What’s going on with The Great British Bake Off?

27/10/2018

The Great British Bake off ©️Love Productions 2018

The kids and I have been enjoying this year’s series of The Great British Bake Off. E in particular is absorbing so much cooking knowledge and really becoming interested in what’s going on in our kitchen. But this week’s episode has left me concerned with the direction the series is going. Is watching someone (a very lovely, sweet lady) reduced to tears while being scolded by Paul because their Danish pastries should have been in the oven for another 2minutes really entertainment?

The Great British Bake Off picture of judging

The Great British Bake off ©️Love Productions 2018

The Great British Bake Off is a competition for amateur bakers. The important word here is amateur. When introducing the Semi Final showstopper this week Paul made it very clear the contenstants should be producing professional level patisserie which he would expect to see in a patisserie shop window, I frowned. Not only did they expect perfection, they expected 3 different varieties of perfection. In 5hrs. Maybe they could have produced the perfect row of 6 Mille-feuille in 5hrs, but ask them to also make 6 tarts and 6 Choux buns too is just ridiculous. You’d predict they’d run out of time and present lack lustre offerings - which is exactly what they did.

I have followed Bake Off from the start and have actually enjoyed the new line up over on Channel 4 (just a shame they didn’t change Paul too). The producers need to take it back to what made the show so successful - amateur bakers producing some fun bakes which we all could imagine making ourselves at home (with the odd collapsing cake along the way of course). I’m starting to feel quite uncomfortable watching the bakers have mini nervous breakdowns as they attempt to meet to the ever rising bar expected by the judges. Bring back a technical where we actually know what the bakes should roughly look like before Paul and Prue explain it to us. A showstopper which actually makes us go wow! Not with just half the decoration on.

Let’s see what the final has in store...

21 Comments

Sabina link

27/10/2018 12:17:26 pm

I agree with you. Paul has been extremely harsh this series. I find it unnecessary.

Sarah Stockley link

27/10/2018 12:24:19 pm

We watch every week and have watched for years. We are gutted that Manon and Bryony have left the tent. Paul has been pretty nasty, I wonder whether he has been told to be like that?

Jen link

27/10/2018 02:26:44 pm

I love the Bake Off (especially Noel) but it feels like they're just setting them up to fail at the moment. I completely agree with you!

Sonia Cave link

27/10/2018 06:30:17 pm

Oh no that sounds really sad. I have never watched it, but to make people feel small and insignificant especially on such a public stage is not very nice at all

Isabella link

27/10/2018 07:37:30 pm

Totally agree with you. I was disgusted with Paul’s dressing down of the competitors. It’s ridiculous what they expect from them. It’s turned me off from watching anymore

Rochelle link

27/10/2018 09:15:19 pm

That’s such a shame - I hate it when tv shows deliberately set contestants up to fail by making tasks so ridiculously difficult. I don’t care about time limits, I’d rather see the best someone can do and be inspired!

Kim Carberry link

28/10/2018 12:40:46 am

It all has got a little too serious. It's not needed at all x

the Frenchie Mummy link

28/10/2018 08:16:58 pm

We do not have a TV so I am not watching this. I did not realise that was so competitive in a way. Those shows are very often set up so...

Hayley McLean

28/10/2018 11:05:42 pm

Oh dear, that sounds quite uncomfortable viewing. I used to love back off but I must admit, I havent watched it since it changed channels and line up. I keep meaning to give it a try! x

Bec Jones link

29/10/2018 10:16:08 am

I'm having reservations about bake off this year too - it seems as if they're expecting far too much of the contestants in limited time too - and some of the choices of who to send home have been odd. I'll still be watching the final though.

Sonia link

29/10/2018 01:09:12 pm

I've not watched the bake off for a few years, I'm a huge fan of Masterchef. I really need to start watching it again... maybe next year x

Annette, 3 Little Buttons link

29/10/2018 08:27:28 pm

We haven't had the chance to watch it this year, but I totally agree that it's meant to be a fun show. I wouldn't want to watch someone reduced to tears over baking. x

Nazrin link

30/10/2018 05:20:41 pm

I second that, I feel like he’s being a little extra this season because he has to. He doesn’t have Mary!

Clare Minall

1/11/2018 07:27:56 am

I love the Bake off and I totally agree about Paul being so harsh in this series. And it made me feel not to watch.

Vicky

1/11/2018 07:22:21 pm

I've stopped watching it since it moved to c4 but used to really love it. It's a shame they've changed the format so much

Latte Lindsay link

5/11/2018 10:30:01 am

I don't watch the Bake Off but my mum is a fan and has watched it from the first series. She hates the way the show is going and has started to switch off.

Szebastian Onne #INSPIRE

5/11/2018 04:52:07 pm

These 'Bake Off' shows started off great, and were a great fun to watch with the family. The commercialization and TRP Rating competitions are increasing the pressure and taking things to a boiling point. Hopefully, more viewers will pitch in to your view and show producers will act on the feedback.

fashionandstylepolice link

6/11/2018 09:39:20 am

I have heard a lot of good things about this show. I have never watched it before but I hear it is good entertainment.

Albion link

6/11/2018 08:26:07 pm

We watch Bake Off as a family and I really enjoyed this season--except for those same moments with Paul. I found myself getting so frustrated at some of the tasks, too. Like who in their right mind had them working over a fire pit in the final technical?! It feels like they weren't able to do the super creative bakes from seasons past and I know we would have seen some amazing ones.

vicky hallnewman link

7/11/2018 06:06:31 am

I actually haven't watched any of this series of Bake off, I prefer it with Mary Berry (who I met in the summer). But my daughter watched it and she wasn't very happy with it and the choice of winner . It's such a shame because it was always a great programme

Leanie link

7/11/2018 11:05:39 pm

I"m from South Africa so I'm not aware of this Bake Off programme, but I agree that you dont mess with a programme that are working. It should be fun and creative and that you the viewer learn something in the same process that you can created in your own kitchen. If they want such a high standard why don't let say first year Chef enter this competition enter.