Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood slams trolls for criticising finalist Laura after Hermine was eliminated 

Paul Hollywood has slammed trolls for criticising finalist Laura Adlington after fan favourite Hermine was eliminated on Tuesday’s show.

The Great British Bake Off judge, 54, also reminded viewers that each week is judged independently of the contestant’s past performances in a strongly worded message.

Finalist Laura, 31, has been receiving backlash online after she was spared alongside armoured guard Dave, 31, and student Peter, 20, while the accountant, 39 – who has baked several speculator dishes on the series- was sent home.

‘It’s disgusting behaviour’: Paul Hollywood has slammed trolls for criticising finalist Laura Adlington after fan favourite Hermine was eliminated on Tuesday’s semi-final show

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Paul wrote: ‘I’ve heard of some sad people trolling Laura, it’s disgusting behaviour. 

‘Those of you who may not be aware how Bake Off works or new to the series may have missed what we have ALWAYS done on Bake Off judging. 

‘Each week stands on its own!! It never matters what any baker has done in previous weeks. Even if you win 4/5 star bakers and then have a bad week you will be at risk of going sadly. It’s the rule that has been in place for 11 years!! 

‘Also I ONLY give out handshakes in signature not in Showstopper or technical, there was on exception 3 years ago… STOP trolling any of the bakers!! 

‘Remember Prue and I can actually smell and eat the bakes… Bring on the final X’  

'STOP trolling the bakers': Finalist Laura had been receiving cruel messages after she was saved in Tuesday's episode and fan favourite Hermine sent home

‘STOP trolling the bakers’: Finalist Laura had been receiving cruel messages after she was saved in Tuesday’s episode and fan favourite Hermine sent home

Earlier on Wednesday Laura also addressed the backlash as she hit back at trolls for criticising her over Hermine’s elimination after Tuesday’s semi-finals. 

Writing on Twitter, Laura penned: ‘It’s easy to sit there on your sofa and judge. But I am a real person with feelings.’ 

Laura – who previously admitted she was ‘terrified’ about signing up for the show amid trolling fears – wrote: ‘It’s ok to be sad your favourite person didn’t go through, but please remember it’s not my fault. 

‘I don’t make the decisions. GBBO is all about kindness and I haven’t seen much of that on here.

Stern words: Paul reminded viewers how the show works, emphasising that each week is judged independently of previous bakes, in his strongly written post

Stern words: Paul reminded viewers how the show works, emphasising that each week is judged independently of previous bakes, in his strongly written post

‘It’s easy to sit there on your sofa and judge. But I am a real person with feelings. Please take a moment to consider your words before you judge someone you’ve never met and whose food you’ve never tasted.’

The contestant recently discussed her worries about being ridiculed for her appearance on social media. 

After an article was posted on Grazia about how much viewers adored her, Laura typed: ‘Such a lovely article! I was terrified about going on gbbo because I thought I was going to be picked apart because of my weight. This means a lot.’ (sic) 

Kind: Laura quickly replied to Paul's message, showing her thanks for his kind words

Kind: Laura quickly replied to Paul’s message, showing her thanks for his kind words 

Support: Former winners of the show Rahul Mandal and Candice Brown also commented on Paul's post showing their own support for Laura

Support: Former winners of the show Rahul Mandal and Candice Brown also commented on Paul’s post showing their own support for Laura 

The nail-biting Pâtisserie Week saw London-based Hermine fall at the final hurdle, leaving fans devastated as one declared: ‘I absolutely hate you 2020!’

As the four contestants began the the semi-finals, Hermine was expected to do quite well, with Prue Leith telling her: ‘This will be your day.’

But things soon went downhill for the mum-of-one, with judge Prue later reflecting that her performance in the tent that week was ‘so disappointing’.

