Great British Baking Show

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find Chigs adorable. They are all lovely this season.

My husband told me that he finds Chigs so charming that he wouldn’t mind if I dated him. Lol!

Chigs is gay and lives with a man.

Oh sure just go and break all our hearts why don't you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My vote is for Giuseppe. I love Jurgen, but Giuseppe has more finesse and artistry with his cake decorating, and that’s what stands out. I like how humble both of them are. I agree with the person up thread who said in prior years Crystelle and Chigs likely would’ve been eliminated by now. But, they have terrific personalities to fit in with the group, and they are both very easy on the eyes One thing I always love about this show is how kind, helpful, supportive and lighthearted the contestants are. No yelling or swearing. and I love seeing the post script that shows the contestants visiting each other and getting together long after the competition is over.

I love the postscript, too! However, I do not consider a car ride from London to Liverpool to be a "road trip".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it's a good group this year and am happy to see any of them win, although I think Guiseppe is just charming.

I still miss Mary Berry and Mel & Sue. Matt gives me the creeps. Noel has grown on me this season.

Mel is a darling but Sue is a monumental narcissist. I knew her for many years post-Cambridge before she was famous. Horrible, horrible person.

So what? Most famous people appear to be, though some seem to be better at concealing it than others. She and Mel were still awesome to watch, which is, after all, the point of entertainers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it's a good group this year and am happy to see any of them win, although I think Guiseppe is just charming.

I still miss Mary Berry and Mel & Sue. Matt gives me the creeps. Noel has grown on me this season.

Mel is a darling but Sue is a monumental narcissist. I knew her for many years post-Cambridge before she was famous. Horrible, horrible person.

So what? Most famous people appear to be, though some seem to be better at concealing it than others. She and Mel were still awesome to watch, which is, after all, the point of entertainers.

Nah, Sue wasn't that funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that bothers me is Jurgen's voice. I think he sounds like the pigs from Shrek!

This! The very first time I heard him speak I said this and my husband agreed. And now every time he speaks, my husband will quote a line from Shrek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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I do wonder how the bakers are selected because are these really the 12 best bakers out of the thousands who apply to be on the show? Giuseppe and Jurgen, possibly, yes, are understandable. But the rest does have you scratching your head and you figure other factors came into play in picking them that has nothing to do with baking but more to do with meeting demographic requirements. It's almost a cliche to this point as almost every season seems to see the same types of contestants.

A friend of mine has applied twice (or maybe three times?) to get on. I don't remember the full details, but one time she got as close as the final tryouts -- which involve baking on camera, I think doing a sweet and a savory bake. They are looking for particular demographics and geography (and a mix of demographics and geography), how well you perform on camera, and even how well you bake (!). I suppose whether you fit with the final group may play a role too -- they probably want a mix of baking styles as well as other characteristics. One year we were visiting while she was filling out the written application, which included a lot about hobbies and other interests -- she was working up an explanation of how she trained for triathalons fueled by her home-baked energy bars. But best of all was when we visited while she was practicing her bakes for the try-outs!

My personal favorite contestant, I think, is Chetna.

What I find interesting is that it's obvious from every first episode that the bakers are not equal in talent and capabilities. Whoever selects the bakers is making a conscious decision to group less talented bakers with better ones, knowing they have no real chance at being finalists or winners. I suppose there is a virtue to a show where instead of looking for 12 top notch competitive bakers, the bakers are there for the fun and enjoyment and to see how long they last rather than a genuine competition to be the winner. It's probably only after a few episodes that the better bakers can look around and start thinking, you know, I have a real shot at being a finalist.

The only season I can think of where the winner was not obvious in the first episode and who probably surprised the producers is the one where Nadiya won. But this year both Jurgen and Giuseppe were the only two strong bakers from the first episode and the gulf between the two and the rest of the bakers is probably the biggest we've had among any group of contestants. There is a significant gap between Jurgen/Giuseppe and Crystelle/Chigs.

And yes, Chetna is one of my favorite bakers. Of all the bakers I've watched, she and Kim-Joy are the ones I'd first want to try their bakes. Chetna for her creative marriage of Indian and Western flavors and bakes, and Kim-Joy for the sheer joy of her talented decorations.

[Anonymous]

^ Nadiya’s win was unexpected and it was so lovely to watch her progression. Her interview after winning where she emotionally talked about how she wouldn’t put boundaries on herself again or only think she can’t do it — gah, it chokes me up. She has her own baking show now that I have washed a few times, and it is night and day regarding her level of confidence and ease on camera. You can tell that the show has seriously impacted her life for so many wonderful reasons.

[Anonymous]

I pretty much quit watching after Rahul Mandal won. It was so obvious that that season was rigged; there were so many times he should have been out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find Chigs adorable. They are all lovely this season.

My husband told me that he finds Chigs so charming that he wouldn’t mind if I dated him. Lol!

Chigs is gay and lives with a man.

Oh sure just go and break all our hearts why don't you

I don't understand these kinds of comments at all. If he was straight and single or had a girlfriend, would that change anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Nadiya’s win was unexpected and it was so lovely to watch her progression. Her interview after winning where she emotionally talked about how she wouldn’t put boundaries on herself again or only think she can’t do it — gah, it chokes me up. She has her own baking show now that I have washed a few times, and it is night and day regarding her level of confidence and ease on camera. You can tell that the show has seriously impacted her life for so many wonderful reasons.

Nadiya also used the show to change her life in a big way and really did a good job of it. Her season was also amazing with all of the final 3 being really cool people.

[Anonymous]

They always have at least one token pretty girl. Remember Ruby? Last season it was Alice, this season it's Chrystelle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My vote is on Guiseppe; he is so calm and kind. It will be between him, Juergen and Crystelle
I thought Noel and Matt’s Kraft-Werk inspired intro to German week was hysterical.

It was the only time they were funny. I love this show and I love this season but those two ruin it for me. They are not funny, they aren't charming. I would like to see another woman on the show.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Is it my imagination or is there less backstory/family stuff this season? I wonder if it is covid-related…

They don't get into backstory/family stuff until the final episode when there's a brief feature of the three finalists.

I think it could be Covid-related, bc previously they would show all contestants with their family, their home, employment, etc. at some point during the season.

Yeah they did do it a lot more on earlier seasons - and it was often awkward and embarrassing. The show changed channels in the UK and production staff so there was a minor reboot of that kind of thing. Thankfully. Also loving Noel.

Noel is surprisingly funny.

He and Matt are both awful. I miss Mel and Sue so much.

[Anonymous]

Joel and Matt have grown on me, they can be funny
Did I mention I have a crush on Paul?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Joel and Matt have grown on me, they can be funny
Did I mention I have a crush on Paul?

Me too and I hate myself for it.