The Great British Bake-off
October 7, 2015 5:52 PM Subscribe
The winner of the Great British Bake-off Season 6 (spoilers!)
Nadiya Jamir Hussain, a mother of three from Leeds, became the sixth and arguably most popular popular winner of the baking-contest-turned-cultural-juggernaut, after an almost flawless final round in which she delivered “lovely” iced buns, near-perfect raspberry millefeuilles and a triple-tiered lemon drizzle wedding cake, which judge Mary Berry described as “stunning ... sheer perfection”
Nadiya Jamir Hussain, a mother of three from Leeds, became the sixth and arguably most popular popular winner of the baking-contest-turned-cultural-juggernaut, after an almost flawless final round in which she delivered “lovely” iced buns, near-perfect raspberry millefeuilles and a triple-tiered lemon drizzle wedding cake, which judge Mary Berry described as “stunning ... sheer perfection”
I've been watching season 1 of Great British Bake-Off on Amazon (sorry, make that Great British Baking Show) and it is the best. It's everything that's amazing about reality shows with none of the crappy bits. I'm only halfway through the season, but I can't decide if Mr. Builder or the 17-year-old is my favorite.
Plus, Sue Perkins is on it. Which is amazing. I didn't think I'd ever see her again after I finished Supersizers Go, so I'm thrilled she's there.
posted by Itaxpica at 7:08 PM on October 7, 2015
Plus, Sue Perkins is on it. Which is amazing. I didn't think I'd ever see her again after I finished Supersizers Go, so I'm thrilled she's there.
posted by Itaxpica at 7:08 PM on October 7, 2015
Yes! We've been having a healthy discussion of the show over on Fanfare. It's so good. I've been able to watch every episode on YouTube, too, if anyone wants to catch up (you have to sort through a bunch of spammy "click here to go to another site and watch" links though) Knowing the winner won't ruin it, I don't think. Nadia's confidence growth was such a thrill to watch every week, and the other bakers are all pretty entertaining (especially Tamal).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:15 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:15 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I AM ECSTATIC. But I would have been pretty happy if Tamal won too, and not mad if Ian won, and this is why Bake-Off is truly the greatest.
posted by babelfish at 8:04 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 8:04 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm afraid you're out of luck, showbiz_liz. Tamal is gay.
posted by bcarter3 at 8:53 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by bcarter3 at 8:53 PM on October 7, 2015
Well one of us is just going to have to make a few adjustments
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:19 PM on October 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:19 PM on October 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
Congratulations Nadiya! I was rooting for Tamal, but really, I'm so glad that Nadiya won in the end. I've really enjoyed this series, more so than the previous ones.
posted by conic at 9:27 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by conic at 9:27 PM on October 7, 2015
Crumbs!
posted by Mister Bijou at 10:49 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by Mister Bijou at 10:49 PM on October 7, 2015
Without wanting to serious this up too much, there is so much about this show that demonstrates the extraordinary goodness in spirit and form in its running and conception.
I had a friend mock me for watching it, as it was 'reality TV' and therefore 'all made up' - I pointed out that the experts on the show were an older woman and a younger man, and that that is a combination you simply don't see on TV. It is sad that it can be so refreshing, but it is.
Secondly: it's clear they screen and support contestants - I hear this second-hand from people who have applied to take part, and infer it from the fact that there really haven't been any major disasters or scandals despite the intense coverage (at least, not from the contestants...). Also - the fact that the result never seems to leak in advance makes me feel that everyone involved, every camera person, lighting tech, runner, ingredient shopper, etc, feels positive enough about the show that they don't want to spoil it.
So, yeah, it is gentle and thrilling and encourages people to make cakes. I'm not sure you can get better.
(Caveat: I only engage with GBBO via twitter and the odd online story, so I may have missed a scandal or two in the social magazines...)
posted by AFII at 11:41 PM on October 7, 2015 [10 favorites]
I had a friend mock me for watching it, as it was 'reality TV' and therefore 'all made up' - I pointed out that the experts on the show were an older woman and a younger man, and that that is a combination you simply don't see on TV. It is sad that it can be so refreshing, but it is.
Secondly: it's clear they screen and support contestants - I hear this second-hand from people who have applied to take part, and infer it from the fact that there really haven't been any major disasters or scandals despite the intense coverage (at least, not from the contestants...). Also - the fact that the result never seems to leak in advance makes me feel that everyone involved, every camera person, lighting tech, runner, ingredient shopper, etc, feels positive enough about the show that they don't want to spoil it.
