Great British Bake Off

I agree that Richard will probably win, although I'd like one of the others to!

On a flippant note, I'm wondering whether, if does win, they'll persuade him to have his teeth whitened for all the publicity shots...

I noticed them, Ana! Looked as though they could do with a good clean at least.

I was sorry for Chetna, whom I found to be a very honest - about herself-person.

I have made filo too shysal but the bought is so good that I wouldn't bother now. I also learned to bone poultry, prepare fish and make consommé from scratch, clarifying with egg whites, etc. The Cordon Bleu course I took taught me so much about the basics and the chemistry of why things cook in a particular way but everything is so much simpler these days and, mostly, I like it that way.

(I still have the text book with all the recipes in - no pictures!)

That grilled cake [with 20 layers] looked like a killer to make.

I've had a piece of one of those cakes. I wouldn't bother again. Fairly sure Richard will win but they are all so good. It really is very difficult to choose this year.

I couldn't see the point of that grilled 20 layer cake. A lot of trouble to go to for something which is just sponge.

Watched Extra Slice on iPlayer last night and they tried a piece of that layer cake. It was unanimously agreed to be dry and boring. Not surprising really.

I think that layered cake would have been greatly improved by soaking it with an alcoholic syrup.

What are we going to do without all that oozing unctuousness, sticky sweetness and gloops of ganache, not to mention good old Mary and poseur Paul, all held together by thick layers of Mel and Sue's astringent sauciness. I dread to think, reaching for another pack of chocolate fingers...