Was obvious who was going to be star baker and who was going home, Norman had started to lag behind the others whilst Kate is getting stronger, not nice to see Martha upset but she showed spirit to bounce back, this could develop into a close contest.... go Martha
Paul and Mary have made it clear that flavour is as important as technique and presentation - think of everything they said to Frances last year - and if Norman thinks that pesto or lemon are exotic flavours, then while he might be delivering on technique, he's clearly not delivering on flavour, and we can see for ourselves that he's not delivering on presentation either. Norman seems a nice guy but the others all have more flair in their bakes than he does.
When they audition and choose the contestants, they say they're looking for variety in ability, personality, age, etc. So in spite of what the publicity says they are not choosing the BEST bakers, just a mix of competent bakers who they think will make a good TV programme.
When they audition and choose the contestants, they say they're looking for variety in ability, personality, age, etc. So in spite of what the publicity says they are not choosing the BEST bakers, just a mix of competent bakers who they think will make a good TV programme.
That's what the producers choose when they select their lineup.
What Paul and Mary are looking for is flair.
I wonder how involved Paul and Mary are in the selection process?
Am not sure what it is as I cannot put my finger on it, but since moving over to BBC1, I am positive that Paul and Mary are becoming more and more critical and scathing of contestants work, than they used to be on BBC2.
Am glad that Norman has eventually gone out, but I do wonder how close it was between Richard and Norman.. Richard really did have a bad episode.
Think Paul has his favourites...Kate and Martha being at least two.
I suspect, had Norman not been there, and dead man walking from the off, with the withdrawal of Diane, they may well have not sent anyone home this week. Richard's been a front runner every other week, although his pear pie did give me the giggles - the withdrawal of Diane does give them that option if someone very good, say Luiz, has a stinker in the next couple of weeks.
That's what the producers choose when they select their lineup.
What Paul and Mary are looking for is flair.
I wonder how involved Paul and Mary are in the selection process?
I doubt they're involved at all. I imagine the production company are solely responsible for sifting through the applicants. This is what they say in the rules accompanying the 2014 application form:
"1. When selecting applicants for ‘The Great British Bake Off’ the following will be taken into account: skill, enthusiasm, drive, love of baking, lively characters who are comfortable being filmed. Initial selection will be based on the application forms and telephone interviews. In addition the Producers may (but may not) invite short listed applicants to attend an interview at their discretion. We will be looking for a mix of finalists to reflect the range in age, location, gender and diversity of amateur bakers in Britain."
I sometimes wonder if the press watch the same programme as me!
There's was no scathing dressing down of martha by Mary and Paul, just an honest critique of her tart. Martha knew herself that it wasn't great, having admitted that pastry is her weak spot.
I think Martha is a lovely girl- in fact all this year's contestants are a really nice bunch and much more supportive of each other than the press would have us believe.
Interesting that the recap of the previous week's show was so cursory. I wonder if there was some last minute re-editing after last week's furore. They seemed to be playing it down after racking up the "interest" last week
I was looking on Twitter earlier, she has done a few interviews on BBC Local Radio and also for a magazine which has her on the cover.
Norman certainly has a lot of fans, a lot of past Bake Off contestants have been regretting his leaving though I think they all accept it was the right decision. Someone Tweeted a link to an article of his in the P&J earlier in the Summer.
Am not sure what it is as I cannot put my finger on it, but since moving over to BBC1, I am positive that Paul and Mary are becoming more and more critical and scathing of contestants work, than they used to be on BBC2.
I thought Paul had been much less critical this year, well perhaps not less critical but last year he was critical in a nasty way whilst this year he has been critical with a smile, a sparkle and a quip. When he mentions a potential problem at the start of their bake, but not what it is, it's almost playful.
I put his grouchiness last year, and his playful mood this year, down to his marital situation.
Sorry to see Norman go, he’s such a nice guy. Can’t imagine him changing anything about his bakes so hope he just continues enjoying his baking. He was one of my favourites for not being fazed by being beaten down each week.
They all seemed to wobbled a bit this week but perhaps Richard and Martha were hit worst by last week’s shenanigans and Diana not returning. Want to see Martha do well. She starts back at school today as Head Girl and is on course to be going places so hope I see her back on top form next week.
