Marley444

No it's not usually, however I think GBBO is produced to encourage TV viewing primarily and the skills of bakers come a close second after that. I don't think it will have the same feel without the senior bakers!

I do think the balance is wrong this year personally - they usually try to ensure there is a broad representation from all walks of life, and diversity is what makes good TV viewing for a broad audience. I will miss the 'silver' bakers this year ... I think they add to the mix (excuse the pun) After all the majority of reality TV shows are aimed at the young generation such as Love Island and X-Factor - this is one show that welcomes all but not this time.

I bought my first bottle this week ... the linen one, and I love it! I ran it through both my dishwasher and washing machine and they both smell fresh now

Wow! Some great ideas here ... thank you

This is far too early! We have created a society that has no idea about seasonality. You can buy everything all year round .. strawberries in the winter, that have to be imported and genetically modified everything. What happened to waiting for the seasons so things could really be appreciated and valued?

I agree - and then it is far too late! They need to learn when they are toddlers.

I have a huge concern over the disciplining of children today. One of my daughters is a Primary School teacher in London, and far too much of her time is spent 'crowd controlling' rather than teaching. I hear stories of unacceptable behaviour in the classroom, with limited sanctions allowed which still leaves the child unpunished and calling the shots! Discipline and respect are initially learned at home, however they don't seem to be taught these days in some homes. I do worry that our nanny state is constantly making everything child-centred letting children lead the way ... this is even now a theme for baby-led weaning (means forgetting purees and weaning spoons, and simply letting your baby feed himself) and don't get me started on Child-Led Bedtimes. I think adults need to take back control and there should be a greater focus on discipline. I always had a naughty corner and a naughty stair and it worked just fine ... no one enjoys being excluded and that is the purpose of this form of discipline.

A free two month holiday in the sunshine and a possible £50k bonus! What's not to like? Actually I have never seem one episode so perhaps this is a bit naive of me, but life is short and I'm all for making hay while the sun shines :)

I would happily buy frozen fruit loose - I do now from my local Farm Shop - and also things like pasta and rice which would mean I could get smaller quantities. I am unsure I would like to do fill your own wine bottles though ... not quite sure how this would work? Also I wonder how will this will work if you do online shopping?

I would love to be on the guest list although I would get very stressed about what to wear. The thought of wearing heels is bad enough! I would love to see the inside of the palace, and be intrigued to see what food was served and how they manage to keep it all hot. Not sure I envy the Queen though with her dinner guests tonight!

Yes jeanmark - you are so right ... nurses and teachers should be encouraged to join these professions - public servants should be incentivised and not penalised.

I despair with Student Finance England. Firstly, I would like to know how they have got away with charging such a high interest rate on student loans? Where does the figure 6.3% come from - out of a hat? It bears no correlation to interest rates and it seems to creep up annually without any warning. One of my children is a teacher in a state school and she is paying back her loan each month - is it right that she had to pay fees in the first place if she is teaching our children of the future and is in dept because of her vocation? My youngest has a debt of over £52,000 and this is increasing each year with interest as she is still studying. I can't imagine this debt on top of a mortgage hanging round a young persons neck till they are 60! And don't get me started on value for money vs actual teaching hours at University :(

Whilst I have never been a fan of this show, I have seen the odd snipet when one of my grown up children has been wathching, and I have always been horrified at the shouting and abuse by the host and contestants. I can never understand why anyone would want to appear on this show to air their dirty laundry?? Perhaps they get paid and therefore if this is the case, then I think the ITV are praying on the vulnerable for their ratings, and it is time to rethink if this is morally right. Also from what I have read in the press (if it is true) Mr Kyle isn't exactly whiter than white himself.

Interesting - I like the way this quiz was designed - at first I was concerned that Google were phishing for my email and then realised I could make up a fake one. Thank you for sharing this Silversurfers.

Whilst there may be a link to the British stiff upper lip upbringing, I think one of the main contributors to mental health issues is the use of recreational drugs. I think we are only at the beginning of the mental health issues that will manifest over the coming years. It is a fact that the use of weed/cannabis brings on psychotic episodes and has an impact on the brain. I have been saying for many years that this is going to be a major problem for mental health and the NHS. No one knows the ingredients that are used and we know that it is produced by criminals ... it is a no brainer, excuse the pun, that mental health decline will have a bearing on the use of drugs but it doesn't seem to be being addressed at grass roots level.

Great selection - I am spoilt for choice!

Yes ... I love Cold Feet!

Very useful feature

Based on an experience I had a few years ago I would say absolutely yes. I was stationary when an 87 year old man couldn't stop in time, and crashed head on in to my car. Luckily no one was injured. He said at the time he couldn't stop in time but because there were no witnesses, it was deemed 50/50 and I was not able to claim for repairs on his insurance. Due to his very slow response, he was not safe to be on the road, and neither was his very old car!

I don't know what all the fuss us about. I think this advert is fine and doesn't cause offence. PC and controversy is taking over the world! Is it just a clever ploy to get in the limelight and try to increase sales because beards are in fashion and sales are down??

