Bake Off's Connie left 'flustered' as Paul Hollywood sends her out the tent to 'calm down' as she misses out on spot in semi final

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood was forced to step in and send contestant Connie out of the tent to 'calm down' during the stressful showstopper. 

Baker Connie missed out on a spot in the semi final as she failed to impress Paul and fellow judge Nigella Lawson with her nougatine statue. 

During the showstopper, Connie was seen struggling to mold her nougatine as it cooled and went hard. 

Getting stressed, she said: 'I have no hands left. Connie think, "what are you doing", this is really hard I'm getting flustered now.' 

As the other contestants looked around in concern, Paul was forced to put his arm around her to calm her down.  

Pointing outside, he instructed: 'You see that bit over by the water, go outside and look at the water for five minutes, calm down and come back.'

Connie was seen sitting on a bridge wall looking at the stream as she calmed down from the stressful tent. 

On her return she said: 'Ok, I just need to put my cake together and it might not have details on it but I can do it.

'This will be a very unfinished challenge. I have a box and it looks rough as chips', she added. 

Viewers praised Paul for being 'kind' and giving Connie a 'breather' during the stressful moment. 

They wrote on X: 'Paul Hollywood you absolute legend I’m so glad he told Connie to go for a breather I hate seeing her like that:('

 'oh auntie connie:( nice to see Paul being kind'; 'Great advice from Paul for Connie. Love Paul'; 'Bless connie ohmygod that was so nice of paul to help'.

She created an almond structure with hazelnut frosting. Judging the bake, Paul said: 'Nougatine is not baked enough but love the cake.' 

She said: 'I was expecting the worse but they loved the cake but I'm not holding out a lot of hope.'

And it was unfortunate for Connie as despite her cake tasting amazing it wasn't enough and she will miss out on the semi-final. 

She said: 'I have made friends for life, so blessed to be around those guys. Thank you for the experience and the memories and thank you for allowing me to be apart of the family.'

Co-star Moyin broke down in tears, he said: 'It's bitter sweet I got star baker and Connie is going home.' 

Elsewhere on the show, Moyin won star baker with Paul and Nigella adding: 'Fantastic structure, flavour is fantastic, overall design and flavour spot on.'

Mo also had positive feedback for his baby shower themed sculpture which Paul said the 'nougatine is fantastic, those flavours are perfect'. 

However, three-time star baker Tom had his first disaster as his cake became a big mess and Nigella admitted she 'didn't know what to say'. 

'The flavour is nice but the sponge is chewy, not your best work,' added Paul. 

As for the Technical challenge, it was another complete disaster for Connie as she 'struggled' to make millionaire shortbread. 

Connie admitted: 'I don't know how long I have to cook this for.'

And unfortunately it was a complete 'car crash' as her caramel and chocolate failed to set causing a runny mess. 

Judging, Paul said: 'It's very chewy biscuit and looks disastrious'.

But she didn't come last in the challenge, as Mo created a more 'disastrious' millionaire shortbread due to his timings being out and the caramel not setting.

Meanwhile, after using freeze spray instead of relying on the freezer, Gabe came third, Moyin in second and Tom took the top spot in the technical challenge.

Discussing who's to watch, Paul said: 'Tom's gone in the distance, Tom and Moyin are in the same bracket. Moyin is one to watch.' 

Nigella added: 'The quarter final is fascinating because they are all very talented.'