There's considerable controversy about whether a trifle should contain jello (or jelly, as they'd call it across the pond...) I don't like the texture it adds, and I think it detracts from the flavor of the fruit and, even more importantly,the SHERRY, which should be sprinkled HEAVILY over the cake. (Nothing against jello--I'm a closet jello-eater. Orange, preferably.)

Jim, I'm English there's NO controversy about jelly in trifle; no jelly means it's NOT a trifle. Done properly, jelly adds to the flavour of the fruit. Sherry is overrated in trifle. For real trifle you also need Bird's custard & real cream. Sadly, both of these are in short supply in most of the USA. Traditional trifles are made with strawberries, anything else just isn't trifle.

My Welsh grandmother's recipe called for liberal amounts of sherry in every layer! Jello, custard and whipped cream! Yum! She once got tipsy eating it for breakfast!