It comes to us all Moomin  

It really is Thursday today, isn't it?  
 

I don't think they are getting the advice and help that they got in previous series. They used to get a lot more feedback on where they were going wrong when we had two episodes a week and then the challenge determined who got the boot. This series is much more rushed and the the contestants feel like they were picked out of a grab-bag of reality TV wannabees.

Hello

The preview summary in today's Guardian says that "the pressure takes one team to breaking point".
It is Raymond Blanc's 60th birthday today.

Did anyone else watch this tonight?

Barney and Badger (it said in the first programme) had only known each for 8 weeks.
Badger, after 22 years in the army, seems to be thoroughly institutionalised.
Perhaps he should look for something in another kind of institution.


Chris, it seems, cooks very well, but is apparently let down by Nathan's front of house techniques.
D'ya know I am beginning to doubt this. I got to thinking "what a coincidence that he was `rude` to customers just at that moment. And with a television crew point at you?
I think it is a contrivance for the programme. A set-up which, sadly has become part of television programme making these days.

Most of the couples seem to have a "weak link", ie Nathan, JJ(?) - the winker, Badger, etc

None of them seem as good as previous couples in the other two series.
As you say, brisket, some of it does seem contrived.
I'm sorry Bodger and Badger left though, one of the least bad couples in it, but you are right about the institution bit - pity - the customers loved him

And I just wonder how much longer the winkers can get through by the skin of their teeth.

Any thoughts on this from last night?

I can't belive the winkers got thorough yet again - the "chef" of the pair cooked a cake - wow - some achievement.

I'm close to giving up on it now. All the couples seem out of their depth and the show bears no relation to what was broadcast last year. Last night's episode was mostly about high tea and novelty cakes...where's the innovative food or business originality?

There is something I find very irritating about the winkers (even apart from the fact that the chef rarely cooks.)
There are also a couple of things I find very irritating about Sarah Willingham, one of the judges. One is that rarely manages to smile and does not seem a very warm person.

The other (and worse) irritation is her hideous wild hair. Yet again last night she was standing over food in the kitchen with that hair spread everywhere freely.

For a food judge to do this is so wrong!!!

Even though they seem to have lost the plot in this series, I still somehow like it.

I keep watching this in the hope it will turn into what it used to be. .sadly with hardly any couples left looks like that ain't gonna happen

Seems now that  Raymond has 2 other business partners joining him in the winners Restaurant they aren't about the business acumen of the couples  i.e. testing P&L and menu planning each week or Marketing to get customers in ,  or indeed their cheffing ability..  I sense the winning couple won't have much of a say in anything to do with 'their' restaurant. .probably a good idea considering the participants.

Also how can you have a couple, (the front room peeps), where the women seems to have a dislike of any food beyond   beans on toast or egg/steak and chips   and pulls a face when shown anything vaguely exotic.. nowt against that, tis her choice except not a restaurant style menu really. . a cafe would suit them more I reckon ... and I'm  not even going there with the 'chef' that doesn't even cook..

I keep watching, hoping that it will get it's spark back.  It hasn't.  It's become very formulatic and it wasn't hard to guess that the Nigerian restaurant was going to close.

Raymond needs to open a restaurant with the sous chef of the non-cooking chef.  Seems he is the only one that has really done any cooking this series.

I really cannot believe how bad this lot are! They can barely boil an egg never mind run a restaurant. Seems to me that nobody will be chosen in the end.... maybe that was the plan!

I have only started watching this programme over the last couple of weeks, but am enjoying it. Mind you, they are pretty dire.... but maybe that is the reason

That cake!! My husband was in stitches about that aeroplane cake - and my son thought it looked like a giant willy - before he attached the wings!!

I just watched the bit with the cake again to see what he meant - he actually meant the cake with the wings and tail and eveything - if you look at it it looks like the outilne of a man lying down with a huge erection!!

I've only just watched Thursdays episode, the aeroplane cake looked like a baby seal that had been culled..

Bumping this for tonight - not many couples left now, and none of them are really capable of running their own restaurant.

I will watch it, though it's become more of a chore than a pleasure this series.

Oh dear, it's certainly not living up to previous series, is it?

Have all the posters from the beginning of the series given up on it?
Rexi?
Meaty?

Naa im here Just had to catch up on the last few because been watching IACGMOOH, here for this one though

Well I suppose that outcome was to be expected last night - all three couples keeping their restaurants

Semi finals tonight though it's hard to drum-up much enthusiasm with this lot.

Anyone here?

Feel sorry for Stephen and Rebecca I wanted them to do well aswell... Been reading DS, some right nasty folk on there

Steve and Rebecca could pass for brother and sister, they look identical. Gawd only knows how JJ and James have got to the final.

I seriously think that Raymond and co have made a big mistake putting those two winkers through to the final. Absolutely unbelievable - they have cocked up and not cooked up week after week.

I totally agree They are dreadful.... and have just blagged their way thru.... and then not very well!

Well I think this once great programme has jumped on the reality show bandwagon and has decided to recruit wannabes or "blaggers" i.e those two idiots JJ and J  - to make it more of an entertainment show.


I am amazed that Steven and Rebecca are gone - two lovely people who really wanted to make a successful career in the restaurant trade.



The four that are left are complete chancers.


(although the chef that works with Nathan - names escapes me - is clearly talented).


And for that reason and that reason alone I want them to win.

Ditto.  I would be a complete farce if the other two win.....

Honestly I find myself shouting at the TV when they are on - how in the blazes did they get through to the final? 



I've a horrible feeling they are going to win.

Me too...... I think the trouble with the other two is the one who works front of house.......

Oh he's so cocksure of himself isn't he?

I can't believe the way he's been speaking to customers

And you can tell he doesn't really want to run a restaurant at all. Another one in it to get his mug on telly I think.

I said to my hubby, the good chef and the lesser of the two idiots in the other team (the one that does front of house), should team up.

LOL... Yes  I think it was a pity the guy that got thrown out this week was so nervous, cos I think he was really starting to get quite  promising a chef.... and his wife was good in front of house too.

I was so sure that would see them through to the final - the fact that he overcame his nerves.

Maybe Raymond was right though, perhaps they wouldn't be able to handle the pressure.

Shame - had them down as the winners for a few weeks.

I agree that  they might not have been able to handle the pressure.... but given those two blaggers that stayed....