Not the most positive of assessment but I think these two have been the best candidates so far. Howard had a good week as project manager and was responsible for the boys winning that task with his focus on costing and the fact that they only made progress when he turned up. He has not been particilalry noticeable since then but whenver he speaks he normally speaks sense and is calm and I think his judgment is sound. He does not come across as weak on most aspects on the tasks but I can't really point to a very strong individual performance since week one, which is still better than most of the others.

Kate had a very good week as project manager and like Howard when she speaks I generally think what she says is spot on. I had doubts about her at the beginning as on the first couple of tasks she was making criticial comments(which turned out to be right at the end) and raising this in the boardroom but not really voicing them strongly to change the direction during the tasks. Since those doubts though I think she has done well. I'd put her ahead of Howard as she has generally been more involved.

Debra is the next candidate I rate after these two. She would be a nightmare to be in a team with and I reckon she is the Apprentice for media reasons, but she has performed well individually in tasks and like the other I agree with her fairly often.

The rest for me have more faults. Phillip has had some strong weeks but he has some big flaws. He was far too dismissive of Lorraine's desire to research the prices of the rug and that was poor judgment. He is also far too argmentative and has no listening skills and is making some big mistakes. Pantsman and tonight were poor showings.

I reckon Lorraine, and Yasmina follow a similar trend to Phillip. Some good weeks but some poor weeks with some bad mistakes made. I like James but I can't say I've seen much from him other than being a good team player. Ben should have gone over Paula and Mona has almost disappeared from the show.

I 100% agree about Kate - I think she is the strongest candidate in the series by far and would be very surprised if she doesn't win. She doesn't put a foot wrong.

Howard doesn't seem to join in things too much and there are too many quotes from him criticising others 'after the event' which make him look a bit sneaky.

My top 4 candidates would be women this year - Yasmina (apart from that awful sandal/cedar wood error) has been very good and excelled in the restaraunt task - especially since her food was so shitty she deserves kudos.

Deborah is a nightmare to work with but certainly gets things done.

And Lorraine is very intelligent and certainly not to be underestimated - sadly that is what her team usually does.

My money's on Yasmina for the final, perhaps with Kate or Howard. I really can't see any of the other men getting that far.

I think Kate, but Howard? Unless he does well on another PM job I don't see him as strong.

I'd happily have Howard working for me. I'd happily have Kate in a senior position. I'd grudgingly have Debra in a senior position. I'd like to be friends with James.

The others can sling their hooks.

Imo the strongest candidates are Kate, Yasmina, Debra and Howard.

Howard's definitely the strongest of the males. He usually talks sense, seems capable and professional, and he's the only man to have led a team to making a profit and winning (other than Noorul, but that doesn't count). Rocky made a loss, James got no orders when he was PM, and both Philip and Ben made a loss tonight. He's been brought to the boardroom once, but I don't think he deserved to be there and he defended himself well, and was a lot more calm and rational under pressure in the boardroom than the other men have been.

But I think the girls are stronger, especially Kate. I don't expect Debra to be hired at all. So I'll be surprised if the winner isn't Kate or Yasmina, or maybe Howard.

Lorraine may have an outside chance but we haven't seen her as a leader yet. I think Sir Alan likes her though.

I'd like to have seen what Howard and Kate did on this week's task. I imagine they did fairly well (if they'd made a mess of it we would have seen it and the rug was the big loss) but they could have put in another minute of them or something.

Yes agree with a lot of the opinions on the various good postings here. My own opinion on the front runners is that its between Kate, Yasmina, Howard and possibly James/Lorraine/Debra.

To me Yasmina and Kate are the stand out candidates but I am not sure Kate is tough enough and Yasmina does have very strong leadership skills which are in evidence every week whether she is team leader or not.

As we know from previous years its all down to the interviews and lack of prep/CV lies/interview skills come into play. In some ways it may be amusing if Phillip or Ben get to this stage as I can see Claude and Paul H ripping them to shreds!

I think the strongest contenders are Howard, Kate, James and Yasmina. However, I would like to see Debra get to the interview stage, for the pure entertainment factor - those interviewers deliberately try and get the contestants rattled, and I reckon Debra would just let rip at them!

