Great British Bake Off

I thought she looked awful in it!

I love shop bought cake. Especially Angel layer. And lemon Madeira (butter).

Once upon a time in the dark ages I made an Angel cake it required 13 egg whites - can`t remember what else probably sugar - it was magnificent - just needed to share since jingle flagged up Angel layer probably not the same at all anyway hey ho

Am I the only person to think that Mary is being reduced to a sidekick for Paul Hollywood?
He is so patronising and superior, I could give him a large piece of custard pie straight in the kisser!!

He is very smug, isn't he? Fancies himself, as we used to say...

* sparkygran* I've got a recipe for that kind of Angel cake in my (very old) Mrs Beeton's book. It must be a pared down version sizewise. Needs quarter pint of egg whites. I made it once, thinking it was my sort of Angel layer cake - seem to remember it was tough and boring.

sparkygran (in case she doesn't see it)

Have to say I didn't like Mary's jacket either and they are usually very appealing. I agree Lona that she is being downplayed rather. I saw her live at the Birmingham Good Food Show this summer and she did come across as a less dynamic personality than I expected (cannot really explain without being ageist and this is not the place). Perhaps that is allowing Himself to rule the roost, he certainly has an unappealing swagger IMO.

Maybe Mary is just getting a little tired of it all.
I can understand what you mean Purple.

Jingle so glad to meet someone else who tried Angel cake mine I have to say turned out well - I was going to say a showstopper but that would sound very pretentious. It rose to a magnificent height and was very spring sprongy if you know what I mean. It is about 40 years ago I made it so my memories may be rose tinted. However a friend recently talked about it so maybe it was that good. Apparently the same friend always knew when I was pregnant as I used to start icing my cakes very elaborately and I have a clear memory of being in my kitchen with her and the cake was there in all its glory and she uttered the immortal words "you`re preggers" and I hadn`t told anyone yet. Just a little aside. Paul is becoming a bit or an irritant and wasn`t keen on Mary`s jacket either. Do love Mel and Sue just having a

Too much inuendo (what a wonderful word!), they're now saying. Are they right? All pretty harmless and good-natured I think, and its the food that wins, after all.

I love Mel and Sue too and , innocent that I am, I never notice any innuendo

He is very much the alpha-male, our Paul isn't he? I hate to say it, but I think Mary is beginning to show her years. Maybe she should be thinking of retiring whilst she is still at the top?

I find Mel and Sue amusing but a bit like smutty teenagers - best ignored at times!

'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' is smutty schoolboy humour, but it is harmless and I love it! The same applies to Mel and Sue for me.

Paul seems to be more bumptious when the recipe used is one of his, he lets Mary get in the odd word when judging her own! Mary is working so hard these days, I also worry that she will do too much. I have seen her at a dancing show of the group my GD used to belong to . Mary's GD(?s) were also in it, she was humble and sweet, wanting the attention to be on the children.

These are the same people who gossip at work about people they don't really know or will happily tell you they "hate" a celebrity. It's mindlessness really but sadly, as they are not saying it in front of people they know - there is always the cloak of anonymity on most forums, twitter, etc. - they get a feeling of power from being more outrageous than if they were known.

I loved the story about a nasty young man who got his comeuppance when attacking Mary Beard. Someone recognised who he was and said they could put Mary in touch with his Mum. He shrank, grovelled and apologised. Lovely.

Whoops . Should have said that was an answer to shysal about Claire! I forgot to go to the end for the recent comments.

I think the right person went home last night. If he stays true to form Richard could win next week, but the result of the Final is often a surprise. Any predictions?

I agree with both your comments Shysal. Sadly I think Chetna was super nervous last night. Richard does look like a favourite, but they are all so talented. May be wrong, but I get the feeling Paul doesn't like Luis, the way he didn't like Brendan a couple of years ago. Heck it's a cookery competition, not a soap opera, what am I saying?

Agree with you both that it was the right decision. Have to agree with all of them that they will probably never make filo again. .

I think it all depends on individual strengths next week but Richard has to be favourite. Cooking is about flair, baking needs flair but it's based on accuracy and he has that in spades.

Am I the only person who has actually made filo pastry? When I was much younger I enjoyed trying different techniques, just for fun! I miss having the family at home to bake for.

shysal Do you stuff mushrooms as well. I admire you for trying but I just buy a pack in the supermarket.

Bravo, Shysal! I buy it, and flaky pastry, too. Always make my own shortcrust, though.

I agree about Paul Hollywood not liking Luis. Richard has been star baker too many times and the winner is usually the one you don't expect to win so that's......Nancy.

I'd like Luis to win but I think these things are fixed.

I hoped that Luis would be star baker last night. Richard was his usual precise self, but Luis showed a lot of flair.

I`m sorry Chetna lost out last night but it was the right decision I too think she was very nervous. I think Richard must be the front runner but Nancy could nip in and take it I love her attitude and although Luis` bakes always look amazing the taste is not always so good.