage.

Posy · 23-09-2019 11:28pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

God, I'm so over Tom Allen on An Extra Slice - he's verging on obnoxious at this stage.

I watch him discuss the episode, then fast forward the whole audience participation bit. Then he only talks for a couple of minutes at the end to give the eliminated baker their send off.
Less of him makes him much more tolerable!

LizT · 24-09-2019 9:13pm

I’m really growing to like Steph! She seems very genuine and sweet.

walshb · 24-09-2019 9:17pm

LizT wrote: »

I’m really growing to like Steph! She seems very genuine and sweet.

And very pretty!

alchemist33 · 24-09-2019 9:26pm

The vet was so right about rabbits.

Princess Calla · 24-09-2019 9:26pm

Alice reminds me of patty simcox from grease for some reason, probably the bubbliness.

Really thought the vet was going and maybe Michael.

Surprised by the two that went.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 24-09-2019 9:52pm

Of the four they mentioned at the bottom, I had pegged the other two as going rather than the ones that went. And it didn’t even seem that close. Guess I’m not tasting their wares though.

One thing I’ve noticed is that I’m not bothering with noting each contestant’s standing going into the Showstopper round. In past series, I’d usually have a rough ranking in my mind so that I could gauge pretty well from the Showstopper judging who would win Star Baker and who would go.

After David messed up his technical, I did guess Star Baker correctly this week (and was delighted for them) but totally got the eliminations wrong.

LirW · 24-09-2019 10:16pm

The eliminations seem fairly random this year.
Last week was completely unjustified imo and this week you see the grand drama of Priya, Rosie and Michael just to send two others home.
I don't really get that.

nc6000 · 24-09-2019 10:29pm

How can they have never made choux pastry or a sabayon before?

LizT · 24-09-2019 10:34pm

nc6000 wrote: »

How can they have never made choux pastry or a sabayon before?

You would think that at soon as they found out they were on bake off, they’d brush up/practice different types of pastry/cake/icing.

siblers · 24-09-2019 10:35pm

How in the **** wasn't Priya sent home.

RhubarbCrumble · 24-09-2019 10:55pm

Yeeessss! Bye bye Ms Wales 2019. I certainly won't miss her.
I'd love to see smug David go next.

I like Steph and Henry and Michael is okay, but can't warm to any of the rest of them.

Penn · 25-09-2019 9:38am

I wonder where Michelle went after leaving the tent.

Wales.

HeidiHeidi · 25-09-2019 9:54am

I was very surprised with the two that went last night! I thought both were strong contenders overall, especially Michelle - although if it is done strictly on that weekend's performance, then maybe it was justified (I wasn't paying huge attention during the show tbh)

I half thought they'd run Michael, if only to preserve his sanity - he'll have a nervous breakdown if he keeps going the way he is!

I had to laugh at the look of shock on David's face (and the slagging they all gave him, esp the judges) going from first to resoundingly last in the technical. Still can't stand him.

And I wonder where on earth they're coming up with the themes for each week? Literally nothing except David's little flapper biscuits (how cool were they, grrrrr!) looked remotely 1920's to me....

And again this week - "I've made choux pastry, like, once" - you're on GBBO ffs, what do you think they're going to get you to do?????? Just bake bread every single week????? /rant

RhubarbCrumble · 25-09-2019 10:14am

I think poor Michael is morphing into Rahul. He's getting more anxious by the week.

Addle · 25-09-2019 7:52pm

Odd decision this week.
How could the person who came first in technical and wasn’t in bottom 2 in technical be sent home?!

Earthhorse · 25-09-2019 9:39pm

Not trying to be mean saying this but does anyone think the reason they went back to basics this season is because the caliber just isn’t as high?

I thought Priya was for the chop but also thought the decoration on her showstopper looked lovely. Surprised to see Helena go though I’m not a fan but when they said two were going I did think Michelle would be in the mix.

