Great British Bake Off!

Mamie, I agree with your OH. Is it just that you can't have an old git beating a couple of trendy young blokes? Brendan could bake them all off the planet (probably including the egotastic Mr. Hollywood).
They did the same last year. A young woman who was consistently good and deserved to win was beaten by a fairly good contestant but nothing special after we were shown the 'single mum facing huge challenges' backstory.

I also think the showstoppers are getting ridiculous. John made a really good chocolate cake and then stuck a load of coconut covered phallic symbols on top which were gradually sliding off. The look Paul Hollywood gave him said it all, 'It's sorted, mate, you've won!'

It's made me realise that I don't like fancy cakes at all - in fact it's led to me not craving cake at all - well done the Great British Bake Off - I'm so pleased with you!

Perhaps Mr H felt threatened by Brendan? I think I heard Mr H say that Brendan was good on the things he could practice but not on the unknowns.

I have to say although I think John was a worthy winner of the final..I was surprised he got that far..my memory of the other rounds is of him not doing so well and I was never sure he would get through..maybe it is that 'little boy lost' look that melted Mary's heart..

I quite liked his Heaven and Hell cake.. I thought the coconut clouds were clever...even if they were a little lopsided!

I felt sorry for John's mum - off to Paris to be a pastry cook and all that expensive education wasted! Not what she had in mind for him, by the sound of it. At least if he ever accidentally poisons anybody he can run his own defence in Court! Seriously, good luck to the lad - may all his coconut clouds have silver linings!

He'll soon find he can make shed loads more money as a lawyer.

merlot lawyers are struggling too in the recession! I personally know three lawyers, in different London firms, who have all lost their pensions due to financial situation and current business is slow. John might be making the right financial decision! Better to follow your own heart than your mum's!

He'd have to work his way up once he qualified as a lawyer before he'd be making shedloads - and that's only if he could find a firm to take him on!

Blimey, nanaej. No wonder the lawyers who are living off the fat of my (no longer disputed) inheritance are dragging their heels. Maybe I'm their only customer

Probably trying to build up the pension fund!
No joke really..one is my brother..has a small firm that deals with immigration cases. No cash flow..lives on credit... not all lawyers are also good business men/women and actually are too kind to their clients!!

I've missed all of this. Even the engineer who came out to fix my leak today was talking about; I'm trying to take it all in by a sort of process of osmosis by reading and listening about it. [I can't watch it on iplayer cause my sound still isn't working unless you lot give me a potted synopsis and then I watch it].

It's repeated on Sunday morning, crimson

Drat; and I know the ending, now [but will probably have forgotten by then].

John was interviewed on my local news programme tonight and the reporter said John had a book deal and other offers in the pipeline and was predicted to earn £500,000 over the next year so I don't think he will be a lawyer.

He's a bright boy!

I could point him in the direction of a firm of lawyers who have creamed off £400,000 from an estate without having to bake a single cup cake

.....or even a fondant fancy How could anyone even think of eating one of those Barbie doll- pink monstrosities. Mary Berry I was ashamed of you.

I absolutely adore fondant fancies - would eat them until sick given half a chance .

Anyone watching the masterclasses? Nice to see Paul and Mary doing the baking. Great tips as well.

Yes, they make it look so easy, don't they? This last cake with Genoese sponge and strawberries looks fabulous.

...and how did Mary get the pink fondant icing for the fancies to exactly match her top!

Ooh I've missed this, I must do a catch up.It is extraordinary the power of television and, for me anyway,TGBBO in particular. I have now bought Paul Holloways baking book and am going to make bread for the weekend- the first time in 30years. I also made a cake today, something I usually only do when the DGC are here.

Saw a bit of it tonight, what a lot of faffing around to make teacakes! Have they not heard of Tunnocks?

phoenix what blasphemy are you talking? The Great British Bake Off is my culinary version of erotic art! actually, I thought the same for a brief moment

Tunnocks teacakes are very very nice though [greedy emoticon]

Just what my DH said, phoenix He also thought the fondant fancies were a lot of faffing about but I bet he won't turn one down if I ever get round to making them.

Mary Berry was on again (she's on a roll right now) in The Food Revival.
I liked the look of her ice cream recipes. I'm definitely going to have a go.