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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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Raef is not a load of hot hair at all, he is naturally posh and elegant and uses it to charm, however he does have fabulous business qualities and unlike the others would never stab anyone in the back with a duplicitous nature, and he most certainly did not in the board room. He did not blame anyone and I'm perplexed as to where you got that information from. If anyone should have gone then it would have to be Michael, as he has the hot hair and self obsession, I have not a clue as to why Sir Alan is keeping him in, and in my opinion he is completely useless at choosing who to fire in this series. Also people are not stupid at home, Lee's group created a terribly patronising advert that would never encourage me to buy anything from that company. Raef's advert had class and taste and I do not have any faith in the advertising industry at all in how they present a new product to the public. Admittedly, Raef's advert didn't include a huge close up of the tissue box, however to sell a product to me and pesumably many other people, one doesn't need it shoved in ones face. If I truely liked the advert and the look of the tissues I would find my own way of persuing the brand of the tissue box. Raef is a lovely guy and could have won the whole thing!
Posted by: melanie915jennings on Thu May 22 12:30PM | Report abuseI missed it last night but from previous weeks that weasel Michael should have gone ages ago. Its a shame about Raef as i think he was liked by a lot of people.
Posted by: fishertuk on Thu May 22 12:30PM | Report abuseSir Alan What were you thinking of, yet again you have fired the wrong person. It really concerns me by what criteria people are chosen for top jobs in this country, these is no wonder industry is in a mess in the UK. This is know as the clowns running the circus.
Posted by: bankvilla on Thu May 22 12:31PM | Report abuseNo way, Sir Alan got Rid of him because he just did not like him. Maybe there is a specific reason for this. Maybe he feels he is more clever than him!! He stood up for the other lady who was getting bullied, she should not have gone either. Strange.
Posted by: paultavares246 on Thu May 22 12:31PM | Report abuseGrr I missed it! Does anyone know when it's repeated? Ta!
Posted by: janinebasilica on Thu May 22 12:31PM | Report abuseI think Raef would have been be wasted as Alan Sugars apprentice he is far to elegant and well mannered
Posted by: syenglish2000 on Thu May 22 12:31PM | Report abuseThis toffee nosed guy got exactly what he deserved - full marks Sir Alan!
Posted by: dpkshori on Thu May 22 12:31PM | Report abuseI think sir Alan was right to fire Raef all he did was talk a load of rubbish about giving 110% and then doing nothing!!! Michael needs to go next!
Posted by: normagreen1964 on Thu May 22 12:32PM | Report abuseBased on the Tissue Box ad project Raef was the project manager so had the last word so I can see Sir Alan's point, although Raef seems like a nice guy (and gorgeous!...how about modelling Raef?)
Posted by: gillianm9000 on Thu May 22 12:32PM | Report abuseRaef should not have gone. Despite the fact that he made a fatal error last night by not actually sticking to the brief and advertising the brand, he has demonstrated far better team working, presentation and facilitation skills than most of the candidates during the series. Raef also went up hugely in my estimation when he stood up for Sara during Lee's nasty attack. I also have to ask myself why, why why is Michael still in it? This series I do feel old Al (sorry SIR Alan) has lost the plot somewhat with several of his firing decsions.
Posted by: flutehelen on Thu May 22 12:32PM | Report abuse