The Apprentice

The Apprentice

Watch it on BBC1, Wednesdays at 9pm from 26 March

- Week 12: Lee McQueen crowned Apprentice champion
- Week 11: Lucinda 'too zany' for Sir Alan
- Week Ten: Michael fired... at last!
- Week Nine: Tissues at the Ready...
- Week Eight: Wedding Woes
- Week Seven: And Jen There Were None...
- Week Six: Sara Thrown to the Lions
- Week Five: The Ice Cream Queen Cometh
- Week Four: Snakes on a Task
- Week Three: A Dog's Dinner
- Week Two: Hung Out To Dry
- Week One: Oh My Cod
- Watch Apprentice clips

Lee McQueen has been declared the surprise winner of The Apprentice.

The son of a milkman said he had to take "a deep breath" when Sir Alan Sugar told him "you're hired".

McQueen, 30, was the only candidate not to have been hauled into the boardroom.

But formidable opponent and finalist Claire Young, a senior retail worker nicknamed the Rottweiler, had been favourite to land the £100,000 job.

McQueen, a recruitment sales manager with eight GCSEs and a BTEC Diploma, was picked for the plum job despite being caught out in the early stages of the show for lying on his CV.

He said: "I'm a winner! I think I won because I delivered consistently. I'm a football fan and if you compare it to a Premier League table I'd be at the top. I delivered every time. I was consistently able to drive things forward to a positive result."

Asked what he would do with his first month's pay, he said: "I'll probably buy a new pair of shoes for the Mrs. I'm also trying to negotiate with Sir Alan to see if I can have a holiday in South Africa."

McQueen, who has been with his girlfriend Nicola for nine years, said: "I always said if I won I'd buy myself a Porsche 911. They cost around £65,000, so I won't be able to get one with my first pay cheque but maybe I should get in contact with a leasing company."

McQueen, from Princes Risborough, Bucks, added: "My mum's got no central heating in her flat. I bought it and it's mortgaged. So I think it's only right to help her with that side of things."

Find out more about the 2008 candidates in our handy guide below...

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Meet the hopefuls

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Name: Alex Wotherspoon
Age: 24
Career: Regional Sales Manager
Qualifications: BA Managerial Administrative Studies at Aston Business School
Lives: Bolton
He says: "I give 100% all the way. I always speak my mind."

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