I agree with the OP and am disappointed that everyone I liked and or rated has gone. Usually there's someone to support and someone to despise but they're all just meh.

This series has truly become the worst.

Even the forum has become much slower than usual I think. Normally when the show gets to this stage there's a lot of discussion.

I know I keep coming here to look but there are much fewer threads, little excitement and hardly much disagreement. It's a forum first.

I would really want to see Gabrielle stay rather than Adam or Jade. Whatever.

Agree. In the previous year, the forum was so busy when the show got to this stage. Many people have stop watching The Apprentice this year since 3 / 4 weeks ago. My partner stopped watching after Katie got fired.

Adam tries. If he's offering to do what he does now you would see how he could do it. Lee wasn't any better. But I agree, not a very credible winner.

Jade showed some clarity of purpose, got the strategy right and showed negotiating skill this week - not sure if that deserves a win - but in the land of the incompetent a flash of success counts.

Tom keeps on missing the point, and did so again.

Rickys a bit more complex. He gets the strategy right most weeks, he works hard and he's got some skills at negotiating and selling. The problem is every week something goes wrong. This week he got the contract but minimalised its effect by plumping for the wrong number.

Nick is dull, and you would wonder why if he won, but he's vastly more competent than Tom from last year - as indeed was almost everyone..

Out of this year's uninspiring bunch, I don't have a problem with the final five we've ended up with:

Nick: Head and shoulders above the rest in terms of task record, definitely deserves a place

Tom: A few blips aside has been a strong candidate. 2 pm wins under his belt (albeit, sparkling wine was less won by him than lost by the other team). Even so, by this year's standards, 2 wins is decent

Ricky: Has clear strengths that I think have been overlooked by the fact that he was unlucky to lose twice as PM. Both times his strategy was sound, he was tanked by others in his team effing up the video. Excellent pitcher, credible in all business situations, good salesman

Jade: All the girls have been rubbish this year, I don't particularly mind that she's the last one standing. She has been quite lucky to have been on the winning team since she lost as PM, but all in all she's been (to quote Monkseal) UTR compentent 'n creative (except for her kinda disastrous attempt at PMing). I know I'm in the minority, but I don't think Gabby was any stronger and I wouldn't swap in any other of the girls

Adam: We need one candidate to provide the lols at interview stage - and who better than Adam, who's at the very least, more likeable than Stephen. Also, it's not like he has no skillset. He's a good salesman and has shown enthusiasm throughout. I've enjoyed his learning curve of high(ish) culture over the last few weeks.

So yeah, all in all I'm happy. Overall the standard has been poor, but for me these guys are about the best of them.

Not dull...just interesting to see which 4 will make it through next weeK...looks like either Tom or Ricky will be fighting it out for that 4th spot!! And only Jade and Nick (despite a contender to win) are wearing the 'dull' tag very well!!

Is there a special 'final 5' programme because it will be interesting to see how Nick and Karen justify each of them getting to this stage. :yawn:

She only begged for it

50% = 50% (no negotiating going on)

Anybody could have closed that deal (unless they walked out in the middle of the talks, especially since the ladies encouraged her to go on talking).

I think the opposite - I have really enjoyed this series. Each candidate has gradually shown their strengths and weaknesses. There has been generally a lot of support for each other, and much more mutual respect than there has been in other series. In my opinion, IMO The Apprentice is a reality show that is about Alan Sugar finding someone to invest in. I am interested in the candidates and seeing how they react under pressure. In previous years, there have been some very big characters, and while they may be entertaining for a while, they usually end up either crashing and burning or over-shadowing the other candidates.

I would love to see Nick win he is warm yet calm and is assertive without being aggressive.

This is my view too. Those who question what he's done seem to be forgetting that in both tasks that he's led, the results have been acheived largely because of his strategy and leadership. Last week's swap also clearly indicated that the rest of his colleagues respect him and his ability as well. I am concerned however, that his edit seems to be worsening (and not in a Tom "starting to look a bit clueless so ripe for a redeeming episode" way) and he's fading rather than coming to the fore. I don't actually see him making the final two although he should survive next week.

Of the others, only Adam looks out of his depth and even he does what he does reasonably competently. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to have much of a range when it comes to his "comfort zone". I actually think Ricky may be the most competent overall although the fact that he's made the same mistake twice when leading (you'd think he'd learn from experience - he's not at all stupid) may count against him.

Think Tom may have a great last couple of episodes and cruise to a win to be honest and Jade is certainly the dark horse who could be coming up on the rails.

Well this is all very negative isn't it? I reckon this year its been as good as always, I honestly don't think I've ever watched an episode of the apprentice and not enjoyed it 100%, its such fantastic entertainment. Also, I think its a good final five; Tom, Nick and Ricky are all strong contestants

I'd rate this year's final five as better than Series 4's. Lucinda was the only one of them I could stand and even she was mimsy and liked being a martyr. God, Micheal freaking Sophocles just missed out on the top five that year.

Yes, there is.

I'm OK with the final five now that the odious Stephen has been weeded out. I don't think Jade or Adam are particularly strong, but while this isn't the strongest final five it's also far from the weakest.

Don't like anyone. Don't rate anyone. I might just give the final a miss.

Totally forgettable series.

Think The Apprentice might be losing its appeal for me. Just like Big Brother eventually did.

Well, at least I am not alone in believing that this forum is far quieter than previous years.

At least last year we had the interest that Susan stirred up in us Apprentice followers, but apart from actual transmission night, the forum is deserted.

The final five prog I will give a miss to, as really cant be bothered.

Yes he did and Sugar was still not pleased with him.
I think that on several occasions in this series Sugar has fired the wrong candidate.
Ricky could be next in the firing line should he happen to be on the losing team next week. Sugar doesn't seem to like him.

You all say this, but I really like this series

They're all ok but none of them have exactly set the world on fire.

That's the problem for me. they seem 5 pleasant enough people who you'd be happy to share an office with (with the possible exception of Adam) but none of them appear to have any spark, any fire, any real get up and go.

It is like if they filled BB with a group of your mates. Nice people to be friends with but not good tv

I kinda think Nick is the dark horse and might well win. Depends on business plans though.

This latest iteration of The Apprentice just exemplifies the BBC's view on this type of programme i.e they just don't know when to call it a day. It has lost any excitement and we all know how engineered and dare I say, 'fixed' it probably all is. It has some entertainment value left but not much.

Ricky really won me over last night, his attitude is just great, he never gives up and is super-resilient.

You hit the nail on the head there - nothing against Nick but if the business plan decides he's the winner then what's the point in 12 weeks of tasks???