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OK, now we're confused. Only last week we were saying that it seemed Sir Alan had a soft spot for Simon and that the ex-squaddie could do no wrong - and now just one week later he's been fired!
To make matters worse, Sir Alan fired Simon over Alex and Claire (more about those two in a moment) - what is going on?
To be fair, it was a disastrous task for Simon with his team managing to lose money - their photography business having to turn customers away after a mix-up over order numbers. But just how big a part did Alex and Claire play in his downfall?
Last night saw those two - favourites of ours earlier in the series - show their true colours as total snakes. Alex was shirking responsibility right from the start of the task when Simon wanted to appoint him as deputy. This is despite his own declaration that he is the strongest person in the contest! If Alex really is that talented, he's been hiding it well. It was also interesting to see Alex turn on Claire in the boardroom when he thought his own position was in danger. Sir Alan, please see through the sad eyes and pretty boy looks and fire him!
Like Alex, Claire was obstructive throughout the task and seemed to be enjoying it when everything started to go wrong for Simon. Margaret (who appeared to be in a foul mood last night - go Margaret!) got it spot on when she commented that Claire had treated Simon like dirt. So why would Sir Alan want someone like that working for him? It will be interesting to see how she copes next week as team-leader. The others looked less than thrilled at this news.
The Lucinda bullying continued last night with Helene taking her turn to pick on the softly spoken, beret-wearing one. Is anyone going to step in and defend her? And what's wrong with Raef? He spoke about two words last night. We're heard of keeping your head down in the early stages but this is ridiculous.
Are you as shocked as we are to see Simon out of the contest? How did Alex and Claire manage to escape this time? And with Simon gone, who is your favourite to win now?
Let us know your thoughts...
- Watch Simon's reaction to the show
- See the moment Simon is fired
- Find out what's on TV tonight
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User comments
I was sad to see such a decent honest guy getting the boot, but he did volunteer to go into the snake pit. Typical army guy, leadership, honesty, integrity, everything black and white and deal with problems head on. Unfortunately he was trying to manage a group of weasels whose speciality is in how much you can mix and gamble the grey areas of life, the type of people army folks don't like!!! Claire has all the qualities that I despise in a person, smug, self assured and self promoting when they don't have the genuine integrity to back those things up. Alex is an 'exceptional' typical call centre manager, personal empire building and watching his back for knives, but you can't fault his track record, hes come up in an often nasty business and been good at it, so as much as I don't like his guts and despised what he did to Simon, I can't say hes full of it like Claire, just a well qualified weasel. Having read many of the comments, if this isn't good entertainment, how come there are over 600 responses in under 24 hours? Say what you like, they know how to grab ratings!! G.
Posted by: graham_r_smith on Thu Apr 17 06:15PM | Report abuseClaire should have been fired. But Sir Alan did fire her then she'd probably start arguing and stating why she shouldn't be fired. I can imagine some big bodyguards carrying her out of the board room!
Posted by: rosie.oakes on Thu Apr 17 06:17PM | Report abuseOh, and I thought Sir Alan was a bit more harsh regarding Simon when interviewed in the 'Strad-mobile', he seemed to have a genuine soft spot on the main programme, and then slated him in the post mortem. I thought he would have at least said 'nice, decent guy', like he has in the past for the good guys. I hope Simon gets a presenting job on telly, hes not got an irritating bone in his body and would be good at sport maybe?
Posted by: graham_r_smith on Thu Apr 17 06:19PM | Report abusehe so shouldn't of had got fired! Sir Allen is right "with regret, your fired!" Simon was such a good humble modest person, but you have to @#$%y and tough to survive in the house! But Claire should have got fired, two faced cow!
Posted by: shakeelakhanom on Thu Apr 17 06:21PM | Report abuse1
Posted by: fossn on Thu Apr 17 06:22PM | Report abusei would've sacked clarie but simon was useless as a project manager. clair will go next week now as no one can work with her so it's bound to fail whatever task they're given
Posted by: captinhogwash on Thu Apr 17 06:24PM | Report abuseat the end of the day simon admitted to his mistakes and admitted on the bbc2 after that he was a second in command rather than a leader. but i still think it wasnt his time to go. although shes being picked on lets face it lucinder is useless, alex is playing a game and claire thinks shes it. at least simon has intergity and work ethic
Posted by: magicsparklerfizzles on Thu Apr 17 06:27PM | Report abuseI dont give a monkeys! What @#$% to serve up as entertainment.
Posted by: cleddauoiler on Thu Apr 17 06:28PM | Report abuseAlan Sugar clearly wanted Claire to stay on so he could see how hopeless she'll be as team leader....and then FIRE HER!!! =D
Posted by: alan2525 on Thu Apr 17 06:28PM | Report abuseAll successful, contestant based, reality shows seem to suffer the same demise, whereby the contestants want to take part for the sake of it. None of this lot are serious contenders for £100k.pa job. They are all in it to be celebrities. Last week Ian was sacked on Wednesday nights TV and on the Friday Night Project running into the crowd wearing the coat of cash. No self resecting, hard working person really wanting a hundred grand a year job would expect to get it by taking part in this farce.
Posted by: fossn on Thu Apr 17 06:29PM | Report abuse