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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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User comments
The show was good last night. Yes he was the right one to go, never liked him or thought he was the right person to work with Sir Alan. Michael could go the distance.
Posted by: malcolm.howes on Thu May 22 11:29AM | Report abusewhy did raef go ? how the hell does micheal keep hanging on , hes doing the same has what sir alan accused jenny off , listening to sir alan , then turning it around for his own needs.why cant sir alan see this ,micheal is a slimeball
Posted by: sjharper1 on Thu May 22 11:34AM | Report abuseWhy are AK47 Claire & lying Micheal still in, Raef was never going to win, but surely he was a better one to stay in than those 2, he cetainly would have looked the part next week in the flashy cars. Claire is just going to look like she stole it!
Posted by: karenwade on Thu May 22 11:45AM | Report abusePlease don't let Michael win!! How is he still on the show!
Posted by: gemma526 on Thu May 22 11:46AM | Report abuseThis lot have the business acumen of pot plants. Where did they come from? Their previous employers must be really glad to have got rid of them, I'm sure they are rubbing their hands with glee now! As for Michael . . .AARGH! Does he not realise what a prize prat he wounds like? "I've got my own theatre company" Who is he kidding !?!?!?!?
Posted by: office_stjohntb on Thu May 22 11:49AM | Report abuset
Posted by: houghton771 on Thu May 22 11:50AM | Report abuseI've never made the time to watch this apparently stultifying programme and these articles have convinced me that I made the right judgement.
Posted by: flloyd.writes on Thu May 22 11:50AM | Report abuseoooooooh yes he was so right but he should have fired michael as well. I am getting fed up with his sad eyed hang dog look as if he is being picked on, what a creep. I have always thought Claire was hiding her true abilities and believe she will come good in the end. It's quite funny to see the @#$% behaving like @#$% and please can they have a shave instead of looking dirty and needing a scrub
Posted by: l.hardy33 on Thu May 22 11:51AM | Report abuseI disagree with your Blog. Raef was rather more than just "hot air". His record up to this task has been good and he has contributed so much more than Michael - in a positive way anyway. He came up with the singles card that contributed to the team's win, he got the best bargain in Marrakech (the cowhide) and the team he was on won and he was the one who pushed for his team to choose the expensive wedding dresses which almost certainly led to that win. Also, didn't he lead the winning laundry team? What a pity he didn't stand up for himself with these facts against Michael's usual boardroom rant.
Posted by: houghton771 on Thu May 22 11:54AM | Report abuseClaire is probably as frustrated as the rest of us - I mean, how would you like to have to work with a bunch of plonkers for 3 months. It has to be Claire, Lee and Lucinda in the final ...
Posted by: kenneth.w.j.jones on Thu May 22 11:58AM | Report abuse