...and that, in reality, the most talented people in the 'top-end' of business are probably not even going to get out of bed for £100,000, but out of all of those left in this series of The Apprentice, how many would you employ if you ran your own company, based on what you have seen?

Obviously this is going to depend on what role that you are going to wnt them to fulfil, so let's pick something similar to what Sir Alan will probably have them doing, managing a small sub-division or project within the larger company.

For me, I probably would employ Howard, Kate or perhaps Yasmina, and no-one else.

Yasmina or James,
I think James has a good personality, funny, witty, and I think he does have what it takes for the job to be done. He just doesnt have the whole macho persona which most of the others do.

Yasmina because she is smart, knows what she is doing, and incredibly fit.

Kate and Yasmina. Plus Paula who still should be there.

Just James, because he seems an extremely capable man, and I think on what I've seen I'd be able to trust him too, which is something I cannot say of the others, and is probably one of the most important things to me.

He's always seen as the joker, but generally, I think he does very well.

I'd employ James or Howard. I think Yasmina and Kate are both very capable, but I'm not sure how loyal either of them would be.

I would have Kate on the reception desk, Debra as a field sales executive, Yasmina as my personal P.A. and Lorraine as the tea trolley woman.

Only James for me, seems to have morals, a nice manner and honesty... and how much of the 100k would they actually be left with after tax?

After tax about £71,000, using the new 50%top tax rate. THey'd also have to pay NI, and I'm not sure how much that is.

Doesnt the 50% rate kick in over and above £150k?

It does. Someone needs to explain this to Michael Caine too...

100K year would actually equate to about £5000 per month after tax and NI, more or less...