New GBBO - I just dont know

I prefer the Channel 4 show. Both judges are professionals who know their stuff, and it is not so stultifyingly full of 'Little England' cosy smugness. And the Scandi feminist/sugar-free surrealist presenting team is a great combination. I don't mind the ad breaks - I can top up my coffee cup. The contestants this year are the most likeable thus far - and they are being challenged to go out of their comfort zone. If a Bakewell tart or Genoese sponge is beyond them, they shouldn't be there, so why not get them to push their boundaries? I really enjoyed watching them figure out how to make fortune cookies (or not, in some cases) and swearing at the TV watching the tea cakes (spot the baker of bread here - cakes are baked by other people!).

I agree that there is no chemistry between the presenters. Nor is there any rapport between bakers and presenters. It got a bit tired on the BBC but instead of updating it they seem to be trotting out more of the same.

On the other hand I love the Big Family cooking show with Nadyah . Such talented cooks, lovely presenters and real food.

Not watched it. Did see some photo's of the baking and thought they looked awful and I wouldn't have wanted to eat any of it. Gaudy colours like a child had made them. Did watch when on BBC the adverts put me off.

Not a great fan or a great watcher but having seen it the other night my take for what it's worth as an outsider ... is Prue seems ok and a good follow up for Mary, Paul Hollywood totally unlikable as an arrogant up his own bum man, I didn't think Sandy was very entertaining which she can be and as for the young man (who i d never heard of) he was insipid, uninspiring and looked like he needed a good meal
I didn't think what they were cooking was very mouth watering, looked very messy and OTT
I ll only watch if bored

I decided not to watch it before it began and I haven't changed my mind.

I expected it to be very different on C4 but it am glad it's more or less the same. I also didn't expect to like Noel but I think he comes across as being likeable and quite kind and gentle.

Unfortunately I'm finding the contestants really irritating!

I wasn't going to watch it on principle but GD1 was here and wanted to see it. I was pleasantly surprised and watched episode 2 but can't be bothered now and as I often want to watch another channel at 9pm I miss the end of it. I'd never heard of Noel Fielding, Prue not as warm as Mary, and it's not really my sort of baking. Maybe I'm finding it too much of a muchness.

I never liked Paul anyway. Noel is totally unsuited to his role. I don't like Sandy as she such a leftie and seems only to rely on being a lesbian for her ( attempted) comic relief ( if she says she could be on the turn again I think I may throw something at the tv). I hardly notice Pru is there, she's so bland. Also, even most of the contestants seem a bit 'dumbed down' this year. Can't be bothered now whether I watch it or not. However, I have been watching repeats of old series at 7pm on Really tv every weekday- it's a joy.

I am liking it.I prefer Noel and Sandy to Mel and Sue.Noel seems caring and kind and Sandy is funny .I watch it once recorded so that I can skip through the adverts.

Totally lost interest in it. It all feels a bit strained.

I've watched two episodes but don't think I'll watch any more...it's all getting a bit silly and the calibre of the bakers has gone downhill. It's not difficult to switch on an oven and don't even get me started on how to line a cake tin/baking tray. Thursday's 'An Extra Slice' is the best part.

I record "Bake Off" and watch it the next day so I can miss the ads.
Having decided I would hate Noel, I'm finding him rather sweet. Sandi is a bit predictable in her puns, Prue Leith? Not sure - she is more of a savoury person to my mind. And if you think that PH is arrogant, you should meet his wife, Alexandra! She is so up herself, it is very funny...
What I'm a bit uncertain about is the difficulty of the challenges - they seem really OTT for so early in the programme.
I wish they would have "dairy-free" challenges and/or "gluten-free" or "???-free" ones too. It seems a shame not to.

I have watched two and the only two episodes of the new Bakeoff I will be watching.
Find Prue her hoity toity self and Sandi desperately trying to inject some humour. Noel? Noel who?.

