Great British Bake Off 2025 returns September 2

You can tell just by looking that the lesbian with the mustache in the green sweater is both vegan and gluten intolerant.

The comments below the article read as if it were a DL thread.

If you haven't seen the first episode, turn it into a drinking game and drink every time Paul says his new favorite word," Stunning."

If anyone cares to see the first episode.

I don't bake much but love the smell of it. When I do, it must involve blueberries.

Thank you for the ep R4! Need to distract myself from, um, everything.

Sigh. No stunners or obvious crush objects this year.

The showstoppers were pretty rough looking, and so many of the cakes fell apart. The technical was a wee bit c#nty in that they set out ground almonds with the ingredients and then were indignant when bakers used them. But I think experienced bakers know that most essences are too strong and impart a bitter, chemical taste.

I'm not impressed with the Chinese lady who randomly added rosewater when it wasn't called for, and said she never eats what she bakes. That doesn't inspire much confidence.

Cosmo's evaluation of each baker and the person they predict for the win this season.

Do none of the contestants actually watch the show. Rosewater is never a positive addition.

It's very much like cooking contests when the contestant knows that making risotto or panna cotta is the kiss of death, yet insists on making them. Rosewater is the GBBO kiss of death.

[quote]If you’re wondering where the older people are on this year’s Great British Bake Off, the answer is here: Kieran Smith, the show’s “creative director and executive producer”, told The Telegraph that the show is “a slightly younger person’s game now” and “quite often older bakers run out of stamina”.

What a fucking idiot.

We like GBBO because of the mixed cast. We LIKE having that nutty older baker even though it's unlikely they'll win. Who cares? We don't watch the show for the WINNER!!! It's about the journey.

Maybe I’m just getting more squeamish, but the thought of eating Iain’s show stopper after he basically smushed it back together revolted me. And what was with Nataliia’s droopy ruffled sleeves? Is there no hygiene standard this year?

"Unhappy with life" freelance hag hates the show:

[quote]What if one player’s flour was laced with hallucinogens? Or the judges assessed the cakes based on “vibes”, rather than how they tasted? Something, anything, to break the doughy monotony – though I know that, for the series’ fan base, that’s part of its appeal. While I prefer my entertainment with more bite than crème pat tends to offer, the allure of a cocoon wherein the worst-case scenario is a split custard isn’t lost on me.

[quote]Whether or not Bake Off represents “good” or “bad” television is a deeply personal question, one that gets to the heart of what we turn to entertainment for in the first place – a way to understand the world, or escape it? No doubt, Bake Off delivers the latter in spades. Personally, it takes more than caramel to pull me out of an existential spiral, and I can’t be the only one.

^ Sorry, if you haven't seen the first episode yet read it after watching.

I really liked the guy they sent home. He had great banter with Noel. I adore the Star Baker tho. She's a delight

I thought this week's technical was particularly unfair - no recipe AND unnecessary ingredients included ONLY to fool the bakers?

When is Mexican week? Japanese week?

Oh, Prue, we fooled them again. The secret ingredient was motor oil!

I’m glad with the person who was sent home, as their nerdiness was so uncomfortable I couldn’t imagine watching (that contestant) week after week.

Not to mention that VOICE!

Has Extra Slice aired and been posted anywhere anyone has seen?

Never mind I literally just found it.

I said "There's no way they can criticize a nice Ukrainian lady who made a cake celebrating Ukraine." Yep.

She's either gonna win the whole thing or fade fast.

Natalia/Ukraine is this year's "Ugh...her..." contestant. She's going to be constantly milking her Ukraineness.

Weird cast. Too many dark women: Natalia the Ukrainian, Nadia the Italian and Jessika the Drag King....of the three, I like Jessika.

The poor bastard who got the boot...he knew he was doomed. He was wallowed in failure.

I'm pretty sure sure Iain is a transdude. He's so petite and has lady bones.

And, will anyone tell us why Jasmine is bald?

[quote]Weird cast. Too many dark women: Natalia the Ukrainian, Nadia the Italian and Jessika the Drag King....of the three, I like Jessika.

Didn't know Trump posted on DL.

I should have been clearer....too many dark woman who are hard to tell apart. Lazy casting to cast so many similar types in a large cast.

See also the not very good film, 'Poseidon' which had three female main cast roles...all cast with young, attractive brunette actresses of a very similar age and build and all of them wet and bedraggled for most of the film. You spent half your time trying to figure out "wait...is that the young mom who was on Real World? the Latina stowaway? the chick who ends up on Shameless?"

I think we see a lot of clumsy, messy bakes in these first few episodes until they “weed the garden” and dial in on the most skillful bakers. The cast looks fine. Noel seems less fixated on Paul, with fewer awkward “flirty” comments than in previous seasons.

Mercifully they didn’t perform one of the painfully unfunny opening skits this week. Or maybe it was edited out.

Episode 2 - Biscuit Week.

Is anyone watching this? It’s been a bit of a boring start but I didn’t necessarily agree with the elimination this week (bread week, episode 3).

First up: treacle pudding, clotted cream, eel pie... and a warm Coke.

Rats...I liked the person who gets the boot.

This year, I only have one person (so far) I can't stand.

Miss Ukraine needs to go soon...

Episode 3 - Bread Week

Surprising elimination this bread week.

Yeah, kind of thought we'd have a repeat of what happened last week, but I guess it wasn't enough this time.

This person grated on me, but I did not expect them to be eliminated.

Also, wtf was up with Paul calling Tom “son”? Last week, Tom said he’d have to call his boyfriend for a hall pass if Paul shook his hand. Which he did.

Tom was barely shown this episode, which leads me to believe he'll be around long enough to get screen time later.