Steph is fast becoming my favourite; her embarrassment is very endearing.

miamee · 26-09-2019 2:45pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

Not trying to be mean saying this but does anyone think the reason they went back to basics this season is because the caliber just isn’t as high?

I thought Priya was for the chop but also thought the decoration on her showstopper looked lovely. Surprised to see Helena go though I’m not a fan but when they said two were going I did think Michelle would be in the mix.

Steph is fast becoming my favourite; her embarrassment is very endearing.

I was asking this here last week as well, it seems like that might be the case.

The themes are odd though this series, and they aren't really giving much of an idea of what to expect or what would count as a 'good' 1920s cake.

--

I got very distracted watching this after I noticed that the 'view' out the sides of the tent is actually a backdrop of some sort. You can't see out like you used to be able to. I'm not sure if they've done this on previous weeks or if there was a specific reason this week but once I'd seen it I couldn't stop looking in every shot.

Earthhorse · 26-09-2019 9:22pm

miamee wrote: »

I was asking this here last week as well, it seems like that might be the case.

Look, who knows which of us came up with the idea first? It could have been you. It could have been me. There’s just no way of knowing.

The themes are odd though this series, and they aren't really giving much of an idea of what to expect or what would count as a 'good' 1920s cake.

Yeah, I agree. Fair play to the choir buy and the girl with the pretty eyes for both doing Art Deco style cakes that I thought were quite cool but the theme was way too broad.

I got very distracted watching this after I noticed that the 'view' out the sides of the tent is actually a backdrop of some sort. You can't see out like you used to be able to. I'm not sure if they've done this on previous weeks or if there was a specific reason this week but once I'd seen it I couldn't stop looking in every shot.

Ooh, I’ll have to watch out for that.

HeidiHeidi · 27-09-2019 8:06pm

miamee wrote: »

I got very distracted watching this after I noticed that the 'view' out the sides of the tent is actually a backdrop of some sort. You can't see out like you used to be able to. I'm not sure if they've done this on previous weeks or if there was a specific reason this week but once I'd seen it I couldn't stop looking in every shot.

Just watching An Extra Slice here - and I think that's just that they had the seethrough sides of the tent rolled down.

They close it in if it's pissing rain or blowing a hooley outside (although I'm sure I remember seeing them tripping across the gardens in blistering sunshine......).

Thargor · 27-09-2019 9:37pm

Painful camera work again, when here cake fell on the ground it was laughable, even though the camera was pointed right at it it was zoomed in so much you missed it, the auto-focus couldnt keep up with the crazy zooming, it happens so much it has to be deliberate.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 28-09-2019 8:06am

Earthhorse wrote: »

Look, who knows which of us came up with the idea first? It could have been you. It could have been me. There’s just no way of knowing.

Yeah, I agree. Fair play to the choir buy and the girl with the pretty eyes for both doing Art Deco style cakes that I thought were quite cool but the theme was way too broad.

Ooh, I’ll have to watch out for that.

This is a bit kneejerk and defensive. Miamee didn’t seem to be accusing you of stealing her talking point. Just seems like you reminded her that she asked something similar.

Earthhorse · 28-09-2019 8:51am

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

This is a bit kneejerk and defensive. Miamee didn’t seem to be accusing you of stealing her talking point. Just seems like you reminded her that she asked something similar.

It’s a joke.

28-09-2019 12:47pm

I thought Helena came across very well on an extra slice. It annoyed me that she was sticking to one theme because it seems silly to bake herself into a corner like that. But I really didn't think she deserved to go at all.

The Welsh one I didn't warm to at all on extra slice but I did feel bad for her. I thought they were a bit hard on her. I don't usually watch an extra slice. Are they always like that? Pointing out all her bad bakes and negative comments from the judges. I thought extra slice always sort of built them back up after their bake off eviction!?

Mr E · 30-09-2019 11:59am

Season 1 Episode 1 just finished on the Food Network now. It's very dry (pun intended).

Paul, Mary, Mel and Sue are all there, but there is also a strange dude narrating.

