Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

I don't get this bake-off thing

(43 Posts)
jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 10:50:27

Why is the Beeb encouraging people to make, and eat, high sugar/high fat stuff? I thought there was a campaign on to do away with obesity, not encourage it. What happened to that remit of the BBC to "educate"? Do they really think we need educating in how to get fat and unhealthy? hmm

I'll bet it's really cheap television. Just another "reality" show. hmm

Total junk.

kittylester Mon 11-Aug-14 10:54:40

I don't think anyone on GBBO is advocating eating only cake jings and the contestants show a lot of skill and flair. cupcake

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 11:03:12

It encourages the audience. emoticon here

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 11:04:16

They should find something more sensible to be clever at.

janeainsworth Mon 11-Aug-14 11:12:46

With you jingl, not just GBBO but all cheap reality TV.

But you don't have to watch it. Try BBC4 - my heart-throb Andrew Graham-Dixon has been on recently, discussing Chinese Art.

Lona Mon 11-Aug-14 11:20:43

janeainsworth I'm with you there....... and I don't care much for Chinese Art! [leering emo]
I love men that have a lot of knowledge interesting knowledge!

The series in Italy with that Italian chef and Graham is on again, what more could you want? blush

Lona Mon 11-Aug-14 11:21:23

Sorry, all of a fluster, I meant Andrew!

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 11:38:38

Oh, I'm glad to have my 'puter Jane - newspapers, Twitter, and GN.

Seem to watch less and less tv these days.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 11:40:15

I do like the history things they have on BBC4.

janeainsworth Mon 11-Aug-14 11:43:40

Lona shockgrin

Yes jings. Another good one was Melvyn Bargs on the life of Thomas Paine. You should be able to get it on iPlayer.
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2014/32/melvyn-braggs-radical-lives

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 12:00:07

What I'm actually saying here is that the Beeb shouldn't be showing it at all. Not in this age of obesity.

Nothing to do with my viewing habits.

And I object to my licence fee being used on it.

suebailey1 Mon 11-Aug-14 12:17:36

I'm not keen on the bake off either because it makes me lust for cake and if I'm lusting so are others who may well have even less control than me. I suppose you can pick up tips about cake baking but its not good prime time TV. AA Gill did an hilarious review of the Bake off in the Sunday Times yesterday which rather expressed my view of the presenters. And by the way I don't enjoy close ups of people chewing however illustrious they may be.

Lona Mon 11-Aug-14 12:19:12

I've noticed that on BBC3 they've got new 'introductory graphics' IYKWIM.
All pink and black and 'op arty'.

I can't think of the right word to describe them, but they are totally unnecessary and probably cost a fortune!

How can the Beeb justify this sort of expenditure?

Grannyknot Mon 11-Aug-14 12:26:29

jing come on ... ! How can a fairly innocuous programme on home baking be responsible for contributing to the age of obesity. I don't slavishly watch it, but it falls under "light entertainment" in my books so I'm happy for my licence money to be spent on that.

However I agree too many reality shows generally and some are a helluva lot worse than GBBO. At least it promotes making food from scratch at home.

Mishap Mon 11-Aug-14 12:28:50

As someone said yesterday on R4, "cookery programmes on TV are like ventriloquists on the radio."

MiceElf Mon 11-Aug-14 12:29:34

And have you tried the Picnic Pie? Really healthy and utterly delicious.

whenim64 Mon 11-Aug-14 13:01:58

Well, I really enjoy the GBBO and for light entertainment it fits the bill. I wouldn't dismiss all reality TV programmes out of hand - some are apalling, some mediocre, some very good.

Like the Great British Sewing Bee, I enjoy watching people demonstrate their skills and I can pick up a few tips and ideas.

Baked goods are fine in moderation and as part of a varied diet. What's not to like? smile

moomin Mon 11-Aug-14 13:25:54

I watch it and enjoy it, doesn't make me crave cake. If I didn't like the programme I would reach for the off button (seems the sensible thing to do).

Somehow I think people with an obesity problem would still be stuffing themselves with or without GBBO

shysal Mon 11-Aug-14 14:23:14

Thought GBBO would be right up your street Jingle, since on the '10000 step club' thread you claimed to prefer sitting on your a*se eating cake! grin

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 14:28:04

!!!

Believe anything, some people! hmm grin

janeainsworth Mon 11-Aug-14 14:45:15

I think if GBBO encourages people to cook their own[cake] instead of buying it from a shop that's a good thing - at least you have control of the ingredients and know what type of fat has been used and how much sugar.
Anything that encourages people to cook rather than buy ready-made is good.
Though I suppose they are probably preaching to the converted.

sunseeker Mon 11-Aug-14 14:46:43

I don't watch "reality" programmes but would think GBBO is probably the best of them - as I said on the other GBBO thread I am not much of a cook and don't watch it because it makes me feel inadequate!

merlotgran Mon 11-Aug-14 16:25:59

www.gransnet.com/forums/television_and_radio/1209336-Sweet-Ratings-for-the-BBC

I started this thread, jingl but it didn't get very far hmm

I love GBBO and the sister show An Extra Slice even though I don't have a sweet tooth.

rosequartz Mon 11-Aug-14 20:58:20

I don't think cake in itself is contributing to the obesity crisis - look at Mary Berry for goodness' sake - an exercise in self-control if ever there was one. Faced with all those goodies and still slim!

It's the rubbish junk food and high calorie fizzy drinks that are making people obese, not an occasional slice of cake!

I made this just for you, jingl cupcake
Relax and enjoy it with a nice brew

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 11-Aug-14 21:20:23

No! #diet

Thank you all the same. smile