This has only occurred to me during broadcast of the final episode... I think that there is a chance that Sarah was actually doing appallingly on purpose. Her general manner and the way that she talks certainly comes across as though she is a lot more intelligent than she showed herself to be. From online research, she seems to have been very successful in her own hypnotherapy business, and she comes across so well in her YouTube video advert you'd think she was a different person. Everyone has had the odd foolish moment, but she did a huge amount of ludicrously stupid things and seemed thoroughly oblivious to any criticism. And it's not just her actual performance - she came out with some really random things, like the funeral directors comment and the clim-bon-line thing. Also she seemed a bit unusual on You're Fired! - she was speaking directly to the panelists without really interacting with Dara, and one of the clips of other candidates said that 'she seems to be on Planet Sarah quite a lot of the time'.

I feel like she may have not been serious about getting the investment, and just decided to have a laugh by going on the show and being as hopeless as she possibly could. If that is what she was doing, total respect to her because she played the role amazingly well. And actually, I find her quite likeable - I don't know what it is about her, in this last episode I've just found watching her quite enjoyable. She doesn't seem unpleasant at all, just quite bonkers really.

What are other people's thoughts on this?

Wouldn't surprise me tbh. She was probably trying to get a TV career rather than win The Apprentice

Do think Luisa was her benchmark to make a name for herself

Naw - she was a bit silly, but no caricature. Tame, for a hypnotherapist! I think if you were going for the "batshit apprentice candidate" niche you'd ham it up Baggs style, Sarah was a continuous babble of gentle ludicrousness. Note, too, that they did actually incorporate her "clim bon line" suggestion and popped a space in. Lots of fun, though, Sarah's great.

I agree OP, she was basically portraying herself as a dimwitted cretin for reasons known only to herself

She can't be that dumb given her real life business

But that's been done before - in fact, even in Baggs' series there had been previous similar candidates, like Ben Clarke. I think we're all united in saying that there has never been someone like Sarah. I think she created a character for herself - and if she did, I respect her for that, because it worked and we all enjoyed it.

(Sarah, if you read this, honestly no offence if I'm completely wrong! Love ya )

As much as "Sarah Dales: CHARACTER ACTOR!" is one of the most bizarre Apprentice conspiracy theories I've yet seen, I agree she's fairly unique. I'd drink to that!

She should get a spin-off. It doesn't even need a premise, just let her out into the world and record the things she says to people.

My colleague said in the first week that she could be a plant, just to make good TV. Been paid to deliberately act like a total idiot. I don't think it's true, but it certainly fits with your idea.

Or maybe she really is that much of a twat?

If you think that, you must also ask yourself what purpose would that serve. If she really is a successful hypnotherapist that act would ruin her business. Dippy airhead types couldn't hypnotise people.

I think she is exactly how she appeared on the show. Sometimes you need a literal thinker to point out flaws that otherwise get missed because the creatives are getting carried away. Otherwise she was just "mostly harmless".

Now, you see that was my original thought. But there are two flaws in this - firstly, she is a successful hypnotherapist, and as far as I know doesn't do any work as an actress, and secondly I don't think she'd have been fired so early if she had been.

As for the other person's points about ruining her business - it's a risk that would have been taken, but in fairness her Apprentice stint would probably be forgotten by most people in a few weeks. And regardless of anything else, we have seen that she does at least possess the skills to charm people. She spoke to the clients very professionally when she was with Solomon tonight. Or maybe she just wanted to change her job anyway.

I will always remember her comment in the car after she was fired: "I don't think Sir Alan Sugar is the right business partner for me".

Imagine if she'd got to the final, and whilst he was deliberating she'd said: 'Lord Sugar, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I have come to the conclusion that I'd be better off with a different investor. I really don't think your style suits mine. So thanks for your time, but I'm going to let you go.'

Best boardroom ever! Better than Hopkins. (Of course, that would require her to actually get to the final in the first place.)

I was genuinely surprised Sarah was even selected to help the finalists. She could have sabotaged the whole thing.

More like Katie Hopkins I think.

She played a key role in the final, doing some sales, for which she came fully equipped with high heels, make up and short skirt.

And lip fillers!

Shocked to see her brought back as she was one of the more useless candidates that was fired early.

Only idiots fall for that hypno-crap, and idiots are drawn to alpha-idiots, so of course she'd make it successful, need you be reminded of the most watched crappy content on youtube that rakes in millions?

I do find it hard to believe that a character as absurd as Sarah can actually exist, but at the same time I'm not sure what she'd achieve from pretending to act that way? Surely nobody would want to work with her or take her seriously after that? The only thing is maybe she wanted a media career out of it, but it's a bit of a risk to take and wouldn't have paid off considering she was fired in week 4!

I've no idea. But clim-Bon-line was the funniest thing I'd heard all week.

I think after a couple of years, people would forget about you. Obviously we'll remember, but how many casual viewers will remember Sarah if they met her in the street in two or three years time? Not many, I'll bet - they'd remember if you reminded them about the lemons or the London Zoo cleaning products pitch, but they wouldn't instantly recognise her upon meeting her. Or maybe she just has enough contacts to know what she is really like for her career to be successful anyway.

I just think it's something that could easily happen. You know, you're in a bar with some mates, someone mentions that The Apprentice auditions are open, someone else says, 'You know what, it would be great fun to go on there and pretend to be the most useless person you could possibly imagine', and it escalates from there until one person actually decides to do it. A friend of mine sent off an application form for YA3, having deliberately filled it with the most arrogant, stupid things he could think of, and he was invited to an audition! He didn't go as he already had plans and he was only really applying as a joke, but it can happen.

It was far more catchy! Oh dear, the look of thunder on Sarah's face when Dara teased about the hilarity of the name!

Can it be any worse than Leah suggesting her cosmetic treatment business be called "Niks".

She had NO idea that it might be a bad idea to refer to accidentally cutting skin when trying to sell botox to gullible types.

He got offered a scholarship at Sandhurst don't you know.