The Apprentice

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Alan Sugar did say on tv in the week that this week's one was the best so far, and it was for us, the sheer joy of seeing bitchy Jenny getting fired.
Alan described Jenny as a snake, but to be honest in view of her vicious attitude and her crafty cheating, knowing Alan Sugar we thought perhaps he was being generous with that comment, specially after she had hastily blurted out to him that it was her Birthday.
So farewell Jenny. After the show finished, one report said that men with tears in their eyes were hugging each other in the streets.
Lee insisted on displaying his talent as an impressionist making noises that I wouldn't have guessed in a month of Sundays.
Dipstick Michael who said he was only half Jewish and didn't know what kosher chicken was, sat there trembling in case he was made to prove his statement, and Jenny wanted the chicken blessed by somebody in a mosque. All great stuff.

[mariana44]

Well-I did not see that coming---both Jenny's going!!! I think they both talked them selves into being fired. I certainly do not believe that Jenny [no 1] did not know what Kosher Meat meant--and as for Michael--words fail me--thinking that getting a chicken blessed in a mosque makes it kosher. It was good to see Lucinda and Sara coming into their own, without some bossyboots being rude to them !

But watching the show afterwards, I was surprised at how much more attractive both girls were, without the hard make up, and severe hair styles--and I thought Jenny [no 2] looked really pretty--especially without that awful red lipstick.

[michduncg]

I've just watched this on tape as I was away last night. What a fantastic episode - the best yet! It just goes to show that you should always read the instructions properly!! I was cheering for Lee's team as he had Lucinda and Sara as well as Raef. Getting a little anxious at the progress of Jenny's team I was delighted when it was revealed that in fact several of her purchases were wrong, ecstatic when Raef got the cow hide for next to nothing, and howling with laughter and Michael & Jennifers kosher gaff!

I am glad that the birthday girl went. She was awful - did you see her sat in the cab with Sara at the beginning? Call herself 36? I've seen more maturity in the school playground! She also rollercoastered the team to disaster last week with her hilarious idea to promote 'green issues' by producing yet more greeting cards.

I never really warmed to irish Jenny - she was just too spiteful.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Well, it was Ta Ta Sara Dhada, who admitted that she didn't defend herself enough in the boardroom with Sir Alan, in spite of not selling any wedding cake to Two ladies iwho had been unsuspectingly super-glued to their seats. in a bid to make a sale.
but it was going to be anything like the way slime ball Michael defended his position then thank goodness we were spared that.
It beggers belief that any one could crawl and all but lick Sir Alan Sugar's boots like he did.

[mariana44]

I really wanted Helene to go---after she was so beastly to Lucinda in the photography episode, I would have been really pleased to see her fired--but I guess it was enough to see Lucinda beating her by a mile.

However Michael escaped is another mystery--Sara should not have been fired.

But another very entertaining episode. Just unmissable at the moment.

[michduncg]

I really enjoyed seeing Lucinda's team give Helene's team a right pasting. It was wonderful to see Lucinda's elation and Helene's annoyance at the decision of the lady selling the accesories to go with Lucinda . The episode was very cleverly edited to make you think Helene was winning with all of Alex's sales . I thought Claire was in her element, and that Lee was really enjoying selling the accessories. Raef also did well to spot the potential of the premium dresses and persuade Claire to back them rather than the Bhs lines!

I have to say that I think that Sara was the right person to fire last night. She had seen the premium wedding dresses and really failed to be spot their potential or offer any argument to Helene as to why they should go for the premium range Michael was annoying last night, and proved that his sellings skills are next to worthless - he was also very bad at reading peoples body language, not just Sara. Not quite sure why Sir Alan decided to keep him but I suppose they have a few weeks left to go and can't have another week of kicking two people off!

[michduncg]

I had been a real Raef fan until tonight - his ego was enormous, and it just ruined the groups chances of any success. I was glad that Alex's team won, largely thanks to Lee, and his 'Atishu' idea, although not his presentation skills! I think Lee could win this now

[Marian]

I've watched the recording this morning, as the footie was on last night.
I think the right person went, although I have always liked Raef too, up until now. I'm just about to watch his interview on "Breakfast".
Marian

[mariana44]

Am I going to be the only one who actually preferred Rafe's team's advert---and I also loved the idea of "I love my tissues" !!