I wonder how involved Paul and Mary are in the selection process?
I'm sure I've read that P & M have nothing to do with selecting the contestants, even to the point of only meeting them for the first time in the tent, though I'm sure they're given some briefing notes in advance...
Sorry to see Norman go, he’s such a nice guy. Can’t imagine him changing anything about his bakes so hope he just continues enjoying his baking. He was one of my favourites for not being fazed by being beaten down each week.
They all seemed to wobbled a bit this week but perhaps Richard and Martha were hit worst by last week’s shenanigans and Diana not returning. Want to see Martha do well. She starts back at school today as Head Girl and is on course to be going places so hope I see her back on top form next week.
Head Girl! I love her! She is straight out of Mallory Towers!
Can you add coriander leaf to your banned foods list please? Nasty soapy stuff, it ruins many a good dish.
Oh yes. I hate coriander with a passion, used to pick around coriander when I eat if it was added to mother's cooking, much to her annoyance. It has such an unpleasant strong taste.
It's getting tough to guess who might get eliminated next now that all the obvious weaker bakers have gone. My early prediction was for Chetna, Martha, Nancy and Richard to be the contenders for the top 3 finalists, now I'm not so sure. Martha is wobbling a bit, Richard had a disaster, while Luis has been consistently good, and now Kate has won star baker. All of them are looking to be likely finalists.
Tracy has been tweeting about it. She was forever confused with Alex whenever she was in Doctor who. She tweeted last night that she and Alex had done well getting star baker.
I'm sure I've read that P & M have nothing to do with selecting the contestants, even to the point of only meeting them for the first time in the tent, though I'm sure they're given some briefing notes in advance...
Not sure if that is entirely true. According to this article, the contestants go through a number steps in the selection process, and in the second audition they bake something for Paul and Mary -
I suspect Paul and Mary were there just to say who is good enough to be chosen, but the final selection would likely rest with the producers. It's usually the case with reality competition shows that the contestants are chosen because they fit a certain profile and range of personalities, and can represent certain demographics (therefore, some older persons, some young ones, some from ethnic minority, roughly equal number of males and females, etc. etc.) They don't want the show to be full of white middle-aged women even if they are all very good at baking.
I can see Paul's point though - if you are going to keep things simple than the execution has to be absolutely perfect. The others have been more adventurous in terms of flavour and technique, so they get points for that even if they drop them because something is over- or under-baked etc, but Norman consistently played it safe yet he made mistakes like not trimming his pastry properly, and thinking that a ton of icing sugar would do for decoration.
I think he is a solid baker, but they are looking for flair and someone who will push the envelope.
No I agree. But it seemed Paul didn't like him from the off. The recipes are submitted before the show is even filmed so why let him be a contestant if you're not happy with what he's doing. Just seems like a waste if everyone's time.
I do think this week Norman was the weakest link and therefor should have gone home. But I also think Paul forever harping on about how it's simple and doesn't excite him was a bit out of order given he knew what the recipes were before the tent was even put up.
No I agree. But it seemed Paul didn't like him from the off. The recipes are submitted before the show is even filmed so why let him be a contestant if you're not happy with what he's doing. Just seems like a waste if everyone's time.
I do think this week Norman was the weakest link and therefor should have gone home. But I also think Paul forever harping on about how it's simple and doesn't excite him was a bit out of order given he knew what the recipes were before the tent was even put up.
The producers know the recipes beforehand but that doesn't necessarily mean Paul and Mary do. Besides, I think the recipes can still be tweaked. Jordan said on An Extra Slice that he had planned to use blueberries in his sweet showstopper bread, instead of the strawberries and raspberries that he actually used, but because Mary had criticised the use of blueberries in an earlier episode, he had gone home and removed blueberries from all his planned recipes.
The show needs a diverse cast, hence how Norman likely got on ahead of yet another 30 something woman who likely had more flair than him. As a man applying for this show you've a better shot at making it than as a normal housewife with a husband and a few kids.
