I feel so validated after watching the finale and seeing Nelly and Andy are friends IRL because I've been saying for weeks that they should host the show together! I'd even watch them in a buddy cop show. We need more of these two.

I've never seriously tried baking, except for several failed attempts, so I know nearly nothing about baking. I always thought that if you have the right amount of ingredients, mix them well, bake them for enough time at the right temperature, you are bound to get consistent results. But I've seen so many great bakers get results that they did not expect, ones that are different from when they practiced at home. So what could cause that apart from forgetting to do something out of stress?

That is all.

Each year the Great British Bake Off release a cookbook with a collection of recipes from each year's contestants and the judges. I am stuck between the 2024 'Comfort Bakes' and the 2021 'A Bake For All Seasons' mainly because those had some of my favourite personalities. Have you bought any of the GBBO cookbooks and which one would you recommend?

I was trying so hard to concentrate but I just could not get over that sweater! 😆

Where does he get those wonderful clothes?

I have an idea for an off-season spinoff: invite previous contestants who were eliminated in the first or second weeks to compete together. I really feel for the bakers who are eliminated in those early weeks—particularly the first week. I suspect many of them are really good bakers who might have just been nervous baking in an unfamiliar environment. It would be interesting to see them try again, competing with other bakers who didn’t really have an opportunity to show what they can do. But I wonder if they would be willing?

Edit -- rewatching older seasons

I've left out bakers' names for anyone who hasn't had a chance to catch early seasons, so there are no spoilers.

I watch the show for the bakers above all, but I like the judges well enough -- mostly. But when they act like these talented people have no time constraints, it drives me nuts.

In the Season 5 finale, the technical calls for the bakers to make 8 million cakes of 3 types in 2 hours. Yes, I'm exaggerating -- but not much. We've seen these bakers for 9 episodes and we know how good they are. Yet somehow as Paul & Mary go down the line of bakes judging the technical, they're practically sneering about how poorly this or that was done.

I have no problem with the judges noting the deficiencies. I have a problem with them acting like the bakers should basically be ashamed because they should just have just chosen to do better -- when Paul & Mary know as well as I do that the reason there are problems is largely because the bakers had to do way too much in too short a time.

For me, it would have to be Georgie’s tiramisu

It's it just me or does anyone else feel the challenges in this year's final have already been done.

They've definitely done variations of scones and afternoon tea before, (I remember them doing it in the form of a picnic once as well but the baking requirements were mostly the same).

As for the showstopper, I'm sure I've seen them use the suspended cake challenge in some kind of challenge. Unfortunately any search is currently just bringing up this year's final so maybe I'm remembering it wrong.

I’m in love and awe of that 3-d zig zag collar situation around the pink cake from Christiaan’s showstopper! Anyone know he did that? I couldn’t make out the method.

I would love for them to do a "Second Chance" season or an "All Stars" season. It would be so fun!

I just finished collection 12 (season 15) on Netflix and I’m craving for more! What are people’s thoughts on the best collections/seasons. I would prefer suggestions between season 8-14 since these are the only ones available on Netflix (collections 5-12). Also would prefer no spoilers (love going in blind for a show).

I’m from the US so we’re used to seeing some of our favorite reality show contestants pop up on other shows. Sometimes it’s overkill, but when it comes to Bake Off, I do wish we could see more of them in other contexts beyond baking! Has anyone ever thought about who’d be fun to watch on some of these other shows?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Christiaan:

I think Christiaan would have won if he reined in his wild flavors. A couple of twists on the classics is one thing, but even though he was my favorite of the finalists, I did not think his showstopper flavors sounded that great. I really appreciate his dedication to the unusual but I think if he did more "classics with a twist" he would have showed more growth as a contestant. I think he was the most consistent and technically sound baker--he really knows how to bake. His biggest criticisms have been that his flavor combos are too weird. I think if Georgie's showstopper wasn't fully on point (she overbaked it again or her design was sloppy) he still could have won, however. I like his modernist design, but I do wish he put more though on disguising the tier gaps than putting baby's breath on top. I think that might have got him more points which might have pushed him ahead. In the end, he was true to himself and he did extremely well. I love him and hope he uses this win to continue his adventurous creativity.

