WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE Great British Bake Off continued with a Patisserie Week semi-final for the final four bakers.

The bakers had to tackle savarins, Horn of Plenty and a cube cake showstopper for their three challenges.

Here is Sandy Docherty’s verdict of week nine’s episode, as she continues her weekly Telegraph & Argus column which will be online each Wednesday morning while the series is on.

Sandy took part in the 2015 series and is the child protection and welfare officer at Titus Salt School in Baildon.

On Patisserie Week, Sandy Says:

“It was a good one. In some ways it’s getting better.

“Do we call it patisserie week, or precision week? It was about precision.

“You have to be that precise. They want to get that uniformity running throughout. It’s that repeat, repeat, repeat. That’s what they were looking for.”

On the Signature – Savarins:

“They all looked good. Peter got himself a handshake. He was blown away by it.

“It’s awful competing with the heat in that tent. It really is an issue in there.”

On the Technical – Horn of Plenty:

“Oh dear. There were some efforts. I could see where they were coming from.

“In that pressure, you see the instructions as double Dutch, because it’s dropped on you and you don’t read it as you should. I could not see the wood from the trees.

“It is always the pressure that gets to you that you realise afterwards. Hermine’s had the shape. Paul Hollywood is a big believer that food has colour, you feel obliged to give Paul a perfect baked biscuit.

“Poor Dave with his caramel. I was taught you never stir caramel.

“Peter got top billing. His confidence would have been sky high. Laura and Hermine were struggling.

“Whatever happens in that day sets you up for the Showstopper. Peter was riding high.

“Dave was comfortable and confident. It was lovely to see his confidence.

On the Showstopper – Cube Cake:

“Hermine did that fateful thing of changing her mind at the last minute. She should have stuck to her original.

“They had to do 25 cubes of premium made French patisserie. It’s a big ask.

“Everyone was using these silicone moulds. It’s not easy to get things out of them.

“Peter had that well thought out and cut them out of a big square. Dave’s were neat and he made a stand as well.”

On the Baker that went:

“Hermine’s showstopper was a disaster, Prue said. That is a hard word to hear. She made this jelly-like mousse.

“We lost her. I really had her down for the final. She will feel terrible.

“What you are best at, can be your downfall. I make amazing cheesecakes, but it was my downfall.

Quotes of the Week: Presenter’s:

Matt to Hermine: “Shall we cancel the final if you don’t make it?”

Bakers’: Peter tried to work out what the plural of mousse is.

  • Sandy will reveal her thoughts on the Great British Bake Off final next Tuesday, ahead of the big day