I may be in the minority here, however, I am stocking up on a few non-perishable items and some extras in my freezer and so are many of my friends. I know what it is like when there is a fuel strike or the ports have an issue and the shelves are bare in 24 hours. I was a Brownie and the moto was 'Be prepared', and I have always lived my life like this.

Lovely Wilf ... was that in your garden?

I think there is not a clear cut answer to this question. For years I have said that the food industry and the regulations surrounding it do not help to promote a healthy lifestyle. No one is born obese so lifestyle must have an influence on how we turn out. Self control is essential in life, and some of us have more of it than others. Education is also important from a young age about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. I feel obesity is originated from lifestyle choices but the outcome of an unhealthy lifestyle can cause obesity, which ultimately causes ill health.

As much as I would like another referendum, as I think the outcome would be different, I think another referendum would divide the country.

No I won't be tuning in - I am amazed that this programme still dominates ITV for so many weeks! I rarely watch live TV these days, and do most of my viewing on BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime or Netflix. I still find it amazing how much TV there is on tap, and most of it is utter rubbish!

Fed up with Black Friday! There are discount codes and sales all year round so I am constantly looking for bargains, and in fact, this is the last day I would buy anything. It's a big hype and I will not fall for it.

That's so harsh ... I can't believe the culture of forcing people to eat things they don't like. It can scar you for life. An old school friend of mine had to sit in front of a coagulating plate of mince and peas at school and wasn't allowed to leave until she had. To this day she hates peas.

They have really grown on me as I have got older. When I was a child I ate a token one with my Christmas roast, but now I love them part boiled and then pan fired with butter, leeks, pancetta and chestnuts, and so do all my family. Must remember to order some with my next Ocado delivery.

This is the first I have heard of it. I watched it and think the message is extremely powerful and hard hitting, and would make me think twice about looking at ingredients on the back of products. I am aware of the implication of Pam oil but this makes me feel sad. I am unsure what this has to do with Christmas though ... it should be on all year round to keep reminding us what we are doing to our planet!

I have been doing a bit of research recently for my husband who is in denial about his hearing, or lack of. I can see that the newest hearing aids look similar to the design and colour of iphones, so I am guessing this is how fast technology is moving. As he is technically minded and uses an iphone, I am keen for him to see if there is something to suit him. Hearing aids seem so much smaller now and if you can control them from your phone too then it may well be worth paying a bit more. You get what you pay for.

I would happily reduce the amount of meat I eat, and have done out of choice in recent years. Don't eat much red meat now anyway. My concern now is also about fish. After seeing recent programmes about microfibres in fish I am not too keen on eating fish either. Am really considering going veggie. Younger members of my family consume very little meat and Deliciously Ella seems to be a great inspiration to them.

Not a stranger, but maybe an old friend

I have a huge concern about how social media effects the youth of today for a number of reasons. Firstly the fake lives that some people post about, with images giving the perception that they are living the dream when in reality their life is something quite different. There is so much pressure on young people today. When we were young our social life was limited by location and the local circles we moved in. Today with the internet, people's life is lived and shared globally, and the pressure to belong is much greater. Secondly, my other great concern is the use of recreational drugs and how they are impacting mental health. I have heard about many young people who suffer from anxiety and are being treated for depression, and it does make me wonder what the cause/trigger is.

Absolutely not. I wouldn't consider having Botox or fillers fullstop! I can't understand why a shop such as Superdrug would be promoting such a service/need to its young audience either. I do worry about the effects of these new treatments in the longterm. So many celebrities seem to have distorted faces these days. Age naturally and gracefully I say.

This is an interesting debate. I think it very much depends on what you want to do in the future. Obviously if you want to be a doctor or lawyer etc you would have to go to university. But there are some, in my opinion, very spurious degrees on offer that have no obvious guaranteed value. The fees and resulting student loan are a big commitment and the loan lasts for a long time, and interest charged is about 6% I think, which is massive. Employers value work experience, and graduates need this on their CV as well. I guess it is an individual choice but worthy of debate non the less.

Well I have to say I have had no interest in this, let alone the desire to watch the same programme for two months, every night. However, my grown up children are obsessed with it. One of them has watch each episode, and had to watch it on catch up if she missed it, and her husband is equally obsessed ... beyond me but based on the nation talking about it maybe I missed something??

Is it just me, but they actually make my stomach turn! I couldn't eat a deep fried Mars bar of a Creme Egg. In fact I am not sure I could even stomach a Cadbury's Creme egg these days. They are so sweet and sickly and the chocolate doesn't taste like it used to. I avoid anything made by Cadbury's actually. Hotel Chocolat for me and no where near a deep fat fryer either!

I am not really that fussy and also it depends on the heaviness of the cream ... if it real clotted cream I would put it on first, in place of butter ... however, if it's fluffy whipped cream, I may well put it on top. As long as there are both, I am happy to eat it any which way!

Has anyone read the Widow by Fiona Barton as I was thinking of getting that one next?

I have just read The Child by Fiona Barton and it was brilliant! Really enjoyed it and read it in two days ...couldn't put it down! I then went straight on to Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, and read that in two days as well. Another thriller with the same kind of appeal. I would recommend them both.