sure he had a pretty bad week but he's been one of the best candidates overall so far.

Perhaps because the way Jim communicates makes Lord Sugar think "You're not going into partnership with me, Sunshine."

It's a smokescreen - watch - after this Jim will whizz through to the interviews at least

Probably because Jim is n arrogant ass who can never admit he's ever wrong? A bully as well.

If he speaks to the interviewers the way he speaks to his team, how do you think he'll come across to them?

Completely - the producers are trying not to make it look like a one horse race.

Jim's good at forcing his point on his team mates, but against Shugs, Nick and Karen in the boardroom he is rather poor. Therefore the interviews may be a bit of nightmare, they won't take too kindly to arrogance.

Natasha naming Jim to everyone last night was very smart basically letting everyone know that Shugs is after him and therefore taking him into the boardroom is actually not a bad idea.

I don't think there is anything wrong with how he speak to his team mates. He DOES let himself down with his defensive play against LS and his cohorts.
So it will be interesting if he gets to the interview stage.

I don't know if its crossed your mind but everyone in there has to have a degree of arrogance.. and a bully? how? He got himself out of the boardroom by talking his way out of it with fairly valid points. It was just a name, people were happy with it, simple.

Agree - it was a smart move by Natasha, but I still think he's safe in a boardroom situation for now. His strengths still outweigh his mistakes.

He can see exactly the kind of guy he is. Ruthless and conniving and he will wait until the optimum time to fire him - at the interview stage.

It's similar to Baggs last year. he was onto him from quite early on, but he somehow fell for Stuart's bullshit and then he fired him at the best time. So close yet so far kind of thing.

I can see him staying till the interviews they getting ripped apart by Claude

Jim is my favourite to win the show (sofar)

I do think his communication with his team mates lets him down. He's too forceful and doesn't seem to listen. There are better ways of getting your point across in work environments.

His defensiveness with LS makes him come across as if he has a chip on his shoulder.

How patronising! The others may have degrees of arrogance but he is the king by some distance. He needs to understand humility and be adaptable with his overbering arrogance. Sugar can see it and I can clearly see it so i'm not alone. The way he glares and forces his views if anyone disagrees with him is a mild form of bullying as in steamrolling his ideas accross. He wants to take all the credit but cannot accept anything wrong can possibly be his fault.

Its hardly bullying?? He seems very competitive to me and nothing wrong with that if you want to suceed

But competitiveness needs to be channelled in the right way to work for you.

I've said elsewhere that I think LS was disappointed not to have the opportunity to spar with Jim and confront him over his control issues. I think he thinks Jim needs taking down a peg or two for the way he appears to be influencing the behaviour of others.

I hope Margaret is on this year's interview panel if Jim makes it that far (I think he will as he makes great TV viewing). I'd love to see her and Jim try to outstare each other, although my money would be on Margaret!

Edited to add: another reason LS may have wanted Jim in the boardroom was to channel him in the right direction, a la Claire of a few years ago. He obviously has some good business skills, but is falling down with his steamrolling of others. LS probably thinks he needs a bit of guidance in that area. And again, LS v Jim makes for a great confrontation.

Margaret always wins.

Ooh, good post. Totally agree.

A good example of taking the credit was his feeling like the cavalry and coming to the rescue in last week's beauty task, only to be reminded by Nick that he earned his team the princely sum of £14 for his heroic endeavours!

That she does!

Having initially been a Jim supporter, I am rapidly going off him and actually now find him quite scarey. Still, he makes good TV and there is a dearth of "characters" amongst this year's contestants.

I too hope Margaret is on the interviewing team, and interviews him.

I cant remember LS getting so angry at any other candidates. Then it may have been for show. This time its for real. He desperately wants to win, I think more than any of the others. He had to make sure that EVERY was his idea to impress. He wont admit to any mistakes, because he thinks it will lower his chances. Not realising that LS doesnt mind mistakes as long as you own up to them. Stella was also told off last time and went on to win. He tried to 'cover' up on the APPS task but it didnt help him. If someone doesnt like your product even for the wrong reason you wont change his mind. He wont change LS mind either whatever he says. He could have said it better this week, that he only suggested EVERY before he knew that such a product was impossible. But once it was suggested and after he found out it was impossible, he decided maybe we make it possible. Other things have been made possible before. Just because pet owners think their pet is unique and has to have also 'special' food I dont agree with. LS likes a fight and wants to pick one with him. He didnt get his chance this week but will in the end. No he wont win. Who will. Non of them really and somehow LS will get himself out of it.

Thing is when there was a chance that the name was a good idea he was in there right away to point out it was his idea. And then when things looked bad he was more than happy to spread the misery.

Fair enough, though in the week before, had it not been for his charm and joking in getting an extra tenner off the beef his team would have lost the task. (they won by 8).........

I know Jim personally, and while I know all you have to go on is the editing on the show, I can tell you now that he is far from a bully, and is in fact a lovely funny guy, and very well respected in the company he worked for..........but I do appreciate that they need a bit of drama and the editing tends to make things worse............Last year it was basically a one horse race. They dont want that again this year - so are trying to muddy the waters up a bit so that they are all a bit more "even" in their talent, although its apparent to me that there are still quite a number of sandwiches short of picnics still there.

Suralan wants Jim in the Boardroom to give the show more of a ratings boost, bit of verbal sparring! They have a show to make dont forget, as well as getting a winner.