So, yeah, it is gentle and thrilling and encourages people to make cakes. I'm not sure you can get better.
(Caveat: I only engage with GBBO via twitter and the odd online story, so I may have missed a scandal or two in the social magazines...)
posted by AFII at 11:41 PM on October 7, 2015 [10 favorites]
My flatmate and I screamed so loudly at Nadiya's win that the cats ran away in terror.
posted by toerinishuman at 1:29 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by toerinishuman at 1:29 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
1. "millefeuille": Really there should have been some kind of bonus point for anybody who could say this correctly - nobody did; so where is the BBC pronunciation Unit in the show's hour of need? And there is probably some obscure loi which would have ensured whoever suggested that they should be made like that would be formally barred from entering French territory. Yes I'm a snob.
2. Garlands: I'm old enough to remember those fusty old shows where the audience was expected to be composed of people who were actually going to cook the recipes ("I'll pause while you write that down"). Then there was a period when producers sort of kidded themselves the audience might cook. What is fun with Bake-off is that all pretense has been dropped - and this leaves the producers to obsess on all the details by which we might furnish our fiendishly over-elaborate baking fantasy: peer through all the festive bunting to look at the stately home - with its chamfered cornices and ball finials. Indulge yourself in the crisply laundered tablecloths, and the daftly expensive mixers, and (for the finale) the families who appeared to dine on the lawns from wicker hampers while their suspiciously well turned out children wore garlands of flowers in their hair and chased fireflies as the sun set as they tucked into Ian's gargantuan five-layer carrot cake. Yes - you can get married there.
3. A view from Scotland: At last years referendum the country divided itself into Yes and No camps. Union jacks and trusting any pronouncements of the BBC were the provenance of "no" voters. True Yes voters long ago cancelled their license fee in disgust and exist in bunkered isolation of all mainstream media propaganda - and particularly any of the exploding number of shows with "British" in the title.
But we did secretly cheer on the self-effacing prodigy named Flora.
4. The Cherished Prize: One of the best traditions of BBC competitions is the shittiness of the award: Some BBC intern must have been tasked with procuring the miserable cake stand that Nadiya walked away with: stand from Poundstretcher, engraving at Timpsons; job done.
posted by rongorongo at 1:55 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
2. Garlands: I'm old enough to remember those fusty old shows where the audience was expected to be composed of people who were actually going to cook the recipes ("I'll pause while you write that down"). Then there was a period when producers sort of kidded themselves the audience might cook. What is fun with Bake-off is that all pretense has been dropped - and this leaves the producers to obsess on all the details by which we might furnish our fiendishly over-elaborate baking fantasy: peer through all the festive bunting to look at the stately home - with its chamfered cornices and ball finials. Indulge yourself in the crisply laundered tablecloths, and the daftly expensive mixers, and (for the finale) the families who appeared to dine on the lawns from wicker hampers while their suspiciously well turned out children wore garlands of flowers in their hair and chased fireflies as the sun set as they tucked into Ian's gargantuan five-layer carrot cake. Yes - you can get married there.
3. A view from Scotland: At last years referendum the country divided itself into Yes and No camps. Union jacks and trusting any pronouncements of the BBC were the provenance of "no" voters. True Yes voters long ago cancelled their license fee in disgust and exist in bunkered isolation of all mainstream media propaganda - and particularly any of the exploding number of shows with "British" in the title.
But we did secretly cheer on the self-effacing prodigy named Flora.
4. The Cherished Prize: One of the best traditions of BBC competitions is the shittiness of the award: Some BBC intern must have been tasked with procuring the miserable cake stand that Nadiya walked away with: stand from Poundstretcher, engraving at Timpsons; job done.
posted by rongorongo at 1:55 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Nadiya gifs & quotes!
My favourite (about a technical challenge):
My favourite (about a technical challenge):
I did actually see these in Mary Berry’s recipe book.posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:15 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Did I read it?
