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- Video: Watch the moment Raef is fired
He'd been lurking in the background ever since the first episode but last night Raef stepped up to the challenge of being teamleader and gallantly fell on his own sword. (That's probably how he would put it himself.)
We haven't seen a lot of Raef during the series - he's had the occasional funny line which has won him fans but last night we had to agree with Sir Alan that there was just a lot of hot air as far as he was concerned and it was time for him to go.
Michael and Raef seemed to fancy themselves as a comedy double-act during the latest task - and we're not just talking about that singing which was hilarious for all the wrong reasons. The pair clowned about like Little and Large on the set of their TV ad as Raef tried to coax a 'DiCaprio-esque' performance from the child actors.
Sir Alan was puzzled about why they had cast weathergirl Sian Lloyd as the child's upset mum in the ad - "If she'd been upset about her boyfriend blowing her out for a Cheeky Girl I'd have understood" he said in another classic boardroom line. We think Raef had ulterior motives for casting Sian - anyone else notice his excited reaction when she arrived?
It did seem like Raef's team were going to storm to victory - they had the slick ad, the clever slogan and a great pitch delivered by Claire (she's shaping up to be our favourite). But, as Sir Alan later pointed out, they'd forgot one thing - "where were the bloody tissues?"
It was this fatal error that cost them the task and helped Alex's shambolic effort win. Lucinda and Lee, led by Alex, came up with an ad that looked like a Victoria Wood sketch and a box of tissues that looked like a box of Weetabix. In all fairness Lee's suggestion of 'Atishoo' was a much better name than the other team's 'I Love My Tissues', however, his boardroom pitch was cringeworthy. Once again Alex has survived not on his own merits but because of other people's errors.
What was up with Lucinda? Putting aside the fact she'd come dressed as Noddy, last night we saw a new much more aggressive side to her and it wasn't likeable. Is she unleashing her inner business bitch now that the end is in sight?
It was another classic boardroom with Raef vowing beforehand that there would be no backstabbing and they would remain united as a team - and then going straight in there and blaming Michael! Michael, who's getting used to being in this situation, was quite to take the credit for everything that was good about the task. Yet again, he escaped firing. Is he Sir Alan's secret lovechild or something?
We still think it's looking like a Lee versus Lucinda final, though Claire is catching up fast - has she replaced Raef as the dark horse?
What did you think of last night's show? Was Sir Alan right to sack Raef? Why is Michael still in the show?
Let us know what you think...
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Regarding Raef he should have stayed as he is the guy with the most common sense, Michael or Claire shoud have gone as Michael is a fool, and Claire is just in your face style just going on and on thinking she is the best. I find it quite annoying that for the past couple of weeks Michael says he wants to be the team leader to prove himself but he doesn't step up to the plate and actually say I want to be the Team Leader. Since the episode when he wrote in his CV he is 'a good Jewish boy,' Alan Sugar has been keeping him on giving him chance after chance, its quite embarassing, its discrimination from the show, maybe all the contestants should have written they are Jews then maybe they would have got away with it like Michael. Also in the Wedding Exhibition episode Michael was calling the shots even though Helene was the team leader in that episode and yet Alan Sugar didn't say anything on why he was calling the shots or getting involved in the decision making, and why he was so adament on the cake that did not sell at all. Finally when Michael in the Morroco episode with the ginger lady wanted to sabotage the other parties Tennis rackets, Alan Sugar in the boardroom said he sees himself in Michael when he was young, So is Alan Sugar saying in his past he used lie, cheat and steal in order to make his money, maybe thats how he became so filthy rich?????
Posted by: jub_ahmed2002 on Thu May 22 12:39PM | Report abuseI agree with alexmunslow - we can't all watch the scheduled programme on a Wednesday but come Thursday morning the result is on the news and all over the Internet which spoils the fun of watching. Sir Alan was right to fire Raef last night although Michael should have gone last week - no idea why he's still there, is he a relative of a friend perhaps? He's rubbish, get rid!!
Posted by: joanie.knott on Thu May 22 12:39PM | Report abuseI can't stand Michael!! he is sly and irratating and I don't think he deserves to win, I don't mind Claire, love Lee, he's a nice guy, down to earth but stands up for himself when needed, Alex irrates the hell out of me!! Smile for goodness sake!!! he reminds me of a stroppy @#$%ager! agghh frustrating characters but great show!! I love Raef! he's a sweet guy, a bit pretentious at times but no more than the others! funny lad! Good luck to him!
Posted by: sassydigs on Thu May 22 12:39PM | Report abuseI absolutely rate the apprentice, best show on right now. How didn't Michael get fired? ... Raef maybe 'full of hot air' but i'd still rather give him another chance, than the other guy, who does nothing but winge and slime about. He has to be the next to go. Would you want him working with or for you?
Posted by: rahfroggeh on Thu May 22 12:39PM | Report abuseWhatever the rights and wrongs of last night's decision, I think Sir Alan continues to make the mistake of allowing Michael to survive. Last week one of the panellists on the inquest show afterwards said that Michael slimes his way out of trouble...........and Sir Alan continues to let him.
Posted by: robert.brennand1 on Thu May 22 12:40PM | Report abuseSirralan obviously likes Clare, he's kept her in several times now. I'm gutted Raef went, the man is a comedy genius!
Posted by: jessefozbom on Thu May 22 12:40PM | Report abuseI believe Michael is the weak link and perhaps he should have gone on this occasion. The women are certainly people I would have difficulty working with in business. None of the candidates stand out but I suspect no one would enjoy working with Sir Alan, even for £100K. I know it is an act and all we are seeing is a summary of what went on over a quite long period of time.
Posted by: roger.williams20 on Thu May 22 12:40PM | Report abuseI' fed up with alex he's just a cute face and that's it!!, Lucinda was behaving really strange i didn't like it at all!!
Posted by: srzlcy on Thu May 22 12:42PM | Report abuseHow Micheal manages to escape being fired time after time has got me! Please Sir Alan do honestly think hes a possible ???? Then again hes such good comedy value, and theres sure to be a plenty more gaffs!!!!!
Posted by: rscrosby1067 on Thu May 22 12:43PM | Report abuseMaybe he was right to send Raef off, although this semi Catholic- semi Jew Greek guy Michael must have gone long time ago;and his time will eventually come!
Posted by: mstavrakis2 on Thu May 22 12:43PM | Report abuse