Great British Bake Off - Discuss

The Blessed Mary. I first saw her when daytime tv started in 1972. I was a new mum and watched the first episode of Emmerdale Farm. Mary had a cookery show. She was very attractive and has kept her looks. On tonight's show first- night nerves were very evident but there are some very promising bakers. I've decided that we must have some cake while we watch. It's the law!

I loved the black guy( Selassi?) I can see him turning into a character, and he could bake. The older lady was a bit annoying with her exercises. I'm not sure how the lady with the purple lipstick managed to keep it on throughout. Still, it's what keeps me watching.

Oh yes Selassie is very cool, claims to' busk' his cooking, I doubt it. What perfection! Waiting for taste TV.

It was obvious from the get-go who would be the first casualty - Lee was totally out of his depth, poor chap, but there were definitely other candidates teetering on the edge too. There were some merciless comments on Twitter about the Welsh lady's orange shaped drizzle cake! Early days.... DH was mesmerised by the purple lipstick!

Yes ,that lipstick made her look a bit like Minnie Mouse

First thought...life's too short to bake your own Jaffa cakes!

I love this programme, if only to watch the cracking Paul Hollywood twinkle his way through it !!

I too liked Selassi , I did think the lady with the unmovable lipstick was flirting with him

I think it has the makings of a good series ! But I agree , going forward there will be cake while we watch !

Love "Great British Bake Off" - really glad it's back. I've not got a favourite yet but agree that the lady who kept exercising was annoying. Something to look forward to on Wednesday night especially as "Long Lost Family" has finished.

Am I the only one who has never watched it?

Am I the only one who really really doesn't like this Bake Off ???

Slightly off subject but I loved the programme that followed GBBO, Chronicles of Nadiya. Last years bake off winner travelling to Bangladesh to see more of the country of her grandparents. She is so easy to listen to and I love her enthusiasm.

Great British Bake Off.I find it a real turn off.......and hardly fits in with the anti obesity message does it?

Why is television so dumbed down now, how many food programmes can we stomach in a week? It was fine for one series but everything is just done to death..........

Who cares about the contestants of their books, charity shops will be full of them in a year or so.......all the recipes free on the net anyway.

Only the wealthy west can watch this food porn roll out and feel 'part of it'. Civilisations in decline elevate food to an art form, praise chefs and have very violent themes in theatre etc

We treat the world as a farm where products are grown for us and shipped here at vast financial and environmental costs......to others of course.

Glad to see GBBO back - but agree with Zengran that last night's episode was eclipsed by The Chronicles of Nadiya... A fantastic programme about a lovely woman who seems to be just as delightful as she appeared in last year's series. I enjoyed it very much, and am now really looking forward to the second part next week

I agree Zengran, watching the Chronicles of Nadia after GBBO was an extra treat.
Nadia is such a positive role model for British Muslim women and a natural in front of the cameras, her family are obviously very proud of her.

Grannylyn, you're not the only one who's gone off Bake Off. Right from the first show I found Mel and Sue mildly irritating and that only got worse with each series. The dumb innuendo got on my nerves. Paul just thinks he's gorgeous, because the media says he is, along with, no doubt, a lot of ladies of our age.
I still like Mary, but prefer to watch her shows on the various food channels where it's a lot more than cake.
At the end of the series before last I decided I'd had enough of watching people peering into ovens but because of the endless media coverage I might as well have watched it! No escape!!

I missed it last night. Will there be a repeat on Sunday like there was last time?
I agree with you HannahLoisLuke about Paul. I've seen some of his other series and all he does is eat!

Fair enough, those of you who don't like it. But millions of us love it. The first one of this series was great and it promises to be every bit as good as previous years.
It's harmless and entertaining, so live and let live.

I love baking myself and, at my enhusiastic daughter's recommendation, watched the GBBO show. I really did not like the format and thought that judging such fantastic efforts was hardy appropriate as it is all so subjective. I also did not like the male judge as he was rude, unappreciative and arrogant. Mary Berry is, however, a treasure: polite, charming and encouraging. My very first cookery book back in 1977 was a Mary Berry and it did not contain one 'dud' recipe. I am still using her basic techniques and recipes weekly.

What do Mel and Sue add to this programme - mildly irritating is rather kind! What is the point of the programme at all? Why does Paul cut such a large slice out of each cake - surely the contestants like to take home as much as possible - Mary and Paul surely don't finish every slice. Silly programme - could do without it quite easily!!

I love the programme , Mary so calm and gentle with her opinions, Paul outspoken and flirty , a real foil for each other . Great recipes , smashing characters and mostly likeable contestants . I could watch it every day

The early episodes always seem to suffer because there are so many contestants and the judging seems very rushed - possibly it's had to be edited a lot to fit into the hour slot.

It gets more interesting when there are fewer contestants left!

Has anyone else noticed that Paul and Mary have the bluest eyes I have ever seen......are they wearing matching contact lenses?

That thought crossed my mind too, Lynker - they certainly are a startling blue, especially for an 81-year-old!

I can't watch it as it makes me want to bake. If I do that we eat cake and get fat, does anyone have a calorie free recipe?