Georgie:

Georgie's flavors were super classic, and she executed it perfectly when it mattered most. I think she was the underdog coming in because of her nerves and she won the championship with a bake that honestly looked and sounded amazing. I thought her cake was maybe one of the most beautiful in the entire show history. Super feminine and pretty, but it was a little too conventional for me. Obviously it tasted amazing and she knocked it out of the park in terms of the look as well as sweetness, tartness, taste and texture of the bake. It's funny because there is doing the classics in a boring way (Gill) and then there is doing classics in a way that is exciting and gorgeous. I don't know what the line is, but clearly Georgie knows what it is. I think she did well enough in the signature and technical that her win is a solid choice and I'm happy for her.

Dylan:

Dylan is honestly maybe a blend of Christiaan and Georgie in terms of flavors and creativity-- he takes classics and puts a twist on them but his flavors are recognizable as well as a bit unexpected. Unfortunately, Dylan got inside of his own head and didn't execute to his top standard. In terms of design, he also goes a bit modern, and I think his showstopper might have been the most interesting design-wise if he had more time or less nerves on the day. I'd love to have seen it with the blown glass and neater icing. I also think he was a great contestant and got too much flack from people (which seems to be rooted in the fact he's handsome and honestly, a brilliant and creative guy). He's also humble and gracious and genuinely pleased for others. I wish more viewers channeled his energy. He obviously has a brilliant career ahead of him.

I was a big fan of Georgie throughout the series, but her showstopper cake, tiramisu and caramel chocolate bars were my favourite bakes throughout the series. I also loved her friendship with Illyin, Christiaan and Mike, and the relationship she had with her family. What was your favourite Georgie moment?

I did guess from week 1/2 that Georgie would win based on a gut instinct, but the moment that I knew was dessert week. That Tiramisu she did that was pretty much perfect, got very high praise ; and yet because Dylan had the perfect week of handshake/ 1st in technical and a very impressive showstopper, beat her to star baker. I started to see that Georgie was quickly becoming one of those bakers who almost always produces, but most times someone else gets the excitement and hype. That kind of baker is dangerous. So often on bake off when a baker has several weeks of doing well, but not getting star baker or a handshake on every occasion they do well (I know Georgie did get star baker twice, I'm just saying she didn't get star baker every time she had a good week) it's a good sign. A baker that almost constantly performs but maybe one other baker is hyped more than they are, I've found it's not always the hyped one that goes on to win Her tiramisu was so good Pru asked for the recipe, and yet everyone was talking about Dylan because of his amazing designs and the week that he'd had. In that moment I just knew that as good as Dylan was , there would be a time he'd just struggle to reach that peak level, but Georgie would maintain a steady level throughout and peak at the right time. Turns out she did it in the showstopper.

Anyone else who picked Georgie to win , was there a moment before the final that you just knew that she'd win ?

The comp is over. So what's next for the contestants? Personally I'd love to see a glorious crossover of my guilty TV pleasures, and have Dylan turn up as a yacht chef in the Below Deck franchise. But which captain & ship would be he be a good fit for?

YES

GEORGIE WON YESSSSSS

"Hey Mum, tell us about the GBBO 2024 final, Dylan must've won right?"

the dylan glazing is actually crazy. everyone treats him like he's this unstoppable child prodigy who's just perfect in every way, when I wouldn't even say he's better than georgie, he's just favourited by the judges which makes him look better.

if the judges liked georgie as much as they liked dylan she'd have more handshakes than him I'm telling you.

also gill got eliminated last week after doing NOTHING wrong, when dylan literally didn't even serve an entremee. paul said they'd take it into consideration but clearly they didn't considering there were no mistakes made in the showstopper apart from that, PLUS his signature was so bad.

I think he should've gone in week 6 to be honest. I'm just so sick of everyone acting like he's the perfect person and baker when he's far from.

I’m not prepared for this episode! Anyway, good luck to the finalists!

Not much of one but I'll start:

I know they don't do foreign theme weeks anymore but I think they should have brought in a guest judge whenever they did.

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