Noel seems like a sweet man but I read that he won't eat sugar so I wouldn't have chosen him on those grounds. He does look very uncomfortable but it is early days yet. Alan Carr would have been my choice. He did a radio 2 show with Mel Sykes and they were great together so they would have been my choice. Prue is fine and Paul is necessary for continuity and his bread skills, although I am not a fan. Sandi is fine too.

i didn't watch it on bbc and i'm not going to watch it on channel 4.
i like both paul hollywood [although he can be a bit up himself] and mary berry but i just don't like the programme!

I like it but I've never been a fan of Mary Berry ,I do think Paul Hollywood is a very talented baker and watched a lot of his bread programmes ,Mel and Sue I never found funny so I dont miss them either,Although I am a fan of Prue Leith and have many of her books I was quite surprised she joined this ,not sure its really "her" But the bakers are talented and I get new ideas and thats why I watch

I'm really enjoying it. I've always liked Prue and Sandy. I think Noel needs to find his feet, think he's a bit cautious at mo. I was never a big Mel fan but really like Sue. Mary Berry I can happily leave. Formats exactly the same so no problem for me! I usually record it so just FF through the ads.

I still like it though. Maybe the old version was getting a bit 'stale' - no pun intended.
There's only so much you can do with a cake/bun/loaf of bread without becoming ridiculous and there's the pressure to win and go one better - which I think is why some of the choices are a bit over the top.
The presenters seem to be pretty much all right. The formula has been around now for a few years so it'll never retain the impact it had when it first burst upon our screens. I continue to watch and enjoy it.

Sorry - meant "lacks"!

I'm still watching it bit it lcks something......

To be fair to Prue, I think Mary Berry was always going to be a hard act to follow. Paul H does explain why something hasn't worked but Prue could add ideas of her own and hasn't so far.

I'm going to carry on watching to see if Sandi & Noel "settle" into it more. I think better use could be made of them as non-bakers - eg asking "ignorant" questions to help non-bakers watching to understand more about baking processes.
They should be good at making jokes to lighten up the tense atmosphere. Mel and Sue were good at this but got on my nerves otherwise.
Like Lupin, I am not that interested in any of the competitors. Some of them seem to think they are better than they really are although I was sorry to see Flo go - she was a wonderful character.

I agree with Legs. I was already bored stiff with it three seasons ago. Mummy Mary, Irritating Mel and Sue with their juvenile innuendo and insufferably arrogant Paul H. Add to that endless shots of contestants kneeling on the floor peering into their ovens and I gave it the elbow.
Out of sheer curiosity I tried episode one of the Ch 4 version but within five minutes I'd turned it off. I do generally enjoy cooking shows but pick them carefully and Mary Berry's other shows are excellent for lovely recipes.
As Legs says though, give me a good garden show every time.

Although I still like watching it I find it a bit flat this year - but that's because the bakers themselves aren't getting me on side. I think the show needs Paul Hollywood as a love to hate figure - and he does know what he's talking about with the technical side. I do miss Mary Berry, but quite like Noel and Sandy. The adverts are just irritating. I record and whizz through them.

Don't watch either BBC1 or Channel 4 "Bake off" programmes. Getting very bored with these shows. Didn't watch much of last year's "Bake off" either. Give me a good Gardening programme preferably with AT any day

Am I the only one to like Noel? In Episode 3 he interacted with the bakers really well. I also think he is kind. In fact I like him better than Sandy. I think he was nervous at first, but they are now finding their feet. I like Prue as well, she is down to earth and honest. Nothing has changed as far as I am concerned. The ad breaks are annoying, but if you record it, you can skip through them.

Honestly, I like all the new presenters, but what is putting me off are the ridiculous OTT creations they are expected to bake this year! Illusion cake? Fortune cookies? This is supposed to be the Great BRITISH Bakeoff. These are clearly inspired by the American Food Channel shows like Cake Wars etc. I am not interested in anything with mysterious shapes, food colourings etc. Can we get back to Bakewell Tarts and scones?