Great British Baking Show: Season 2

For some reason I can't figure out, the disc makes this really loud thrumming noise when it's playing, which is distracting and a bit annoying, but if you can stand to turn up the volume, it may just be a mild background noise.

This series is a treat to watch. Each weekend for ten weeks, bakers assemble in a tent to prove who is the best baker. It's an elimination challenge, and each week there's one less contestant. Tears and gumption, creativity and determination. Good stuff!This Region 1 DVD is labeled Season 2. In England, however, this is actually Series 4 and it originally aired in 2013. Most of the Great British Baking Show seasons start with 12 contestants, but in this series they started with 13. In a twist, the judges would eliminate 2 bakers one week, and it was not predetermined which week. The show is very popular in England. For this season, 13,000 amateur bakers sent in applications, and 100 were given a screen test. Then a lucky 60 got a three-day baking audition.The DVD has ten episodes totaling about 10 hours of viewing pleasure. English subtitles are available on the DVDs. There are no bonus features on the DVD set.Favorite moments from this Season 2:....Of the two judges, Paul Hollywood is known as being more brusque. On tasting a grapefruit-flavored cake, he says, "Annoyingly – I really like it."....The very first week, one of the contestants says, "I can't believe I feel this panicked. I have a much more stressful job than cake making."....Week Six, the two judges are talking behind the scenes about the Technical challenge. Mary asks, "Have you told them [in the abbreviated recipe given the contestents] how long to bake it?"Paul: "No, it's entirely up to them."Mary: "You're very cruel."Paul: "Oh, yes."Now I'm off to watch Season 3!Happy Reader

Paul and Mary rehash recipes and show where contestants went wrong as they cook the British baking challenges themselves.

I really enjoyed this series when I saw it on PBS. It's a cooking competition show but unlike so many, the hosts and contestants in this one remain civil. (It's the only program of this type where I've seen contestants offer to help each other with an extra hand to steady a pan, etc.) The different challenges range from fairly straightforward baking that I might make at home to mind-boggling confections, so there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Is there a better reality show on television than this? No, there is not. The judges manage to be ascerbic but kind. The hosts are a bit annoying but worth putting up with to see the stoic politeness with which they are treated by the contestants who try to maneuver around them. And I love the lush green environment and the fact that it is always dripping wet. The show demonstrates why there will always be an England better than the soppy 19th century poets we had to read in school. Now, bring me a scone, dammit!

Adhering to a familiar format throughout the seasons, the participants and show hosts are so respectful, kind and funny with each other that it adds to the clear pressure of the tasks assigned. WISH they would spend a little more time getting to know the participants more and a little more time considering the finished products - it always seems rushed at the end...

Always enjoyed this on PBS...now I have it anytime I wish !! Happy to have this series!!

I got hooked on this series on Netflix, and then it disappeared. It's a great reality show, showing contemporary cultures and interests of British passion for baking. There's now a new version of the show on USA TV, which I can't stand to watch because the voices are literally speed up and high pitched. So I keep returned to re-watch the original U.K. shows, which are so relaxing, interesting, educational, luscious, and give that sense of time and relaxation which is part of cooking. There is actually room to breath.

As always, I love any episode of the Great British Bake-Off, but this DVD (as well as seasons 1 and 3) are incorrectly titled.This is not season 2, it is season 6.

Can't wait to order more seasons of this fantastically entertaining cooking show. You sure get attached to the bakers and hate to see them go home!

Love this show! Love learning things about baking I never new before. Love Paul, Mary, Mel and Sue. Miss the girls that left the show when it was sold but it is still good.

Looks just like the show, great photos

Love...