I'm not sure about Howard but Kate seems very good and Yasmina. Yasmina I thought was a bit harsh as project manager, perhaps needs a bit more tact, but she is organised, a hard worker and delivered. Kate as project manager delegated very well and kept on top of everything going on in her team. She made good decisions and appeared confident. In other tasks especially the sports product and bath product I thought her presentation and selling skills were also very good.
Like I said not sure about Howard. He had a good start but seems to be in the background most weeks. I don't really like any of the other men. All style no substance, no business acumen (or common sense in some instances) at all.

Howard is hopeless and looks too much like a trout to take seriously.

Howard has left absolutely no impression on me. Apart from having very piercing eyes.

I see Kate and Yasmina as the srongest candidates. The men are a bit of a sorry bunch, all things considered, although I do like James. But can't see any of them in the final.

Howard is okay, he's sensible most of the time and keeps his head down. He was decent as PM.

Kate is ok but Howard is as visible as Noorul

I can't remember anything of note he's done (except attempt to tell Philip and Lorraine to wind it in)

I agree Howard is in the same category as Noorul and Mona, useless and barely contributing.

Kate, Yasmina, James and Lorraine are possibly the best contributors, being professional at all times without coming across as arrogant or dislikeable (well, maybe James as well but he seems to be getting better).

There was a bit last night with Kate & Howard in the taxi having a perfectly sensible conversation about the best strategy to take to try and get the most money for their goods, it was quite refreshing and no less entertaining for not having any shouting, disagreeing or mistake making.

^^^Yes I noticed that too. Nice to see two people actually trying to think of the best way to approach the task - and doing it in a calm and friendly manner. Unlike some of the others who just take the 'shout the loudest' approach.

I can see a Kate, Howard, Lorraine, Yasmina and James final five. All of them are very promising candidates in my opinion, with Lorraine being my favourite.

Kate was impressive as a team leader, Howard speaks a lot of sense as does Lorraine - they both seem to be level headed and look for the best strategy. Yasmina seems like a strong willed and motivated individual which I think is essential in succeeding in business. James seems to try very hard. I disliked him at first but he's growing on me.

James is growing on me as well. There is something quite sweet about him and I reckon he's got a bit more about him than first impressions suggest.

I like Howard but they haven't shown him much lately. I still think he's a contender though. I also agree with others that James is growing on me.

Out of the girls, i would say that Kate and Yasmina are the strongest.

Howard done far more than Noorul or Mona or James for that matter. In his week as PM he managed the win by (a) focusing on costs and making sure everyone understood that had to be resolved swiftly, something Mona did not do, (b) he set up a decent sideline with the shoe shine to complement the main contract they had on the car lot and (c) got down the car lot to help turn the task around while the likes of Phil and James got one car done in an hour. He did a very good job as PM, no one else has managed to get Phillip in destructive mood one side and working effectively.

I agree he has not been shown much these last few weeks with Lorraine/Phillip/Debra the main focus of the show but when he is shown he is normally talking sense and like I said before point me in the direction of a serious mistake he has made. All I can really throw against him is that he did not research the prices thoroughly enough the week Rocky was PM. Other than that, his contributions have been good and he is well rounded.

I'd prefer a contender like that, who has been consistent that someone who has had some good weeks like Yasmina and Phillip but also made some bad mistakes which had cost tasks like mixing up Sanderwood and Siederwood and coming up with Pantsman.

I think Howard is coming across quite well. He is measured, serious and his criticisms of others have been necessary and valid. Also, he doesn't respond of the top of his head, unlike the other men. In the first series, Tim won the first task, was quiet for the next few weeks, and then came into his own in the last month or so. Howard may well be similar.

My favourite is James. He is loveable, but he's not a serious contender. Lorraine is capable, but if the other contestants don't take to her, Siralan will soon start wondering why.

Kate and Yasmina must be considered the strongest candidates at the moment. Yasmina is as tough as Debra, but more likeable. Kate is just good all round.

The others all need to go, though I would love Phil to get to interview as he needs someone to tell him what an idiot he really is.

I'd cross out Howard and put either James or Yasmina, who really have proved themselves, especially they gave me a VERY bad first impression.

Often the strongest candidates are the ones you don't see much of during the first rounds. I fancy Howard and Kate for the final too with Yasmina. Not sure about the 4th place.

Gawd this Kate fixation is becoming a little "Diana Princess of Hearts" esq...... why? She's demonstrated absolutely nothing (other than pure luck). Sorry folks I don't get it As for Howard - well, like her he's fairly nondescript too.

I still believe Lorraine shows the greatest potential (so far)