No. I thought: I’m not going to make that, it’s really fiddly.
rongorongo, you can get all the recipes from season 6 online from the bbc, so the people who might have been writing stuff down can now just download them. Telegraph also has them.
posted by biffa at 2:16 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by biffa at 2:16 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
This show just makes me smile so much. It's difficult to explain to people who aren't into it why a bunch of people baking cakes without any manufactured drama could be such gripping TV. I liked all the semifinalists, but Nadiya was obviously my favourite (did anyone catch her little daughter being interviewed? She has the same epic facial expressions as her mom!). My favourite thing about this show is how the contestants always have time to help each other. It goes against the typical reality TV brief in so many ways but it really works and is the only reality show that I enjoy watching. Now for another year of GBBO withdrawal!
posted by Ziggy500 at 2:41 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Ziggy500 at 2:41 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
When they announced the final technical challenge was millefeuille, to my ears they pronounced it like you would the highly invasive water plant. I doubt that would make a good dessert.
Early in this series, I believe Ian was the favorite to take it all. My wife pointed out that in the end, he didn't seem to elevate his skills much from where they started, whereas Nadiya just kept getting better. The three finalists all seemed to be really skilled.
It's confusing that what the wiki calls series 5 is available on Amazon in the US as season 1. I'm guessing at least BBC and Amazon would financially benefit by offering the back catalog to the American public.
posted by SteveInMaine at 2:59 AM on October 8, 2015
Early in this series, I believe Ian was the favorite to take it all. My wife pointed out that in the end, he didn't seem to elevate his skills much from where they started, whereas Nadiya just kept getting better. The three finalists all seemed to be really skilled.
It's confusing that what the wiki calls series 5 is available on Amazon in the US as season 1. I'm guessing at least BBC and Amazon would financially benefit by offering the back catalog to the American public.
posted by SteveInMaine at 2:59 AM on October 8, 2015
A friend was surprised at the very polarised reaction Flora got, given how good she clearly was at just nineteen. I suspect the footage of her was selected to push the narrative of 'upper middle-class posh Anglo-Scot' - e.g. her admission in one episode that she'd forgotten to turn on the oven because she was used to cooking in an AGA that was always on, or her comment in another that she hadn't heard of a recipe despite owning a hundred books on baking.
In the 'where are they now?' section at the end of the final, when the caption for Flora noted that she was baking for her fellow students, my (Scottish) wife commented sotto voce "no doubt at St Andrews". Good guess.
(The University of St Andrews has a not entirely undeserved reputation as the place to you if you want Oxbridge social status but in Scotland.)
posted by Major Clanger at 3:23 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
In the 'where are they now?' section at the end of the final, when the caption for Flora noted that she was baking for her fellow students, my (Scottish) wife commented sotto voce "no doubt at St Andrews". Good guess.
(The University of St Andrews has a not entirely undeserved reputation as the place to you if you want Oxbridge social status but in Scotland.)
posted by Major Clanger at 3:23 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
A view from Scotland
If only the show had featured competition for the biggest chips...
posted by Segundus at 3:32 AM on October 8, 2015
If only the show had featured competition for the biggest chips...
posted by Segundus at 3:32 AM on October 8, 2015
...when the caption for Flora noted that she was baking for her fellow students, my (Scottish) wife commented sotto voce "no doubt at St Andrews". Good guess.
Not just St Andrews - but History of Art at St Andrews. But she does tell you how to made avocados on toast on her website - which is about my culinary level.
No Scottish version in the works, as far as I'm aware. I'd recommend Le meilleur patissier which is the French incarnation.
posted by rongorongo at 3:54 AM on October 8, 2015
Not just St Andrews - but History of Art at St Andrews. But she does tell you how to made avocados on toast on her website - which is about my culinary level.
No Scottish version in the works, as far as I'm aware. I'd recommend Le meilleur patissier which is the French incarnation.
posted by rongorongo at 3:54 AM on October 8, 2015
"crème pat". Like fingers down a blackboard.
posted by fatfrank at 4:24 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by fatfrank at 4:24 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
What went wrong with the American version?
Well, the operative word in that sentence is "American". It suffered from all the over-production and bombast one has come to expect from American network television. Plus Jeff Foxworthy.
posted by briank at 5:13 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
Well, the operative word in that sentence is "American". It suffered from all the over-production and bombast one has come to expect from American network television. Plus Jeff Foxworthy.
posted by briank at 5:13 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
My partner has become obsessed with this show. We've been rewatching last season on netflix after only watching it for the first time about a month back.