'It's not my fault!' Great British Bake Off's Laura also hit back at trolls for criticising her over Hermine's elimination as she took to Twitter on Wednesday

‘It’s not my fault!’ Great British Bake Off’s Laura also hit back at trolls for criticising her over Hermine’s elimination as she took to Twitter on Wednesday

Taking to Twitter following the result, viewers aired their frustration that Hermine – who had won star baker two weeks in a row – was given the boot. 

‘On what planet did Hermine deserve to go?’ fumed one viewer. 

While another remarked: ‘Hermine leaving over Laura is just pure 2020.’

And a third raged: ‘I absolutely hate you 2020! Hermine was phenomenal.’

‘Wrong decision by Paul and Prue tonight, heartbroken for my queen and true winner Hermine’, tweeted a fourth. 

Unfortunate: Viewers were left disappointed the accountant, 39 - who has garnered attention throughout the series for her speculator dishes - was sent home

Unfortunate: Viewers were left disappointed the accountant, 39 – who has garnered attention throughout the series for her speculator dishes – was sent home

Through to the final! Digital manager Laura, 31, was spared alongside armoured guard Dave (L), 31, and student Peter (R), 20

Through to the final! Digital manager Laura, 31, was spared alongside armoured guard Dave (L), 31, and student Peter (R), 20

The signature challenge saw the bakers asked to make 12 Savarins – a traditional French cake usually soaked in booze. 

And while Peter triumphed (despite not using any alcohol) and earned a handshake from Paul Hollywood, Hermine didn’t fare too well as she ran into some issues and had to start her bake again.

The delay meant she was running behind and as a consequence, her cakes were undercooked.  

The technical challenge, set by judge Paul Hollywood, didn’t go much better as the bakers were tasked with making a Danish cornucopia cake.

'Please remember it's not my fault. I don't make the decisions': The finalist took to Twitter on Wednesday to address the backlash she's received for her co-star's exit

‘Please remember it’s not my fault. I don’t make the decisions’: The finalist took to Twitter on Wednesday to address the backlash she’s received for her co-star’s exit

'I thought I would be picked apart because of my weight': Kent native Laura previously admitted she was 'terrified' about signing up for the show amid trolling fears

‘I thought I would be picked apart because of my weight’: Kent native Laura previously admitted she was ‘terrified’ about signing up for the show amid trolling fears 

The bake proved to be a nightmare challenge for the contestants, with all four of them struggling, despite attempts of encouragement from hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding.   

Speaking after her loss, Hermine graciously said: ‘I believe everything has a reason. It was the right time for me.’

She also penned an open letter to her fans which read: ‘What a summer 2020 has been!! When I left my house that Tuesday morning in November 2019 (feels like the 1800s looking back!!!), never did I imagine that I will be filling a GBBO form. 

Tough week: The nail-biting Pâtisserie Week saw London-based Hermine fall at the final hurdle, leaving fans devastated as one declared: 'I absolutely hate you 2020!'

Tough week: The nail-biting Pâtisserie Week saw London-based Hermine fall at the final hurdle, leaving fans devastated as one declared: ‘I absolutely hate you 2020!’

Outrage: Taking to Twitter following the result, viewers aired their frustration that Hermine - who had won star baker two weeks in a row - was given the boot

Outrage: Taking to Twitter following the result, viewers aired their frustration that Hermine – who had won star baker two weeks in a row – was given the boot

‘Looking back, I am so glad I was encouraged to do so. It has been an absolute privilege to have made it to the tent and to have baked alongside 11 fantastic bakers each with their own strength. 

‘The camaraderie was amazing. The friendship meant that although it was a competition, I always felt I was competing against my better self. Never against the other bakers. 

‘I bake from the heart and all I wanted to do was put a smile on the judges face with my bakes and every week as they enjoyed my flavours, it filled my heart with so much joy.’

The grand final of the Great British Bake Off airs Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4. 

Shock: Hermine was expected to do quite well, with Prue Leith earlier telling her: 'This will be your day'

Shock: Hermine was expected to do quite well, with Prue Leith earlier telling her: ‘This will be your day’

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