...towards manufacturing viewing figures and ratings...

I am absolutely adamant in my own mind Sir Alan Sugar is there with a mission to portray himself as the complex minded character of a reality TV show.

He's obviously gone to fashion this cheesy fairy-tale story, converting a mischievous little kid that's turned businessman whom is presented a break in life.

IMO its almost similar to the SOB stories Simon Cowell drums up on X factor (or used to) this is done more subtle.

Sir Alan Sugar's lame excuses about wanting a spark of genius rather than a hard grafter.

Exactly what spark of genius does Sir Alan have? Surely he worked his way up the business ladder through hard work? Its not as if he's an inventor or anything? Besides, I can't for the life of me remember a moment of brilliance from Stuart on the show. Whereas Liz has shown more skills at being articulate and charismatic in business within one speech than Stuart has in the entire series until now. Sure Stuart is articulate, articulate at using bullshit to manipulate what people are saying and deceive to make it seem he's right and is talking sense. LOL! Harnessing talent. I would have been in absolute stitches had I been Sir Alan and uttered the words "just go".

Anyway to sum it up not only is LIz better than him in terms of "work ethic" but also "charm" and "creativity". The only bits of work ethic, charm and creativity shown in Stuart is in his incredible knack for deceiving. (Bullshitting) If being able to deceive is what it takes to become a successful and rich business man then there'd be less professional poker players out there.

Its obvious the show's producers have also encouraged Sir Alan to spice up matters for the last in the series, they want viewing figures and at the end of the day "controversial publicity" that makes "good publicity". Also proven in x factor with Wagner, Katie and Cher. All talentless, yet controversial acts.

What? You mean it's a TV show, for entertainment purposes? Surely not.

Its supposed to also be a television show that provides insight into what employers look for when employing businessmen and women.

I've never heard anyone call it that before.

Well, that's what made it interesting for most in its first season or so. (Entertainment came second)

First series was as staged as anything, even down to the order of the firings in interview task (Paul was fired BEFORE James, but was switched around for entertainment purposes).

Maybe so, but that's not what it's supposed to be, as you put it. Any insight you get is a useful by-product, nothing more. The whole set-up is staged. They have been choosing more extreme candidates of late, which is why the junior version was more interesting.

But it's always been about manufacturing viewing figures and ratings.

It's not something that's just happened recently nor is it following The X Factor. It's always been that way.

Some people say the same about other 'reality' shows, that they've suddenly started trying to be like Big Brother.
But they've always been about as real as Amanda Holden's forehead.

The only difference now is that more people are noticing how these shows work as opposed to not noticing before.

Don't you remember Miriam from series 1?
It's not too different from the situation with Liz last night.

Yeah, 'cause a brash young fella who fires off the odd joke is ratings gold compared to the glamorous Liz Locke. As we all know, TV execs will obviously have been clamouring for Lord Sugar to get rid of the attractive young girl. Nothing makes the gents switch off the telly like a pretty face.

Stuart stayed in because Stuart showed tonnes of drive and passion. Same reason Debra stayed in a couple of years back. It's absolutely precedented, Stuart put in a stellar boardroom performance, and that's kinda how Lord Sugar's always cut it. Liz herself has admitted she was far too timid. It's not chasing ratings, it's just a decision you don't like. Live with it.

The X factor at least has managed to keep a couple of the best people available to the end. Its problem is its voting audience usually loses at least one person more talented by the last two and it now often sacrifices someone really good to keep someone hopels attracting ratings done.

The appentice has started sacrificing its top 2 for ratings but its also created a last 5 with very little ability, and the major similarity is that 4 of them mirror his Lordship's life in avoiding university. Its a sort of apartheid where most people have to have the bosses CV to do well.

There's no comparison with Debra. As Sugar himself said flies show passion banging their head on windows every day. Stuart has no ability - he's mucked up everything he has touched and his drive is similar to that of the disobedient toddler or fly. Debra was very bright and often spotted issues that no one else did. Indeed, she showed rare flashes of brilliance for the UK Apprentice and she should have gone into the final with Kate. That time Sugar at least kept Debra to the interviews stage He then couldn't spot real talent again and avoided the risk before going on to find Yasmina's journey story and cost and quality cutting instincts in line with his own ,

This time, he has done something very different by removing one of his top 2 just to keep a ridiculous candidate in to fall apart in the interviews.

Sir Alan Sugar evidently see's it differently.

...but don't you think its escalated even more, especially as its the last in the series? I'm sorry, I just can't for the life of me see how Sir Alan Sugar would have made such a decision in season 1.

He did exactly the same in Series 1 when he kept Paul "I'm just like you, Sir Alan" Tossari in over Miriam Staley.

Lord Al has a history now of keeping dubious characters in for what I can only suspect are TV friendly reasons eg Mad Jo Cameron, Syed "One chicken per Pizza" Ahmed, Micheal "Good Jewish boy but whats Kosher mean?" Sophacles.

It is an entertainment programme, but also a bit educational too imo.

As for it being 'staged' no-one is being ripped off it's not like the public are allowed to vote for their favourite so it's not like the X Factor where people are misled about things.