But wait, Jeff Foxworthy?
posted by lownote at 5:40 AM on October 8, 2015
But wait, Jeff Foxworthy?
posted by lownote at 5:40 AM on October 8, 2015
: One of the best traditions of BBC competitions is the shittiness of the award: Some BBC intern must have been tasked with procuring the miserable cake stand that Nadiya walked away with: stand from Poundstretcher, engraving at Timpsons; job done
Yeah, I love how bad the BBC prizes are. My mother owns the "coveted Pointless trophy" for instance, and I can confirm that it is quite rubbish. Mastermind's prize is probably my favourite of the exceptionally bad prizes for a really hard contest.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 5:44 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I love how bad the BBC prizes are. My mother owns the "coveted Pointless trophy" for instance, and I can confirm that it is quite rubbish. Mastermind's prize is probably my favourite of the exceptionally bad prizes for a really hard contest.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 5:44 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
What went wrong with the American version?
I suspect that an examination of Kitchen Nightmares (UK vs. US version) would be a pretty instructive answer to this question for any non-US show re-made in the US.
UK: Gordon Ramsay legitimately wants to help people with their restaurant troubles, up to and including mentoring staff and helping revamp their businesses. He's sometimes a bit gruff, but mostly pretty amiable and seems genuinely to want people to do better.
US: GORDON RAMSAY SCREAMS AT PEOPLE.
posted by tocts at 5:53 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
I suspect that an examination of Kitchen Nightmares (UK vs. US version) would be a pretty instructive answer to this question for any non-US show re-made in the US.
UK: Gordon Ramsay legitimately wants to help people with their restaurant troubles, up to and including mentoring staff and helping revamp their businesses. He's sometimes a bit gruff, but mostly pretty amiable and seems genuinely to want people to do better.
US: GORDON RAMSAY SCREAMS AT PEOPLE.
posted by tocts at 5:53 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
Flora was lovely & I will take on all comers on this.
I really thought Nadiya would annoy the * out of me at the beginning of the series, but she really grew on me & by the end you couldn’t help but like her enormously.
posted by pharm at 6:00 AM on October 8, 2015
I really thought Nadiya would annoy the * out of me at the beginning of the series, but she really grew on me & by the end you couldn’t help but like her enormously.
posted by pharm at 6:00 AM on October 8, 2015
Yeah, I love how bad the BBC prizes are.
Blankety Blank chequebook and pen anyone?
posted by sobarel at 6:01 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Blankety Blank chequebook and pen anyone?
posted by sobarel at 6:01 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Nadiya is the absolute best, and I was so happy to see her win.
Bake-Off is great because it doesn't have any of the mean-spiritedness that seems to be par for the course on reality shows. The Apprentice (which is about to start a new season in the UK) is a good example; so much of it is just "let's laugh at these idiots".
posted by jonnyploy at 6:01 AM on October 8, 2015
Bake-Off is great because it doesn't have any of the mean-spiritedness that seems to be par for the course on reality shows. The Apprentice (which is about to start a new season in the UK) is a good example; so much of it is just "let's laugh at these idiots".
posted by jonnyploy at 6:01 AM on October 8, 2015
It's confusing that what the wiki calls series 5 is available on Amazon in the US as season 1. I'm guessing at least BBC and Amazon would financially benefit by offering the back catalog to the American public.
OK, I was wondering about that, as there seemed to be quite a bit of shared history between the hosts, judges, and contestants. I thought maybe it was from other similar shows. Anyone know of a way to stream the other seasons in the US?
posted by Rock Steady at 6:12 AM on October 8, 2015
OK, I was wondering about that, as there seemed to be quite a bit of shared history between the hosts, judges, and contestants. I thought maybe it was from other similar shows. Anyone know of a way to stream the other seasons in the US?
posted by Rock Steady at 6:12 AM on October 8, 2015
Yeah, I love how bad the BBC prizes are.
