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Clara has become the sixth baker to leave The Great British Bake Off after pastry week proved her undoing.
The 24-year-old, a marketing graduate from Portugal, was sent home in Tuesday night’s episode of the Channel 4 show. Tom, a 25-year-old hairdresser, was named star baker for the third time in the same episode.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Nigella Lawson set the remaining contestants three challenges across the week. The first asked the bakers to make handheld savoury pies.
A technical round followed, in which they had to whip up choux pastry for a dramatic Polish dessert. An eye-catching decorative pie was the showstopper that gave them one final opportunity to impress.
Clara said she had expected her exit from the tent, explaining that she “really struggled” during pastry week.
Reacting to the news, she said: “I had a blast. This experience – it’s not only that you are learning about baking, but you are learning a lot about you.
“I never thought I could do this with my disorder, and I am really proud that I did that and hopefully I can be an inspiration for other people.”
Despite her departure, Clara said she was proud of herself. She also encouraged anyone with a love of baking to “absolutely go for it” and apply for the next series.
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She added: “I actually learned a big lesson: having a bad bake does not mean I am a bad baker, it means there’s room for improvement, which is amazing because it motivates me to get the technique even better.
Clara, who took the star baker title in the third week of the competition, also spoke warmly of her fellow contestants. She said everyone was “so supportive” from the very beginning and they remained close.
She said: “I think we were all just truly blessed with this group as we got on really well. Everyone is so different and brings so much to the table so that was beautiful to see.”
Clara is the sixth contestant to be eliminated this year after Danni, Shannon, Molly, Nikki and Yannis.
The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 next Tuesday at 8pm.