James Morton (GBBO) bread webchat - Fri 27 Sept 1-2pm

hello James - how do you write a book and medical study?

Hi James

I can't say I'm much of a baker. The last time I bought a breadmaker I set it to come on at 5am and at about 6 I was woken up by an almighty crash as the thing vibrated its way off the countertop and smashed onto the kitchen floor!

That said, the two or three loaves I got out of it before were quite lovely. My question is, how do you keep fresh bread fresh for longer. I feel like on the (very) odd occasion that we've made a loaf, it's stale by the end of the day. If my sons were still living at home that wouldn't be a problem and it would all be gone but as it is we'd quite like it to last at least one more day.

Do you ever buy supermarket loaves?

Easy recipes for breads that contain non-wheat flours or wheat mixed with other flours please.

We make all our own bread, have done ever since the 1973 strike by the bakers. The only thing we haven't tried is sourdough. Any tips? Friends have not had success with this.

We also find that the quality of the flour makes a huge difference. Marriages is the best. Do you agree?

I echo cari's post - gf bread that tastes like bread please!

Why bread for your book and not cake or biscuits? (I like bread - I prefer cake though)

PS didn't you get hot in the jumpers?

Ha I am another Bake Off obsessive. I would love to know how you combined it with your medical studies - which presumably are pretty full on even before you have to spend every spare minute practising cake.

Yes I want to know more about Bake Off too. I would love to be on it (baking mad) but some of the technical challenges look scary. How did you get on to the show in the first place?

Hi James - is Paul really as scary sa he looks on the bakeoff? And what was it like the first time you ever made anything on the show? Terrifying I would imagine

I make all of my own bread but have only had success with white flour. Do you have any tips to make my wholemeal loaves lighter and less "brick-like"as I'd love to make wholemeal or granary bread but its always way too dense.

googleeyes - have you thought of buying a breadmaker? James, do you think they're worthwhile?

Hi James. We all know fresh bread tastes nicer - but is it really worth the effort when a loaf from the bakers is so cheap?

I too am a keen bread maker, my recipe books include Paul Hollywood's and I have yours on order. Your show-stopping creations made exciting viewing on Bake Off.
My question is about the no-knead method of bread making. It is so easy and gives good results, but when I use a white flour the resulting loaves are a rather grey colour inside, is it me or is it normal?