The Great British Bake Off

The green blob technical looked revolting. I love pancakes but a couple on the plate fresh from the pan at a time, not cold and staked up and messed with.

I did wonder if the contestants didn’t know it was Japanese week when they decided to do pandas and Chinese fillings in the steamed buns.
Why couldn’t it have been called Asian week or would that have meant that Paul couldn’t mention his trip to Japan 245 times?

Loved Laura’s show stopper even if it had collapsed a bit inside.

Love a steamed bun whether the Chinese bao or the Japanese hirata and the like and I rather liked some of the bakers’ signatures. Not so much those dry burgery ones though! I’d have preferred them to all really have gone more authentically Japanese with ingredients and flavours. Yeah, dusting a bit of matcha over a Pot Noodle does not make it Japanese! But a good steamed bun is a thing of joy: fond memories of making stuffed steamed buns for one of my later Bake Off auditions several years ago, back when it was on the BBC.

Hated the crap crepe cake: not so much what the bakers made of it but the cake itself. But as with a lot of Bake Off technicals/showstoppers in more recent years, they seem designed more to set them up for failure and make “good telly”. But I get that to a point. And it’s lovely when some nail or almost nail a technical - and there have been some real successes in the tent this year on that score.

The showstoppers were interesting. Love Lottie’s cake: not so much the apparent toadstoolyness of it - though it was nice - but the texture and flavour of that particular type of sponge is a dream.

Liking this series much more than the previous few series. There are some nice briefs for the challenges, the bakers are really lovely and even Hollywood is not as creepy as usual.

Lottie's toadstool presentation was really messy. That didn't get a mention.

Dave's fondant had some creases and he was pulled up on that.

Lottie's edit reminds me so much of Ruby Tandoh. Paul shows more leniency towards the attractive younger female.

I know it comes down to creating drama for the screen and they love to play up the sexual tension given Paul's offscreen antics. But Lottie is a messy baker and gets away with far more than the others.

And, yes, I too find her personality grating which doesn't help. But she really is not a strong contestant either in terms of technical proficiency or decorating skill

I thought I would think the same about Lottie as most previous contributors. But she has won me round, very endearing personality, decent baker and loved her increasing levels of flirtiness with Mark. Disappointed Mark has gone this week but was his turn.

Yeah she is this years Ruby and she has mastered the Diana head on her shoulder plea when speaking with Paul Hollywood. Just like her lots.

There have been press articles about the perception of pro-Lottie bias, so it is not just me (and I picked up on it before I saw the coverage)

As a woman almost the same age as Lottie (which surprises me, I thought she was younger), all of that has nothing whatsoever to do with me disliking her, so I would appreciate it if those of us who aren't fans aren't labelled "sour grapes and bitchy". That's a rather sweeping generalisation yet at the same time a narrow-minded statement. People are allowed to have different opinions.

I just find her general demeanour annoying, end of story. Nothing to do with whether she is a strong woman or not - strong women come in all shapes, sizes and mannerisms and no-one has to like them all.

And certainly nothing to do with whether she is attractive as on that score I really couldn't care less.

Yes, do bear in mind that the idea of the 'younger woman contestant flirting with Paul Hollywood' is created in the editing room by the programme makers, and has sod all to do with the contestants themselves or even Paul.

All the contestants can be labelled as types seen before many times and on all of the ‘doing stuff’ programmes - the game oldie, the experienced gran, the gay Bloke with the lovely husband, the attractive gal, the far too young for his/her ability plus a few more. Some of them can cook and do actually the stuff they are asked to do. I suppose when they call auditions they divide them into groups and choose one of each or we would get 12 highly experienced middle aged female identifying above average cooks. Lottie’s efforts in J week were excellent.

Ruby though no lovely wife. I think Yan from last year has a wife though I don’t remember her being featured.

😳 Lottie.

Exactly. Very hard in that sort of situation not to go all out with creative ideas at the planning and practising stage, and then leave little room to adapt for “live issues”. But “simple” done very well, as Hermine did, really is key: at well-judged times!

The right result for sure. Quite warmed to her as the weeks went on but this week did not go her way. 

Dave needs to up his game and rein in some of his flavour ideas. I think him or Laura might not last much longer. But the tent is a strange place: years ago I thought John Whaite was pretty weak most of the time but he won (and fairly ad square as his final bakes were terrific) 

Yep bakers choice of cake played a big part in the result. I'm going to stop calling out my new favourite as they keep getting worst baker. Rowan, then Mark then Lottie all gone. (Come on Hermine but sssssshhhhh)