The Apprentice Final

So after however many weeks of incompetence we got down to the final 4. In a change to this years format the interviews are now in the final show.

The reason for this could be to add dramatic tension to what is the climax of the show. However more likely is that Sir Alan could have ended up having to invest in a business idea that could make even the worst Dragons' Den contestant look like a future Bill Gates. At least before the winner could only do limited damage by being given a junior role fixing the coffee machines.

Having survived multiple firings, you might expect the candidates to have reasonably good ideas as to a business to start. Alas no, Sir Alan has to pick the least worst option. Jim decides to go for the non profit  option. Just what someone who has to invest 250k wants to hear.

Susan comes up with the genius idea of expanding her saturday market stall business. By writing down her current business turnover and profits, then mulitplying every number by 100, she thinks she has come up with a viable business plan that will make Sugar millions.

Helen's idea is so poor that she is willing at the last minute to blurt out that actually she wanted to start a bakery all along.

So we are left with Tom. His idea is also awful, however given he already has another product in the shops Lord Sugar decides that they should just jump on the back of something that already works. I'm not sure if this is strictly in the rules if there are any. The cynic might speculate that this was the only idea Sir Alan was ever going to invest in right from the start, which explains why Tom was never fired despite losing almost every week.

I couldn't possibly comment...