It's on a main road, so you can see randomers walking past the windows and looking in. Looks like they change location each week.

No star baker, and 2 eliminated every week...

j@utis · 30-09-2019 3:49pm

Mr E wrote: »

Season 1 Episode 1 just finished on the Food Network now. It's very dry (pun intended).

Paul, Mary, Mel and Sue are all there, but there is also a strange dude narrating.

It's on a main road, so you can see randomers walking past the windows and looking in. Looks like they change location each week.

No star baker, and 2 eliminated every week...

I have to check it out! It's been long time since I watched it last time.

Earthhorse · 30-09-2019 8:58pm

I just watched an episode from Season One where

Paul directly helped a contestant. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?

.

I thought it changed location in later seasons too? The no star baker thing is definitely weird. Part of the fun is guessing who they’ve gone with every week!

nc6000 · 01-10-2019 9:53pm

Was nobody else watching?

siblers · 01-10-2019 10:13pm

Paul said Steph's bombe was perfection, yet she got no handshake. Makes no sense.

Priya should have gone weeks ago, she seemed a bit surprised going on her reaction

LirW · 01-10-2019 10:14pm

Just finished, I really realised tonight that while I like the challenges a lot more this year I so don't care about any of the people. They're all boring, not overly sympathetic and I struggled a bit to stay awake.
Such a pity that they send all the gas ones home already.

01-10-2019 10:23pm

Yeh I mostly feel the same Lir. Found it very hard to concentrate tonight. But I do like Steph. I've really warmed to her and I was delighted for her tonight. But everyone else... Boring, boring, boring. Priya deserved to go.

Also why are they all so rough with their bakes. Every week someone is flinging something down or pulling it out of the oven at an awkward angle or like Henry tonight holding his meringue over his head and then down and balancing it on the edge of the counter while he spoke to the camera. Very annoying. Be bloody careful people.

And did the vet say at the start she doesn't like making desserts? So we've had them say they don't like baking bread, don't like making pastry and now don't like making desserts. Do they bake at all??

Would have loved to taste some of those bombs especially Alice's tiramisu! Yum.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 01-10-2019 10:37pm

I didn’t watch it tonight, just glanced at the Wiki page. Something about last week’s episode and suspect eliminations killed my weak interest in it for this year and maybe forever. I struggled to remember who was left in the competition. I’m rewatching the Beeb years on Netflix at the moment and feeling nostalgic.

jasonb · 01-10-2019 10:49pm

siblers wrote: »

Paul said Steph's bombe was perfection, yet she got no handshake. Makes no sense.

Thought this too. But I wonder if she didn’t get a handshake as if she did it would have been a no-brainer about her getting Star Baker again? Without the handshake there was still a chance for Alice after winning the Technical and having a great Show Stopper too. So maybe he didn’t do it to keep some suspense?

siblers · 01-10-2019 11:13pm

jasonb wrote: »

Thought this too. But I wonder if she didn’t get a handshake as if she did it would have been a no-brainer about her getting Star Baker again? Without the handshake there was still a chance for Alice after winning the Technical and having a great Show Stopper too. So maybe he didn’t do it to keep some suspense?

Maybe he doesn't give them for showstoppers. I've never noticed but it's usually during the signature or technical he seems to give them

I'm probably completely wrong here

confusticated · 01-10-2019 11:23pm

siblers wrote: »

Maybe he doesn't give them for showstoppers. I've never noticed but it's usually during the signature or technical he seems to give them

I'm probably completely wrong here

He didn't used to but then he gave one to someone last year and then to Rahul as well straight afterwards I think. There was huge excitement over a showstopper handshake which was then completely nullified by a second one.

I'm finding it a bit meh this year too. I'll keep watching but there isn't much suspense. They're mostly playing to the camera way more than on previous seasons.

