From the beginning of this years series, I really have warmed to Lorraine. Ok, a lot of people find her rude/annoying, but she's just out there, and she really does know what she is talking about. She makes me laugh, and entertains me - but she isn't useless, and I would love to see her go to the end. Admittedly, I don't think she'll win, but she is definitely the underdog, and a lot of people haven't expected her to get as far in the process as they first thought she would. I'm actually shocked, 'cos all of my favourites usually go early on (apart from Lucinda in last year's series, who almost made it to the end.)

Lorraine to win! Any people agree?

no..?

I have warmed to Lorraine too, and I don't think she's anywhere near as daft as she was made out to be in the ealier shows, I think she's fairly astute actually ... but I don't think she can win as I still think Kate and Yasmina are far more competent candidates ... with better people skills ... the problem for contestants like Lorraine and Lucinda ( who I loved last year! ) is that SA just doesn't like people who he can't 'fit into his organisation' in a nice little box ... the Lorraines and Lucinda's are just too problamatic for him, being a little bit kooky and too outspoken ... he just can't seem to handle candidates who might rock his boat. He seem's to like them neat and ordered and able to be moulded and as much as Lorraine and Lucinda are great entertainment and competent contenders ... they are not really what SA is looking for ...

She is my joint fav along with Kate

I think she's just too slow for The Apprentice. It's very much a deadline-driven show, and there isn't time for someone who is a bit slow on the uptake. In real life I imagine she'd be a lot better.

I don't think she's completely useless, but I'm not seeing much excellence about her either. She gets things right sometimes, and gets them wrong about as often. I'd rate her above Mona or Anita, say, but at this stage most of the other candidates are stronger.

That's how I feel. I don't think she is "bad" per se but I thik she is weaker than some other candidates and don't think she has some of the strong attributes associated to the blue chip organisations in comparison to others.

And, although, I could understand an underdog winning a show like big brother; I think for shows like this when it is for a job, I think it should be the best candidate. It doesn't sit right for me for someone to win a 100k job, earning more than your average worker, for being a nice person or an underdog. It should be because they are the best.

What do you mean what is the relevance of blue chip?

Yes I agree. I have been supporting Lorraine from day one for the same reasons which I think now that I backed Lucinda last year. Looking at the past Apprentice winners a formula does seem to suggest that Lorraine will not get through. I would love to see the underdog pull through and make the final. Go on Lorraine I'm backing you

Doesn't that smack of simply supporting a square-peg candidate purely for the sake of doing so?

I'm not impressed with anyone still jockeying for the job with SA, though I do have a sneaking regard for Lorraine. Doubt if she'll get the job though - with Debra and Yasmina undermining her at every turn she needs eyes in the back of her head to survive.

I don't like Yasmina, can't understand the admiration she attracts and don't see much substance to Kate. James makes good tv - but I wouldn't be prepared to pay him well just for the entertainment value. Debra - I think everything has already been said on the thread - conniving, scheming, she'd trample over her grandmother to get to the top. I like Howard - but I can't think of anything memorable that he's done and imo he showed weakness when he wanted to lead the Margate task and allowed Debra to steamroller him into acting as her assistant.

I'm probably out of step with most viewers - but if I employed anyone it would be Lorraine.

Lorraine to win!!!!!!!!

The problem is that we don't know what AS has planned for the winner.

It's rather like entering a photograpic competition where the judges have a specific idea of what they want for a subject but haven't told anyone.

Most of the people in these series would be a good fit somewhere in any large organisation but the ideal job for Lorraine would be very different from the ideal job for Kate would be very different ...

Exactly. I would put Kate more in a role that was client facing. I think she would maintain better relationships with clients. However, I would put Lorraine at an analytical level and looking at more business strategy. If the role involved a lot of pitching, presentation and relaying messages to clients; I would hire Kate. If the role was about developing products and market research; I would hire Lorraine.

Lorraine, for me, is strong in 1 area (which is a good area to be strong in). but is weaker than other candidates in other areas. I still feel she would do well in a small-medium firm than a large corporation full of a lot of smoozing, networking and real doggy-dog way of working.

Exactly, I seem to recall Alan sugars reasoning for choosing Simon over Kristina was because he would be better suited for real estate, which the Job entailed.

Lorraine is smarter than she looks. She definitely played Phillip to the extent where all she did was inadvertantly wind him up and, I for one, think she did it deliberatley.

If her winding him up was inadvertent, then surely she wasn't playing him?

...soothsayer and Boots make-up artist?

Can I just add, having just seen the phone call waking them up in this weeks episode, that Lorraine seems to be the only person on the planet that looks better first thing in the morning than the rest of the day? I didn't recognise her.

She is fab.

Face like a skelpt arse like but great!

Love the old bird.

I really like Lorraine. Howard was a bit of a non entity really.

"Well I think you're going to have to wait in line in Howard"

She has to win.

Word for word I agree. Kate is the classic style over substance, i.e. good presentational skills, which in turn makes her good at selling and good with people. But business acumen like Lorraine? No. Good commercial instincts? No. And for the record, she's not that likeable for me as a viewer.

And Yasmina is very cold IMO. Not a natural leader or even a natural manager. She seems to oscillate between flapping and being autocratic. Just not naturally effective when she's at the helm. Better when she's following orders.

Howard, like you, I can't remember him being THAT effective at any point. Definitely not to the tune of 100k. I'd say he's a junior to middle manager in the 40k region.

And Debra. Too abrasive. Too aggressive. She should work in credit control or somewhere else where being unfeeling is an asset. It's a shame because she has some business assets.

Lorraine is left-of-centre. But Sugar said tonight that in this environment, risks are required. Well she IS the risk. She IS the one that's not ordinary. So let's see if he'll put his money where his mouth is.

I don't understand why she frustrates the others so much. Maybe we're not seeing it all. Or maybe she's a threat. Maybe it's because she looks and acts 'different' to the norm and they're all a bit intolerant. Maybe it's because this is NOT the usual business environment and therefore her approach doesn't fit the dog-eat-dog style the others have all adopted. Even Kate tonight was uncharacteristically and unnecessarily aggressive to Lorraine when Lorraine made an observation about Kate's facial expression. Kate bit her head off and it was so uncalled for.

Chicken coup syndrome if you ask me. They're all pecking what they think is the weakest chicken. In my eyes, she's the strongest.

here here completely likeable she wouldnt put me off working with her

kates the one thats arrogant and bitchy wot an awful attitude-rhinks shes the dogs but she just is one basically

Lorraine is practically useless. She sometimes has a good idea but thats outweighed by her ability to have resoundingly bad ones and not be able to tell the difference. Her interpersonal skills are pretty non-existant so no one listens when she has one of her better ones and all the other candidates finds her appalling to work with. Even Kate has now been driven to snapping back at her. She should have gone before the quieter people who at least spoke sense more of the time and were better team players.

She's by far the worse one left. James at least will work on a team and keep people happy. Yasmina will get on with it - with the odd big mistake and cut corner. Kate is a safe pair of hands who gets the big business calls right and people will work with. Debra will produce the goods when she hasn't also made a mistake and if he can find anyone who will work with her. He's got an interesting choice but Lorraine isn't part of it.

The more she's been dismissed, the more I've found myself championing Lorraine.

She's different. And that's refreshing.