This week also saw the final part of "Special Forces, Ultimate Hell Week"
- where the person who had done easily the most impressive bog crawling, mountain scaling, ninja battling, backpack toting, press-up acing and interrogation withstanding over 6 weeks was rewarded with "Well done!" [roll credits]
posted by rongorongo at 6:19 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
This week also saw the final part of "Special Forces, Ultimate Hell Week"
- where the person who had done easily the most impressive bog crawling, mountain scaling, ninja battling, backpack toting, press-up acing and interrogation withstanding over 6 weeks was rewarded with "Well done!" [roll credits]
posted by rongorongo at 6:19 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
They're hardly going to go around spending licence fee payers' money on briefcases of cash and yachts. This isn't ITV.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:46 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:46 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
So pleased for Nadiya - I can't think of a less on-the-make or careerist show winner
posted by DanCall at 6:47 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by DanCall at 6:47 AM on October 8, 2015
So, yeah, it is gentle and thrilling and encourages people to make cakes.
"Gentle" is exactly the right word, and it's the reason that this is our favorite "reality" show. Shows like Project Runway and Top Chef turned to crap when they became less about fashion and food, and more about deliberately manufacturing drama between the contestants. You could actually watch, season to season, as the producers decided to do more sleep deprivation and more absurd "team challenges" in an effort to create "good TV," apparently defined as people shouting obscenities at each other and crying.
There is none of that on GBBO. Everyone involved genuinely seems to like each other, up to and including the goofy hosts who periodically screw up someone's bake by (I am not making this up) putting a stray elbow in it or eating some critical part of it prior to judging. And because the show is focused on food, not fake personal drama, you also learn a lot about baking and food history, which is super fun. It's the best thing on TV because the formula works perfectly for what it is.
However, lest you think we are high brow, in my house we also love American Ninja Warrior. British Ninja Warrior would presumably not be as good, for all the same reasons.
posted by The Bellman at 6:58 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
"Gentle" is exactly the right word, and it's the reason that this is our favorite "reality" show. Shows like Project Runway and Top Chef turned to crap when they became less about fashion and food, and more about deliberately manufacturing drama between the contestants. You could actually watch, season to season, as the producers decided to do more sleep deprivation and more absurd "team challenges" in an effort to create "good TV," apparently defined as people shouting obscenities at each other and crying.
There is none of that on GBBO. Everyone involved genuinely seems to like each other, up to and including the goofy hosts who periodically screw up someone's bake by (I am not making this up) putting a stray elbow in it or eating some critical part of it prior to judging. And because the show is focused on food, not fake personal drama, you also learn a lot about baking and food history, which is super fun. It's the best thing on TV because the formula works perfectly for what it is.
However, lest you think we are high brow, in my house we also love American Ninja Warrior. British Ninja Warrior would presumably not be as good, for all the same reasons.
posted by The Bellman at 6:58 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
So, yeah, it is gentle and thrilling and encourages people to make cakes.
Last week I pulled out my copy of Ratio and made some cookies, having not baked anything in the past 3 or 4 years aside from Thanksgiving pies, all because of this show.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:10 AM on October 8, 2015
Last week I pulled out my copy of Ratio and made some cookies, having not baked anything in the past 3 or 4 years aside from Thanksgiving pies, all because of this show.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:10 AM on October 8, 2015
British Ninja Warrior would presumably not be as good, for all the same reasons.
You could try Ninja Day Off to see how British ninjas live on a day to day basis.
posted by biffa at 7:37 AM on October 8, 2015
You could try Ninja Day Off to see how British ninjas live on a day to day basis.
posted by biffa at 7:37 AM on October 8, 2015
For those wondering about earlier seasons, the two PBS stations in my area (central VA) have been showing Series 2 (i.e., about 3-4 years ago) on Saturday afternoons/Sunday evenings. They're also available On-Demand through Comcast.
posted by kuanes at 7:38 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by kuanes at 7:38 AM on October 8, 2015
GBBO was the show that made my husband and I realize we need to have at least one "nice" show on decks to balance out all the dramas and dramedys we generally watch, for when we're just feeling too delicate.
I feel like, in the past two series, they've stopped emphasizing that the show is shot on weekends and contestants go back to work or whatever every week. I always thought that was part of the show's charm, and I don't know if it's just brought up less often now or if the shooting structure has actually changed.
For US viewers: In past years, there have been several extra (or associated) episodes that are just Paul and Mary doing master classes, sometimes related to the show's challenges and sometimes holiday specials. I don't know if Amazon/PBS are airing those, but they're really great, so you may have to cast around and find them by other means if necessary.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:53 AM on October 8, 2015
I feel like, in the past two series, they've stopped emphasizing that the show is shot on weekends and contestants go back to work or whatever every week. I always thought that was part of the show's charm, and I don't know if it's just brought up less often now or if the shooting structure has actually changed.
