Those first impressions have now faded. So, for that matter, have some of the candidates. Eight are still in the race for The Apprentice’s “top job”. With four guys and four gals in the frame, the battle of the sexes is carefully poised.
Unlike The X Factor, which is unfolding in front of our eyes, The Apprentice was filmed a while ago. The producers, like soap opera writers, know the story they want to tell us. We think we have to play detective to work out who will win but we don’t need to go to that trouble.
Stella is the front runner and a certain finalist. She’s only been on the losing team once. She has yet to be dragged back to the boardroom. She hasn’t put a foot wrong. If this were school, she would be head girl. She says on her interview clip, “I create my own destiny.” I believe her.
Second place is trickier. It’s either Jamie or Liz and I’d have to toss a coin to decide which of them I’d rank higher.
In the absence of a coin, I’ll give the edge to Liz. She’s strong in sales and painstaking with the numbers. Not a “one-trick pony”. She has good behaviours and doesn’t indulge in cat fights. It’s just a shame that she spied on the opposition last week and then stole their idea.
Jamie is also a contender for the final and is almost certainly the pick of the boys. He has made astute business comments and challenged appropriately. Last week’s penguin skiing debacle was a bit damaging for him but I’m convinced that he’ll excel again.
Joanna is savvy. She has restrained her “bull in a china shop” tendency from the start of the series. I’m sure the bull is not dead but sleeping. Let the matadors be ready as I think a bull fight is in the offing. This brings us on to the two boys Chris.
Chris Bates (the Chris with the eerie blue eyes) seems to have a magnetic attraction to the boardroom. He has been on the losing team five times out of seven and is often brought back in. I’ve noticed that Sugar pays attention to what he says. This, despite his questionable ability, might propel him to the top of the leader board.
Chris Farrell has remained in the competition thanks to his organisation skills rather than his sales or creative ability. He has no story, sexism aside, so I can’t see him lasting to the end.
This leaves the weakest links, Stuart and Laura. Stuart is an autocratic and ignorant maniac. He shot himself, or rather his “Brand”, in the foot last week.
Laura is just as annoying. All she does is whine and undermine. I can’t see any business acumen in her. She represents the candidate we observe every series who gets far without showing any positive flair.
So that’s what I think of the remaining candidates. Somewhere within the Sugar business empire, the finalists already know the answer.
Visit Anita Shah’s website at www.anitashah.net
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