Great British Bake Off

I felt the same, whitewave, I'm hoping I'll get a bit more enthused when there are fewer contestants still standing.

I love the 'Extra Slice' programme on Friday nights with Jo Brand....Good fun!

I've tried to watch GBBO on a couple of occasions to see what all the fuss is about. On each occasion I found it very boring. I am in the minority of course

No you are not katy

I do love cake making but never make any as I am constantly dieting, I do feel that I am missing out on so much deliciousness.

I am sure I remember jing saying she makes a cake every Sunday. So wish I could without having absolutely no self control and munching away!

Oh good Margaret I love cake, it's just that I'm not struck on the way everything today is a competition.

I have no interest in baking ( or cooking full stop tbh ), but I love TGBB.

I enjoy getting to know the contestants and the presenters are great , but most of all I love watching the process each contestant goes through to produce their offering. Yes, it goes wrong a lot, but the end result is often stunning - and mouth watering. I can appreciate the skills of others without feeling the need to have a go myself - never say never though and my DH is always surprised how much I know about baking or cooking. Bless those lessons at school and my lovely Mum's determination. Some things sunk in!

Regular cooking shows don't have the same appeal. Love the professional version of Masterchef too.

The taste of a Black Forest Gateau - drooling...

Katie K Personally I don't think it's a show you can dip in and out of. Part of the enjoyment for me is following each contestant and seeing what kind of week they have - and how devilish the judges' are with the technical challenge. smileu

I love GBBO, but I have been thwarted by DD who is a strict vegan. It's possible to make very good cakes without eggs, milk or butter, but somehow it's just not so much fun.

Never thought about vegans before - even though I am vegetarian. Sadly my sweet tooth has a blind spot with cakes, biscuits and desserts (not sweeties though) .

Now and then a contestant does do a veggie option, but the judges - especially Paul - are rarely impressed. I always think they are unfair at these times because they give comments that could apply plenty of other times too. It's like they're too set in their ways, which is a shame.

She really had to go this week.

I'm joining a new book club next week and have offered to make cake. Only problem is that members are on diets so I said I will look for a low fat recipe. If anyone has one to hand, please would you be so kind as to let me have a sneaky look at it?

rubylady I added a recipe to the GN recipe section that doesn't have any added sugar or fat. Try this link:
www.gransnet.com/recipes/dish/6551-Fruit-cake-no-added-sugar-no-fat-recipe

Wilma is so right....GBBO is really much more about the people, how they cope with the challenges (both cooking and dealing with the pressures of the tent and judges). Occasionally the editing does seem a little heavy handed but on the whole one gets the feeling that the mutual support and good natured competitive nature of the programme is genuine and really rather lovely to watch.

I was surprised by Marie's performance last night because she was touted as the bookies' favourite and partly the reason why they stopped taking bets. Bit of a shocker then to see her on her way.

I kept thinking she was going to produce something wonderful - but she didn't. It would have been so unfair if anyone else went home. I think she's a great baker, but the precision and attention to detail needed to succeed on the show isn't something she normally bothers about, probably because it's not necessary in her home environment.

I like this crowd and think the standard is already pretty good, making it hard to spot the winner. Flora gets on my nerves a bit, but I felt for her when her box broke last night. Lots of things going wrong all over the place though!

She just fell apart in last night's episode. Perhaps having been the star baker the first week made her feel the weight of expectations.

Could be. She might have been rattled by Paul after she spoke to him about her biscotti. He certainly didn't give her the reassurance she was after - quite the opposite.

Might try and catch the Jo Brand show this week to see what Marie says about her time on the show. Editing makes a world of difference.

yogagran Thank you so much for your recipe, I will try it out. I even did very well today, went to garden centre today and blinkered my way past all the cakes and hot food and ordered a salad! Gold star to me, . Thanks again.

Wasn't Jo Brand's extra slice on last year straight after the show itself? Or is it me? It looses a bit of the momentum being on two days later.

I thought Extra Slice was on Friday, but perhaps that's just me. It's The Apprentice that has the person kicked off on the show with Dara O'Briain straight afterwards.
Anyway, I love Extra Slice just as much as I love GBBO. So many top quality bakers this year, plus endearing characters you root for...

I love GBBO and used to love baking but after being diagnosed with coeliacs baking became a no no for me. Perhaps one week GBBO could do a session without using flour.

Nanaval - Lots of gluten free four and baking ingredients available at supermarkets, and loads of recipes on-line

nanaval I think that's a great idea, although I can imagine Paul looking down his nose at it!

Watch Extra Slice last night and Marie was lovely (looked lovely too). She was quite emotional and clearly meant it when she said the experience was a dream come true because Mary is one of her heros. Good show all round.

As a master baker he must be able to bake such breads. It would be helpful to so many people to make biscuits without eggs and glutenfree scones.
So many would really benefit from it. it would be worth watching then!

I agree MargaretX and I think it would bring in even more viewers if the show did something to raise the profile of special dietary requirements.

Paul as a Master Baker will use a basic understanding of chemistry, so he should be able to work out how to substitute ingredients.

Gluten free bread next week, should be interesting. Dairy free ice cream and sugarless cakes, think that's right.
Has everyone given up watching this year?

I'm looking forward to the gluten free breads. Hopefully some hints on how to get rid of the dry, chalky texture.