Has Tom started an OnlyFans yet?

Unless he has a spectacular Baked Alaska meltdown or breaks an arm between tapings, Tom is winning this season.

R41, John no longer has an OnlyFans, since he has opened a couple new bakeries. Now, the only sausage, buns, and creme fillings will be on pastries. But, we still have the memories of him in action.

Who’s the bald headed bitch?

Dame Mary Berry has that bookmarked.

⬆️

Doubt it. Miss Berry does not like “soggy bottoms”.

R46 "That's DAME Mary Berry, and don't you forget it, Bakery Boy!!!"

I want Toby in me, quite deeply.

Golly, I find Noel and Alison REALLY annoying.

And I think they're great, r49!

Allison totally annoyed me last week with her cackling. She needs to tone it down.

Bring back Mel and Sue.

They seem to have cut back on the stupid opening skits, which is good. And, annoying Noel seems to have toned down his annoying schtick.

I like Alison....she's fun and good with the bakers.

This season is fine but they really have lost the ability to cast seasons with a good mix of bakers...which I'm sure is difficult but once again we have a season with a couple good/decent bakers and lots of middling and really not good at all ones.

Tom and Jasmine seem very likely to end up in the final three. The rest all seem like filler.

They have a huge number of applicants, so they could do better. BTW--Ruby from ages ago wrote an article that is semi-interesting but oddly timed. It seems that nothing happened with Paul Hollywood as she was baiting him for many years. She is oddly coy about who one her season (it was that kelpto Frances).

R54 that long format article is over-written in a pretty hammy, cheesy voice. I really enjoy the show, but not so much this tedious overblown narrative around it.

Well, dumb people do like short things that are easy to read in 45 seconds.

Ruby was dreadful

Noel's Joan Rivers joke was hilarious and unexpected. Joan would have loved it, may she R.I.P.

I saw the joke, r58, but I am old and don't remember it.

R59 Noel had vocal fry for a moment, and eventually lost his voice for a short moment. Alison was surprised and asked him something like "who were you?" or "who are you right now"? Noel answered "Joan Rivers", in reference to how she died.

R54, how/why is Frances a klepto?

R61 Because she IS!

She married! I'm sure he's a gem.

Ep 4. Back to School Week.

For American and Canadians:

[quote]While the term flapjack referred to a pancake in the United States and Canada in years gone by, it originated in the UK where it refers to a baked bar prepared from oats, butter, golden syrup and sugar that is formed into a large, flat rectangle, baked and then cut into small rectangles.

Thanks, r65. I've seen the clip of James Acaster's flapjack disaster (funny guy) and wondered what the hell it was SUPPOSED to be.

[quote] Ruby was dreadful

She is the only contestant I've ever actively loathed. She just seemed like a miserable brat who sucked all the air out of the room.

But Ruby sampled Paul's sausage. It was too obvious.

The show casts for types and hers was the person who seems to be a couple anxiety attacks shy of a stay in "the bin". She's also the kind of person whose apparent fragility hides a certain toughness. Her nastiness toward Paul that apparently was about nothing is a sign of that, along with her getting a cookbook deal.

Eh.

I like Ruby. She was "messy" but interesting. And, I was definitely rooting for her over the creepy Girl Guide and future klepto Frances.

Paul is known for making goo goo eyes (and possibly more) with cute female contestants. I don't think Ruby was one of those since she's not straight.

Frances obviously was a bit bizarre.

Well, phooey, The flunkee was one of my faves personality-wise.

Aaron naked

Can we get a link where we don't need to be a member of LPSG?

Anyone?

Bueller?

I second that emotion, r74.

Aaron is standing naked holding a blue towel in front of him, but it does not cover the good parts. He is cut, very trimmed, hairless chest, and medium-sized dick that hangs very nicely. The photo before that one shows Aaron staring in the a mirror with the towel wrapped around below the waist, exposing the top half of a solid bubble butt.

A picture is worth a thousand words, r76.

you guys are slipping

Is that really a woman? Looks like a Groucho Marx fake one.

[quote]Ruby was dreadful

Ruby was the personification of Debbie Downer.

Let's hope Aaron follows in John Whaite's OnlyFans footsteps.

Thanks R65, I was so confused when the episode got underway and they started the first challenge. I ended up googling. They sound more like granola bars. But now I'm craving actual pancakes with butter and syrup.

R66, here's James and his culinary creations. He totally flusters Paul.

Started making it. Had a breakdown. Bon appétit!

Hi. Larious.

Did we just give up on the current series?

Not me, russdog. I'm enjoying it very much.

As am I. So far, Noel is a bit less creepy.

I already thought Aaron was very cute, but now that I’ve seen the nudes..I’ll definitely be “pulling” for him.

I want to nude wrestle with Toby.

An Extra Slice #4

Best line from the very gay Tom Allen, joining in on the discussion if either of the male panelists was "Head Boy" ( student representative for the student body) at their school. " I was actually Head Boy at my school...(pause). I don't know why they called me that ( sly smile)."

Whew!! Star baker was... a surprise. But, sure, why not?

An Extra Slice #5. Julian Clary is gay, gay, gay and hysterical. " I don't have a favorite. How many of them are homosexuals?"

I'm hoping Aaron and Tom are flip-flopping. And that there's video.

Some really awful flavor combinations and ugly constructions. They seemed set-up to have a lot of failures with complicated instructions.

Noel is less cringe=y this season, but he's not aging well. I'm waiting to see him turn into the second coming of Jimmy Saville.

Can we go back to the far-earlier showstopper challenges like "Make an Opera Cake" or "Make a Princess Cake" and lose these interactive landscape cakes that just look like Hot Mess?