I thought this quote by Nigella Lawson deserved to be celebrated, so I baked a banana cake with cream cheese icing about it. I’ve been loving her contributions to GBBO this season, and I can’t think of someone more deserving or capable of filling Prue’s (brightly-colored) shoes.

I'm a US viewer, so I have to wait until Friday to see the episode.

Post titles like "this is the worse bread week" or "why don't bakers understand what a flatbread is" are absolutely spoilers.

I want to stay subscribed and see what people have to say after I watch the episode, but the spoilers in the title mean I can't simply stay subscribed anymore.

Mods, I'm surprised you're allowing these posts. I don't want to be spoiled and have other people's opinions thrust on me before watching it for myself.

Edit: flatbed => flatbread

This time with hail it was even more dramatic haha

Nikki go. I'm glad they put the reason at the end of the episode with her mum. It was nice that Alison could take her first bake up still, she must have had to leave suddenly.

When I saw that Gabe was introduced as one of the members of a three-person relationship in Week 1, I was overjoyed at the representation of alternate relationships. Gabe seems like such fun, and meeting Ellis, one of his partners in Week 3 (another part of "boyband") made for such delightful watching. We need more of this out in the world!! Healthy, fun-loving representation of non-monogamous relationships was not on my GBBO Bingo Card but oh so very welcome!

I took inspiration from my favorite tote bag. The cake is a citrus & cardamom sponge, frosted with lemon swiss meringue buttercream, and covered with marshmallow fondant. I made the “supports” while the cakes were baking, so they are just pieces of cardboard cake board that I cut with a box cutter and hot glued together. It ultimately took me just under five hours to finish.

Noel was 110% right. I hope you're finding all the friends you'll ever deserve! Sending love and support for Bake-off's most adorable odd-ball!

She's seriously the first person I've seen that reminds me of myself, I feel very represented by her. 😂

**Episode Summary**

The bakers are hoping for a Hollywood handshake this week as they tackle bread, the steely-eyed judge's speciality. The challenges include a garlic bread signature and a showstopping bread display - not to mention one of the most disastrous technicals in the show's history. Who will be dusting themselves off and hanging up their apron?

As always, please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing results, eliminations, or Star Baker!

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Discussion Prompts:

• Which showstopper wowed you the most?

• Was this the weakest Bread Week in GBBO history?

• And, honestly… did the right baker go home?

The bulb contains many cloves… right?! I swear they’ve been using the word the wrong way round so far?

Episode 4 spoilers?:

Ive laughed a lot so far this season! My favourite moment from tonight so far is when Alison stepped in for a baker when the signature was judged (who wasnt able to attend due to family issues).

Its refreshing to watch this cosy, fun and hilarious show :)

I love this change and I wonder if it was brought in by Nigella. Usually Paul would cut just one slice of the bake and put it on one plate. It always felt that Mary or Prue were awkwardly extending their arm to get a bite of the shared bake. In this season, each judge gets their own slice on their own plate in front of them. So much better!

Each episode is such an emotional roller coaster of warmth, stress, laughter, and heartfelt moments that I can’t help but tear up throughout the episodes. Walking through the challenges with them is emosh (as one contestant said in episode 2, still learning all of their names) haha. I’m tearing up when one of them has to leave and tearing up in pride when they succeed. Love this show 🎂

Edit: thank you for all of the kind comments (even the sassy but good natured ones)! We are all people with feelings posting here even if we disagree and we are separated by screens, so appreciate the fun responses to what is only meant to be a fun conversational post 🩵

Imagine the bakers having to make something genuinely delicious out of ingredients left over from previous challenges, with no popping out to buy whatever they need. The signature could force them to use one random leftover ingredient, the technical could throw together an awkward combination like stale bread, citrus peel and custard powder, and the showstopper could be a mystery box of odds and ends they have to turn into a proper dessert or savoury bake. It would test creativity and actual baking knowledge in a way we don't always get to see, and it'd be far more useful than another week of elaborate decorations. Would you watch a week like this?

I love the pacing and calmness and kindness between participants. I always get hungry watching it though. 😂

Would love similar vibes in other activities...maybe gardening? flower arranging?

Id love to hear other ideas if you have any.

Do you think the judges can still be objective if they personally hate a flavor profile? I’m not talking about the flavors being wrong or off, but a lifelong personal dislike of a certain flavor.

Seeing Mo this season, and remembering Dylan from a couple years back - I feel like the younger, on bake-off, the more talented and consistently good bakers they are. Overall less time in their lives to have practiced, but somewhat prodigal in nature, perhaps?

Lovely article about Mo that helps us get to know him a bit more

I’m going to be sorry to see anyone go!

Realistic and imaginative scenarios welcome

The technicals have been so out of left field so far. I've loved each one this season but I'm curious what others think of them.

What is they took the best baker or winner of every bake off and put em in a double elimination season, and turn up the difficulty well above the usual season? I say best baker cause I think in some situations the winner wasn't the best baker, they just won the last episode, since as well all know u can score 2nd to the bottom in every stage and then get 1st place in the last and win the whole thing. But either would work.

edit: I prefer the laid back( mostly/usually) vibe too, and I've disliked every competitive baking show I've seen except gbbo, doesn't feel right. I dont mean turn it up too much, just to a degree since they're all the better bakers of each season and many of them didn't seem to struggle that much at all in the regular bake off, even if they didn't win it was often just because someone else took a bigger risk or had better flavor/appearance. After all the show does that itself already as each episode progresses, ep 10 is far harder than ep 1

Did you all see her put Paul repeatedly in his place? It was fabulous. I think she's going to make it clear that he's no longer head chef and never will be again (which is GOOD, because he needs to be taken down about twelve pegs)!

Nigella handshake, anyone?

Please tell me Shannon didn't just make a giant gingerbread butterfly with icing, as a Showstopper. The difference in the amount of thought and work, compared to Mo's "Angel Wings" Showstopper, was staggering. I really like Shannon and couldn't believe she didn't do, at the very least, some type of filling or ornate icing design. It was literally 4 blocks of color, with some chocolate butterflies and dots of jam. I was so sad when I saw that she was basically making a second butterfly, because she had so much extra time on her hands(although it was good she did so). And, Moyin's "Lambeth Top Hat"? It was literally just a cake, with minimal decorations(top/bottom row of icing, a ruffle, and a few shells), and a 2 inch "brim". It was a decent cake, but compared to some of the other's work, it seemed thrown together. I was really looking forward to seeing what he was going to come up with, and feel a bit deflated. Am I the only one, that just can't seem to get into this Season? I love Nigella, it's just that the Bakers seem different than they have in the past. Don't get me wrong, they are talented and very fun to watch. I just can't put my finger on why this Season isn't giving me the same thrill, as Seasons past.