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'Rough diamond' Lee McQueen has snatched Apprentice victory from Claire Young after what felt like the closest boardroom showdown in the programme's history.
We were disappointed that gutsy Claire didn't triumph as she once again proved herself to be a great team leader during the final task and she also helped to carry Lee through the difficult presentation and very tough Q&A section.
In the end, it seemed that Sir Alan felt that Lee was 'more convincing' in his determination to win the job and perhaps he sees Lee as the sort of chap who he can mould to fit into his organisation. Could anyone really mould Claire?
Although Claire managed to keep her mouth shut in the later stages of the series, perhaps Sir Alan just wasn't willing to take a chance on her in case the brash 'rottweiler' we saw in the early tasks returned. Also, we have an inkling that Lee needed to win the series more than Claire - we have a feeling that she will rise to the top without Sir Alan's help.
As for the final task, both teams' performances were pretty poor. Claire and Lee's winning Roulette fragrance 'for real men' was straight out of the 70s (they should just have called it Brut and had done with it). Meanwhile, the only innovative thing about Alex and Helene's fragrance was the bottle - and that was the designer's idea. We would have been interested to see the bottle they had come up with if they had gone along with the name Helene suggested for the fragrance - Girth.
Our highlights from the final episode were the return of the unintentionallly hilarious Kevn (someone give him his own series) and, of course, the long awaited and long overdue sacking of Alex. Hooray!
What did you think of the final? Would you have bought either team's fragrance? Did Lee deserve to win? Was Claire robbed? Let us know what you think...
Plus, watch interviews with some of the most memorable candidates:
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Lee was my tip to win from the very beginning, he just got on with it and didnt get involved in all the back bitting and sillyness that the others got involved in. He was never taken back into the board room and always delivered which is what Sir Alan wanted, also Sir Alan wanted someone who could learn and improve and much as Claire was a good leader she didnt take being under a team leader very well and was always trying to undermine them, i'm sure she will get a good job anyway (she would make a great panto villain!)
Posted by: segmentrecords on Thu Jun 12 08:46AM | Report abuseIf this is what Britain has to offer, no wonder its going down the pan. Perhaps Alan Sugar chose Lee because he is a chip off the old block. All the contestants were lacking in social graces except for two, most were unable to string a sentence together without the F**K word. How sad they were.
Posted by: cloughie999 on Thu Jun 12 08:48AM | Report abuseWonder if Karren Brady will now hire Claire, as she said last week on tv.
Posted by: wendy.linedancer on Thu Jun 12 08:49AM | Report abuseObviously Claire was a much better contestant than Lee. I wondered why Sir Alan did not choose her. Then I remembered his remark, 'I don't know if I could work with Claire'. She was so good that he was afraid of her.
Posted by: babblerem on Thu Jun 12 08:49AM | Report abuseThe fourth Series - and Alan Sugar (Sorry Sir Alan - LOL Indeed) got it wrong at least 3 times. But what do we care - it was good Television.
Posted by: searchthelonggrass on Thu Jun 12 08:52AM | Report abusevery difficut to beleive that Mr Alan has chosen the lair Lee over the best Claire i agree what kind of message he sent to nation
Posted by: ahme250571 on Thu Jun 12 08:52AM | Report abuseI only catch these programs every now and then - great entertainment value for sure. But ultimately they are all wannabe's else they'd have made it w/o the need to humiliate themselves on TV for what is a pretty average job opportunity/salary.
Posted by: jbgearing on Thu Jun 12 08:53AM | Report abuseThe Apprentice is filmed usually in October of each year. And instead of the tasking happening over the "12" weeks they actually happen soon after each other. When it comes to the final before revealing which of the final two Apprentices have won, they usally work for Sir Alan for a short time. This allows him to make a informed decision of who works best for him and his companys. The final boardroom is usually filmed a few weeks in advance to final airing. And if anyone should have won it was Raef. He only messed u on the Tissue Campain.
Posted by: namsonoraa on Thu Jun 12 08:53AM | Report abuseI am sick of all you do gooders that think Lee should've been punished for lying...ask yourself if you have been 100% truthfull in your own CVs and I think you will find the answer dissappointing. Claire wasn't an angel she was very manipulative strategising the boardroom scenes from onset of tasks, where as Lee worked hard. Alex's firing was well over due!!!!! Helene had no chance(I have balls she said..where did she show these?) LEE well done mate, you did deserve it.
Posted by: powerstormtrooper on Thu Jun 12 08:54AM | Report abuseSo Sir Alan Sugar is so sexist he refused to appoint the person who was clearly the best for the job (Claire). Is anyone really surprised? It used to happen all the time in the real world until people woke up to the fact that their business suffered as a result of ignoring clever, intelligent people who happened to be women. What a shame TV is so old fashioned touch that it has to keep supporting such stupid and outdated ideas rather than challenging such stereotypes and making really innovative and exciting programmes - this will never happen with a dinosaur like Alan Sugar. What about giving Karren Brady a bigger role next time - at least she had some common sense!
Posted by: jascott_uk on Thu Jun 12 08:56AM | Report abuse