Duane was miles ahead of everyone else, that laura is the worst contestant ever, she didnt do anything business wise towards the task, and dancing like a maniac isnt business.

Now we're left with the worst bunch of contestants ever on the history of the show, I wouldnt hire any of them to make me a tenner

Duayne was great, but failed at a crucial time. I don't see why you think Laura is the worst contestant ever. She's not even the worst this series. In fact she's been pretty good up to now, especially compared to the likes of Jenna and Adam.

The series has become a total joke. The best candidates are all being fired. People like Jane and Duane should have been in the final surely.

Absolutely agreed Socha - Jane was strong and for me Duane was one of the strongest candidates in terms of energy and potential. Can only guess his business plan wasn't up to scratch, but if that's what they're being fired on (and it appears it is) it makes the whole 'process' pointless.

Hey Socha!

In complete agreement - two consecutive weeks and candidtes I rated (Jane and Duane) have been chopped.

Not much left to warrant a partnership with The Lord.

Duane was largely hot air. I suspect that now the prize has changed Lord Sugar is quite ruthlessly getting rid of people he couldn't work with, or who have ideas that don't interest him. In the past you would keep Duane for TV entertainment value, and his inability to get on with some other people - and get rid of someone duller who didn't fit the specific job on offer. That way people like Simon and Lee can win and a Stuart Baggs can stay on and on. Here things get more personal and more specific, and there are people who can go just because Lord Sugar doesn't want to personally have to deal with them. Better people may go if their iidea is unwanted , too risky or on the wrong scale. He also probably wants to avoid a repeat of last year when there's not much on offer at the end - so he has to preserve what there is on offer.

I suspect he ruled Duane out as someone to work with, and some or all of Gabbi, Jade or Laura may have an idea that interests him.

Actually, even if none of that was true, of the final three this week, he had good reason to dispose of Duane. He had concluded Ricky's idea was Ok , and that Laura had done a good job realising what she was told to. There was no reason to sack her. Duane had grabbed control of the video, and exerted that control by ignoring anyone else's advice. The video was identified as the big failure, and that was Duane's sole responsibility

Duane had a lot going for him but I agree that he was largely hot air. There wasn't much substantive about him and I think Lord S is looking for more of a Tom from last year type. Duane plunged into everything too much without admitting when he wasn't an expert in the subject matter. And not good on inter-personal relationships. Insubstantial but a nice guy

The thing is it's become a proper full on reality show now. I have a feeling Adam will go very far because he acts like a complete plonker (think Baggs and the man who did the birthing pool skit), and I guess Laura is easy on the eyes and is quite hefty upfront. I think Sugar just keeps them on so that the ratings get better.

Duane was fine imo, but the worst team by miles won the task by an unlikely fluke, then the team captain chose two good members of his own team, so it was hobson's choice.

Oh please! Stop saying that Duane is the best one. He is average. In fact, all candidates are really poor this year. I actually dislike almost all of them this series. It's week 6 and nobody has really shown that he / she deserves to be hired.

duane should have stayed, he won the task he managed alan should have taken that into account, also the eco press thing was his idea which won the boys the task

Completely disagree, he was full of it, perhaps for the show he would have made a more interesting TV character than some that are left, but he came across as very forceful and intimidating to get his own way.

He did it in another task and I think got very lucky to win, this time he was rightfully caught and fired.

^^This sums up the situation perfectly.

I can't believe that he fired Duane.

I thought he was a dead cert for the top 3.

I share the feelings of other posters on this thread about the evictees so far.

I'm not necessarily saying that I think they were always the best candidates, but the ones who have been fired so far appeared to me to be the type of candidates who I'd have expected to go very far in the competition, if not right up until the end.

But I did see Duane as being a bit like the 'Tom' of this series.
In a task a few weeks ago he came across as very inventive and creative as other contestants seemed to try to prevent his voice from being heard.
It was that task with Duane which reminded me of Tom from last year.

Hey Iggy!

Spot on.