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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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There were lot of good salespersons among the candidates but none with good business sense.. Perhaps Sir Alan wants someone like that because if the apprentice came with business ideas then he will have to unlearn first before learning the way Sir Alan runs his business. As for Lee, lying on CV is a cardinal sin and he should have been fired on the spot for that. Claire is too brash for Sir Alan and as for the others, they weren't employable. Good luck to Lee because if Sir Alan is the same off screen as he is on it, Lee will need plenty of luck to put up with the rudeness and bullying.
Posted by: arviemail on Thu Jun 12 09:13AM | Report abuseI reckon they were all unemployable in the long term. Who wants to work for Sir Alan Sugar anyway? He can't even shave himself properly.
Posted by: cmmudd on Thu Jun 12 09:13AM | Report abuse'SWAT I'M TAWKIN' ABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: hydz_battersea on Thu Jun 12 09:18AM | Report abuseAll you people writing in about Lee lying on his CV, I would like to see your CVs!! Have you NEVER exaggerated a previous job to sound more interesting and involved? You're all hypocrites! Ok, so he hasn't got a degree like some of the other candidates, but a degree does not make you a person who could fit in and work well with others. Everybody deserves a chance and nobody is perfect and has NEVER LIED!
Posted by: mlogan33 on Thu Jun 12 09:19AM | Report abusewhat a lot of bollox, get out more
Posted by: glomainn on Thu Jun 12 09:20AM | Report abuseI think the producers just wanted a guy to win this time
Posted by: poloplace_834 on Thu Jun 12 09:20AM | Report abuseI was glad to see Lee win.
Posted by: webbga00 on Thu Jun 12 09:22AM | Report abuseHow can anyone say Lee did not deserve to win he was consistant a constant winner and managed well where as claire did not. in my opinion this was painfuly obvious claire may have been a good talker and came across more inteligent but when it came down to actualy delivering Claire didnt and Lee did the business and thats why he won!
Posted by: sharonwilliamson1 on Thu Jun 12 09:22AM | Report abuseHow come Lucinda the 2 Asian women, the Barrister and the Black girl from Birmingham never came back in the final episode? Was kind of shocked Lee won but then again I think Alan can see that Claire is going to make it regardless and Lee is someone who has a lot of motivation. I enjoyed this series.
Posted by: remofoss on Thu Jun 12 09:25AM | Report abuseThe final prrof that Alan Sugar is not the real deal. He makes much use of an ethical stance with his "I dont like cheats" stance. Lees deliberate loss of 16 months from his CV and his shock at being found out made him a nno no if Sugar was true to his word. The answer is now in. This programme no longer has credibility.
Posted by: d.carpenter846 on Thu Jun 12 09:26AM | Report abuse