I think it's fair enough though when people say they don't like doing something - it's not the same person saying it every week and it's true for all bakers I think that there are things they prefer and things they'd never choose to do.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 01-10-2019 11:33pm

siblers wrote: »

Paul said Steph's bombe was perfection, yet she got no handshake. Makes no sense.

Priya should have gone weeks ago, she seemed a bit surprised going on her reaction

Well, perfection always didn’t earn a Hollywood Handshake back in the day.

I heard an interesting GBBO nugget the other day which puts how rare they used to be in perspective:

Nadiya in series 6 was the first female contestant ever to receive a Hollywood Handshake, in the penultimate episode of that series.

I’m not to trying to start gender wars, it’s simply meant as an eye-opening and illustrative fact.

Last year really skewed things. They used to seriously be like hen’s teeth. I watched an episode from series 5 this evening where Paul tells Richard that he’s in the wrong job, his swiss roll is that good. No handshake.

LirW · 01-10-2019 11:42pm

Those handshakes are a stupid novelty anyway.
Like what's the real point of them? They just created an unnecessary hype really.

Last year the contestants were right, this year the challenges are bang on.
I'm really sorry but I don't like Steph, she seems so cold and not sympathetic at all. All the remaining ladies are equally obnoxious, while the lads are just so smug.
The eliminations are so random this year too and more than one were so unjustified. All the sugar and spice is gone.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 02-10-2019 12:09am

LirW wrote: »

Those handshakes are a stupid novelty anyway.
Like what's the real point of them? They just created an unnecessary hype really.

Last year the contestants were right, this year the challenges are bang on.
I'm really sorry but I don't like Steph, she seems so cold and not sympathetic at all. All the remaining ladies are equally obnoxious, while the lads are just so smug.
The eliminations are so random this year too and more than one were so unjustified. All the sugar and spice is gone.

On the Beeb, they were so infrequent that they weren’t hyped really. They used to mean that what was created was truly exemplary.

Scarinae · 02-10-2019 9:08pm

I'm glad Priya has finally gone, I don't understand how she wasn't booted off either of the last two weeks (Why on earth they got rid of Helena last week I'll never know!) Having said that, I thought Prue was being unnecessarily harsh telling her that mauve is an unappetising colour - since when?

I thought the bombes looked amazing and that it was a great showstopper challenge, I kind of want an excuse to try making one myself now. I'll admit that I was a bit disappointed that nobody had their layers of mousse or whatever not setting properly resulting in a puddle of melted dreams, but I suppose we're far enough along in the series that the weaker bakers have been weeded out - imagine Jamie trying to make one!

I was surprised that Steph didn't get a handshake after Paul saying her bombe was the best thing he'd tasted in a long time. Having said that, he really overdid it on the handshakes last year (as noted in this Buzzfeed article) so he's obviously trying to tone it down.

So next week's theme is festivals?! I get that they're trying to do something a bit different, but whatever happened to the classic themes like pastry week?

miamee · 03-10-2019 4:53pm

I had to come in here to see who was out this week as the player stopped on me last night just as they went to the last ad break. Did anyone else find the techical this week, the verrines, a bit underwhelming? Maybe it's because they were so small or something. There is definitely something lacking this series. I really think one of the boys will have to go soon, none of them are doing very well, Michael in particular. That showstopper of his looked awful I thought. And his cheesecake was runny!

HeidiHeidi · 04-10-2019 9:18pm

No panel challenge this week on Extra Slice???

I thought I saw Stacey with a marker in her hand, I was sure they were going to make them do a backwards writing challenge, maybe it all went horribly wrong. Or, more likely, turned into a damp squib!

Priya has kids called Liam and Cian, and her surname is O'Shea...... I wonder is her husband Irish, possibly, maybe???

tea and coffee · 04-10-2019 10:05pm

She mentioned her husband's first name on the show during the week and it was def an Irish name.

Edit: it's Sean.

HeidiHeidi · 08-10-2019 8:25pm

What's "figgy pudding" when it's at home?

Steph onwards and upwards!

Great British Bake Off 2019

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