Ben is the Michael/Syed of this series. The token idiot (or rough diamond) who will make it all the way to the finals because he can talk well when in the boardroom.

SAS always picks one male every series who falls into this role and keeps them all the way until the end.

This series it is Ben.

Plus we are told he is a good salesperson, which SAS prizes above anything else.

I will be surprised if he doesnt make it till the final four or five.

I really hope not. I get the feeling Surallen doesn't like Ben all that much, he certainly seemed to enjoy taking him down a peg or two tonight. But he didn't take the opportunity to fire him, and it was there - so I fear you may be right.

If only for the fun of seeing him squrim in the interviews.

He will if the rumours are correct.

As The Apprentice is now in competition for ratings with Hell's Kitchen, I suspect that Ben will be kept until the end. It's a pity because I want to watch a proper apprentice emerging over the next few weeks. Ben is ruining this.

On previous form they will keep him in until the bitter end - look how long the hideous Michael lasted and the odious Hopkins woman almost gained a place in the final.

Neither Michael nor Syed made it to the final.

Ben doesn't talk well in the boardroom.

Yep he gets to the final 4 which is annoying. He wont be in the final two.

reckon it will be between Kate and Debra

I hope he gets to the interviews so that those guys (especially the one who looks a bit like a rat...and I mean that in a good way!) can take his big ego apart.

Not quite, but they both came very close...

SAS would have liked them in the finals but he couldn't quite justify it.

Neither did Michael or Syed, but being articulate doesn't seem to matter.

I hope this is just your general speculations and not an actual spoiler.

It was obvious from season 2 onwards that the producers were role casting the Apprentice as diligently as they would for the characters in a soap opera and as the OP says, he is this years Michael or Syed. Enough genuine skill and talent to keep him in the game, and obnoxious enough to make him a star hate figure to keep us all watching. I thought maybe he'd be the obnoxious one who turns out to be a good guy but I now think that's the Geordie guys role (Paul?).

Hopefully they'll do an Apprentice Xmas special in which Ben and Debra get married - I know my soaps, these almost always end badly for the main players.

No he doesn't.
In just about every series the hot salesperson has tended to come in 3rd or 4th place, and in Claire's case 2nd.

The winner is usually somebody who is young and has the least experience. Just like a proper 'apprentice'.

If he and his surrounding 'world' isn't sucked up into the all-consuming vortex of his own anus first.

Please don't tell me you just posted a spoiler...

Yes, you're spot on. There is no doubt Ben should ahve gone last week let alone tonight. However, people like Ben are those that you either love or hate and are what gets people talking about the show, hence, keeps the ratings high. So Suralan is keeping him there for the purpose of entertainment not because he's good because it's clear from this week and last week that he's totally useless.

I think Ben will make it to the finals, or at least the interview stage (which could be his undoing). I don't think Sir Alan likes him, but he makes for good television. So he will probably go a long way in the show, but not because of any actual competence.

Oh my gosh I hope I haven't just read some spoilers. I was doing so well avoiding them all too

There are too many quiet ones in the mix. I wouldn't want to work with Ben either but he does contribute a lot verbally in the board room and doesn't seem faced by little chisle faced Alan Sugar. At least he talks.

My post definitely wasn't a spoiler - just my hunch

AT least Michael and Syed were vaguely likeable. Ben is like a wannabe rottweiler. Horrible man. Surely Sir Alan will get as sick of him as we all are at some point...