I definately think the other team should have lost---but as they did not, I think Michael should have gone !! I shall miss Rafe--especially as I was convinced he was going to win.

It now leaves the contest open---could Michael do it ??--I do not think so.

I am going for Claire now.

[Marian]

After Raef's interview I still think he was the right apprentice to be fired.
I think he and Michael were both keen to make a good impression with their advertisement, rather than convey to the public what it was they were selling.
I thought Sian Lloyd was a good addition to have at the time, but she was rather wasted (not literally!) and hardly featured in the final ad at all.
Actually, when she first came in and admired the tissue box, and said she would buy tissues from the appearance of the box alone, I thought that could have actually been a better ad than they eventually ended up with.
I liked the touch at the end though with the children, and preferred the team's design for the box.
The winning team actually came up with a rather garish box and name for their product, but I think there was no way you could miss what they were selling, and the fact they pushed the hygenic benefits of these tissues to the fore, was the main reason they won.
I also liked Michael's little aside into the role of Fagin, although he is possibly in the wrong programme!
Marian

[jon]

Disappointed to see Raef go, but I guesss there was a certain logic to it in that he was the team leader, but as Michael was equally responsible for the video and had fouled up the previous week too, he should have gone on aggregate.

Lee and Claire are my two bets for the final two places. Helene looked totally uninvolved last night and is surely ripe for the push, though she may be keeping her head down and hoping she comes through the middle without making waves. Alex is looking shakier by the week, and in any case there's probably a place in Take That for him after the series! Lucinda is the dark horse and may just pull it off, though somehow she doesn't seem Sir Alan's type.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We were also surprised to see Raef go, but Michael should have gone too.
We thought the Atishu box was good, but Alan couldn't understand how anybody could love tissues.
Well there was no love lost in the boardroom between Raef and Michael when they could see that one of them could any minute be boarding the taxi.
Raef will survive though, apparently he is a secret property millionaire, it emerged last night. The entrepreneur was given his first property by his Grandmother Four years ago.
He now owns a string of plush pads in London, including a £600,000 pile in Hampstead, as well as homes in Fulham, Dollis Hill and Ealing.

[michduncg]

Yes, Helene to go next PLEASE!! She just seem to do anything. Claire has grown on me over the last few weeks, but I think Lee has got the real drive to win this - I just wish he'd stop swearing and making animal noises!!

Michael surely won't win - he's just an idiot, although quite funny to watch. Lucinda is s pleasure to watch but I don't think she'll win.

As far as the winning product goes - just look at how many bright packages there are in the supermarket - Daz, Surf and Bold spring to mind immediately!

[mariana44]

Very close thing last night---I really thought that Michael was going to get away with it again---instead it was Helene. I really wanted Helene to go--
she has been so unnecessarily rude in the past--and even Ruth, on the panel picked up on that point.

But very surprising that Michael was on a par with Lucinda , for knowing nothing about cars--I sympathised with Lucinda, because I am the same---but somehow I expected Michael to be familiar with flash motors.

I loved seeing Ruth on the panel--she has been there--she knows what she is talking about-and says what she thinks.

I think Helene will go next week, with Claire still in it to win.

[michduncg]

Michael was very good on the BBC2 show I thought - much more relaxed and having a good laugh at himself. I was surprised at this lack of car knowledge, or London knowledge for that matter! He was just around the corner from Kings Road when he was at Harrods, why bother going up to Portobello Road. That scene of him following his prospect down the road was very funny!

I thought Lucinda was a bit too precious last night, but I did notice how subtly Alex was influencing Lee to stay with him rather than go off with Lucinda. Lee should really have taken Lucinda under his wing for a few hours to gain her confidence and then gone back to the ZOnda later.

That said, I think Lee could win this now, or Claire.