For US viewers: In past years, there have been several extra (or associated) episodes that are just Paul and Mary doing master classes, sometimes related to the show's challenges and sometimes holiday specials. I don't know if Amazon/PBS are airing those, but they're really great, so you may have to cast around and find them by other means if necessary.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:53 AM on October 8, 2015
I feel like, in the past two series, they've stopped emphasizing that the show is shot on weekends and contestants go back to work or whatever every week. I always thought that was part of the show's charm, and I don't know if it's just brought up less often now or if the shooting structure has actually changed.
This is the first series I've seen, and I definitely picked up on that fact without any trouble. Several contestants mentioned practicing their recipes at home, how their families were coping, etc. And it seemed like they often mentioned the fact that it was a weekend.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:02 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is the first series I've seen, and I definitely picked up on that fact without any trouble. Several contestants mentioned practicing their recipes at home, how their families were coping, etc. And it seemed like they often mentioned the fact that it was a weekend.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:02 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's one aspect of GBBO that, since I noticed it, has really bugged me when I watch, and I've yet to see it addressed in any of the behind-the-scenes reports.
Each heat is filmed over one weekend. It looks like the Signature Dish and Technical Challenge are done on the Saturday, and the Show-Stopper on the Sunday.
Without exception, the contestants are wearing exactly the same clothes throughout.
I can understand why this is done for continuity purposes, but how? Is everyone told to bring two sets of identical clothes? (Unlikely). Is there some rapid overnight laundry courtesy of the BBC? Or is everyone really whiffy after two days slaving over cakes in a tent in summer whilst wearing the same clothes?
posted by Major Clanger at 8:18 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Each heat is filmed over one weekend. It looks like the Signature Dish and Technical Challenge are done on the Saturday, and the Show-Stopper on the Sunday.
Without exception, the contestants are wearing exactly the same clothes throughout.
I can understand why this is done for continuity purposes, but how? Is everyone told to bring two sets of identical clothes? (Unlikely). Is there some rapid overnight laundry courtesy of the BBC? Or is everyone really whiffy after two days slaving over cakes in a tent in summer whilst wearing the same clothes?
posted by Major Clanger at 8:18 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Fans of BBO may also enjoy the Great British Sewing Bee, which is equally charming, excruciatingly suave due to judge Patrick Grant (will you just look at that man) and delightfully hosted by Claudia Winkleman who gives Mel and Sue a run for thier money on the adorable, genuine host stakes
posted by Ness at 8:21 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Ness at 8:21 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nadiya picked up so much support towards the end that her hardcore fans were tweeting gags like 'all you glory hunters, where were you when it was gluten-free week, eh?'
So nice to see that for many people a load of possible 'headscarf-bans-muslim-integration-blah-blah' stuff that fills the papers every day just evaporated with cakes and people having fun.
posted by colie at 8:23 AM on October 8, 2015
So nice to see that for many people a load of possible 'headscarf-bans-muslim-integration-blah-blah' stuff that fills the papers every day just evaporated with cakes and people having fun.
posted by colie at 8:23 AM on October 8, 2015
I'm reliably informed by someone who spends two days baking each week just to prepare for watching the show that Nadiya is "absolutely fucking brilliant".
One of these years I will watch. Mostly I'm in it for the leftovers.
posted by vbfg at 9:00 AM on October 8, 2015
One of these years I will watch. Mostly I'm in it for the leftovers.
posted by vbfg at 9:00 AM on October 8, 2015
2012: White person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on the front page.
2013: White person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on the front page.
2014: White person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on the front page.
2015: Ethnic minority person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on page 7.
posted by alby at 9:12 AM on October 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
2013: White person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on the front page.
2014: White person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on the front page.