There was a football match last night - quote from Yahoo/Eurosport:
" But nobody should expect the nation to submit itself to a drab side going gutlessly through the motions against Norway when they have the unadulterated human drama of Norman’s ill-fated lavender meringue on the other side. "
When you compare the viewing figures (football lost), I bet Norman and his mates never thought they'd make more compelling viewing than Rooney and his mates
Comments
What Paul and Mary are looking for is flair.
I wonder how involved Paul and Mary are in the selection process?
I suspect, had Norman not been there, and dead man walking from the off, with the withdrawal of Diane, they may well have not sent anyone home this week. Richard's been a front runner every other week, although his pear pie did give me the giggles - the withdrawal of Diane does give them that option if someone very good, say Luiz, has a stinker in the next couple of weeks.
"1. When selecting applicants for ‘The Great British Bake Off’ the following will be taken into account: skill, enthusiasm, drive, love of baking, lively characters who are comfortable being filmed. Initial selection will be based on the application forms and telephone interviews. In addition the Producers may (but may not) invite short listed applicants to attend an interview at their discretion. We will be looking for a mix of finalists to reflect the range in age, location, gender and diversity of amateur bakers in Britain."
If you google
Great British Bake off application 2014
you can see the whole application form and rules.
I was looking on Twitter earlier, she has done a few interviews on BBC Local Radio and also for a magazine which has her on the cover.
Norman certainly has a lot of fans, a lot of past Bake Off contestants have been regretting his leaving though I think they all accept it was the right decision. Someone Tweeted a link to an article of his in the P&J earlier in the Summer.
Bake-off star Norman Calder shares his ‘Cullen Wife’s paps’ on Twitter
That might not get through their paywall.
Can you add coriander leaf to your banned foods list please? Nasty soapy stuff, it ruins many a good dish.
I put his grouchiness last year, and his playful mood this year, down to his marital situation.
They all seemed to wobbled a bit this week but perhaps Richard and Martha were hit worst by last week’s shenanigans and Diana not returning. Want to see Martha do well. She starts back at school today as Head Girl and is on course to be going places so hope I see her back on top form next week.
Head Girl! I love her! She is straight out of Mallory Towers!
She is!
You can see her striding across the lawn to the baking tent with a lacrosse stick in her hand.
Oh yes. I hate coriander with a passion, used to pick around coriander when I eat if it was added to mother's cooking, much to her annoyance. It has such an unpleasant strong taste.
It's getting tough to guess who might get eliminated next now that all the obvious weaker bakers have gone. My early prediction was for Chetna, Martha, Nancy and Richard to be the contenders for the top 3 finalists, now I'm not so sure. Martha is wobbling a bit, Richard had a disaster, while Luis has been consistently good, and now Kate has won star baker. All of them are looking to be likely finalists.
Happily.
Tracy has been tweeting about it. She was forever confused with Alex whenever she was in Doctor who. She tweeted last night that she and Alex had done well getting star baker.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9411189/Behind-the-scenes-at-the-Great-British-Bake-Off.html
I suspect Paul and Mary were there just to say who is good enough to be chosen, but the final selection would likely rest with the producers. It's usually the case with reality competition shows that the contestants are chosen because they fit a certain profile and range of personalities, and can represent certain demographics (therefore, some older persons, some young ones, some from ethnic minority, roughly equal number of males and females, etc. etc.) They don't want the show to be full of white middle-aged women even if they are all very good at baking.
No I agree. But it seemed Paul didn't like him from the off. The recipes are submitted before the show is even filmed so why let him be a contestant if you're not happy with what he's doing. Just seems like a waste if everyone's time.
I do think this week Norman was the weakest link and therefor should have gone home. But I also think Paul forever harping on about how it's simple and doesn't excite him was a bit out of order given he knew what the recipes were before the tent was even put up.
" But nobody should expect the nation to submit itself to a drab side going gutlessly through the motions against Norway when they have the unadulterated human drama of Norman’s ill-fated lavender meringue on the other side. "
When you compare the viewing figures (football lost), I bet Norman and his mates never thought they'd make more compelling viewing than Rooney and his mates
Yes we've discussed it before. I think we agreed that it was in case they needed to reshoot anything.