2015: Ethnic minority person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on page 7.
posted by alby at 9:12 AM on October 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
No real interest in baking, but I've been loving that show... recently Netflix suggested it to me, and their algorithms were sooo right. I just can't watch that show without laughing hysterically the whole time. It's just so... British.
posted by ph00dz at 9:51 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by ph00dz at 9:51 AM on October 8, 2015
The Daily Mail also published an opinion piece that said Flora might have won 'if she'd made a chocolate mosque instead.' Which was one of those moments when you're glad Twitter exists.
posted by colie at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by colie at 9:53 AM on October 8, 2015
They say that if you can bake a cake, you can make a bomb, and by that logic I should definitely be kept away from the explosives when the zombie revolution comes- but the Bake Off contestants are probably the sort of people who will be Britain’s last line of defence, quietly constructing landmines and apologising that the stitching on the flag of insurrection isn’t quite perfect. People with this specific and terrifying personality type are that are precisely the reason Britain once had an empire, as well as the reason we’re now rather embarrassed about it.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:54 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:54 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
2015: Ethnic minority person wins GBBO, Daily Mail puts them on page 7.
Not sure if it's been linked already, but this is the paper who complained that white people were being kicked off and the white people should have made a "chocolate mosque" to stay in. I now have the song "If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake" but with the words "If you want to get on Bake Off make a chocolate mosque, a chocolate mosque, a chocolate mosque..." stuck in my head.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 10:00 AM on October 8, 2015
Not sure if it's been linked already, but this is the paper who complained that white people were being kicked off and the white people should have made a "chocolate mosque" to stay in. I now have the song "If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake" but with the words "If you want to get on Bake Off make a chocolate mosque, a chocolate mosque, a chocolate mosque..." stuck in my head.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 10:00 AM on October 8, 2015
From the delightful article showbiz_liz linked above:
Legend has it that if anybody has a real breakdown in the middle of a signature bake, presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins stand next to them repeating brand names and swear-words so the cameramen can’t use the footage, and don’t you dare disabuse me of that fact, because I want it to be true.posted by Lexica at 11:42 AM on October 8, 2015 [13 favorites]
I was familiar with Mel from old episodes of Would I Lie to You, and have been amazed to discover via Bake Off coverage that THAT'S how you spell her last name. I never could have guessed that in a million years.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:44 AM on October 8, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:44 AM on October 8, 2015
It was in season two that Bake Off really took off on Twitter, when the camera lingered for a second on a squirrel displaying a pair of enormous testicles, a cause of enormous hilarity among the commentariat.
PLEASE tell me this made it to the currently airing PBS version
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:00 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
PLEASE tell me this made it to the currently airing PBS version
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:00 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love how Mary teared up at the end. I cried when Nadiya talked about not saying "I can't" any more. What a great series!
posted by rtha at 1:09 PM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by rtha at 1:09 PM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
They say that if you can bake a cake, you can make a bomb
Though if you try both through the baking aisle at Tesco you might find that Marzipan is not an acceptable substitute for C4.
posted by biffa at 1:58 PM on October 8, 2015
Though if you try both through the baking aisle at Tesco you might find that Marzipan is not an acceptable substitute for C4.
posted by biffa at 1:58 PM on October 8, 2015
Squirrel shot [YouTube]
Previously [MeFi]
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:23 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Previously [MeFi]
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:23 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's confusing that what the wiki calls series 5 is available on Amazon in the US as season 1. I'm guessing at least BBC and Amazon would financially benefit by offering the back catalog to the American public.
You're not wrong. I feel sorry for US Amazon viewers who are missing out on seasons 3 and 4, with great contestants like James Morton and Ruby Tandoh. For a start, it would mean there's less of a US market for Brilliant Bread, which really is.
posted by rory at 1:30 AM on October 9, 2015
You're not wrong. I feel sorry for US Amazon viewers who are missing out on seasons 3 and 4, with great contestants like James Morton and Ruby Tandoh. For a start, it would mean there's less of a US market for Brilliant Bread, which really is.
posted by rory at 1:30 AM on October 9, 2015
Legend has it that if anybody has a real breakdown in the middle of a signature bake, presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins stand next to them repeating brand names and swear-words so the cameramen can’t use the footage, and don’t you dare disabuse me of that fact, because I want it to be true.
"Smeg, smeg, smeg."
posted by Sys Rq at 11:30 AM on October 9, 2015
"Smeg, smeg, smeg."
posted by Sys Rq at 11:30 AM on October 9, 2015
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OH MY GOD I LOVE NADIYA. From the moment she nailed that first challenge and the other two completely blew it, I know she had it locked down. (This knowledge allowed me to like Ian; I might have had to hate him if he'd beaten Precious Darling Nadiya or Also-Precious Tamal Who Should Date Me.)
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:08 PM on October 7, 2015 [5 favorites]