Just heard The Queen was so PO that he fired Simon, she's stripping him of his knighthood....

<puts fingers over mouth like naughty schoolboy>

Simon was unlucky to go today, but there are many contestants (mainly women) who are clearly just also rans. For example, Lucinda, Claire. Jenie-bully, Helena-bully, and the one who offered the 24-hour help-line.

It will only be a matter of time before they go - it is merely a case of which order they go in. BBC might try to maximise entertainment in the interim.

Going against the grain here but I tihnk SA made the right choice. Simon was overemotional, he was slightly aggressive - he shouldnt be pushing women, even in jest, he badly managed the team an wouldnt listen to Claire, argued infront of potential customers etc etc. As far as I could tell, Alex and Claire weren't actively trying to sabotage the task, they were working, but their main flaw was showing Simon such disrespect.

Claire I think is quite competent. She won the first task, can organise people (ie boss them around). Her problem is that the way in which she speaks to people. Which can be worked on. Simon didnt have the qualities to be the next Apprentice. He was a good second-in-command to Raef but lacked leadership.

Alex I initially thought was let down by his team (Raef and Nicholarse) in the fish task. Now with the benefit of hindsight I can see Alex's only talent is being able to shift the blame onto others.

When I fist learned that Simon was going tonight, I was shocked, to be honest I now feel Sir Alan made the right choice.

Alex may have been deliberately trying to make the team fail to get Simon sacked, but he realised the error of his ways and tried to get rid of Claire, so why does Simon go on and slag him off, before then wanting him to win?

If he'd agreed with Alex and put all the blame on Clare he'd of walked out of that boardroom a candidate.

Good episode, I predict another rise in the ratings

I think it was interesting they were speculating that Simon was safe back at the house and he had some favour with SrAlan, maybe this is what caused Simon's downfall, they saw him as a threat and they knew what buttons to push too

I agree theres a load of dead wood this series..

too many who are just playing a game of 'keep your head down and stay safe' as well

there is one bloke for instance (who ive just looked up and he's called Michael!) who i dont think even appeared in tonights episode! Lindi and a few others did nothing either.

both teams came up with decent ideas on tonights episode, but the number of contestants unable to create a decent ordering system, work a computer, or have decent discussion was quite astounding.

I think its time they gave them an individual task one week, such as a selling task..which would make those who barely do anything have to work. That would shift 1 or 2 bits of deadwood, or highlight who isn't doing anything.

He did - but just to whinge sour-facedly about Simon, I think.

blink and you'd have missed him though

some of the candidates are being too aggressive and some are making poor decisions..but at least they are making an impression on the series.

its like BigBrother sometimes when the audience votes out the lively ones early on, and then are left with the ones who blended into the background!

I think the problem is, they are all “dead wood”. I’m not being comedically bitchy... they just are. Therefore I pinned my hopes on the “nice guy” who went tonight.

In a way it’s more pleasurable to watch without a favourite. They are now free to tear shreds out of each other!

Some of the observations I held at the beginning has been realised.

Simon: Was one of my favourites. Yes, the team let him down badly-all out for themselves. Everything has been said so far-so I wont repeat it again. But I have to say under pressure Simon's personality became apparent. He cannot lead in high pressure situations he becomes very stressed when things are not working out. This means he would not be able to work for Sir Alan or whoever if things goes wrong. I agree he did not have the support he needed but you make them want to support you like Raef did-that's charisma. Also his history of drugs could show his ugly face again if he cannot cope.

The glamour thing was too much for them to handle and it was tacky. Or badly organised. He should have gone for something much more simple.

I am glad he agreed with what was said about him and will take it on board. He will lead in a less stressful environment but he is more of a team player. He must learn some people and coping skills. I will miss him. I wish him the best.

Alex: From the very first task I knew what he was about. He knew what he was doing when he chose Nick and Raef for the boardroom-I'll say that much. I never bought into this nice guy business. Its a competion. You root out the weaker person to survive-if you are ruthless like he is. He did that to Nick and now Simon.

Clare; Not a team player I said this at the beginning. She seems to create trouble. Her behaviour today confirmed how spineless she is. Her colleagues at the house thought she would go. It tells you
what they think of her. Yes/no she should have gone. She has till next week to prove herself.

As for others:

HeleneI think what Jenny started with Lucinda she is continuing to further sabotage and distroy her. She lied in this instance-Lucinda told her she was not technical-ignored her. Calling someone evil is unprofessional. She was not a bad leader but not a good team player.Under pressure she seems to find a target.

LucindaShe has to ask herself why is she been targeted all the time by women expecially? How is she presenting herself that somehow she manages to become the victim? Of course we do not know what goes on in the house. She needs one of the calming personalities such as Sara or Raef to point out how she can avoid conflicts. She may not be doing anything wrong but the ladies may see her as a threat or they are jealous. Why does she not have problem with the men! Well, we do not know that-but?

RaefJust got on with it in the midst of chaos and disorder. Nothing seem to phase him-even the upside down picture on the mug. And even Kevin with that look of disapproval on his face. He remains my favourite till he goes regardless of what goes wrong. I just like him from the begining. Even if he is a 'pompous idiot'. Simon likes him too.

Nothing to report on the others till next week perhaps.




Babeth

I personally thought Raef should have tried to stop the blatant bullying of Lucinda. Just like someone on Jenny's team should have done in Week 2 (I think Sara tried to diffuse it at one point). I can never understand how ppl can just stand back and let someone else rip a weaker person to shreds.

Could be the editing of course - who knows what actually happened and how?

But we do not know if Raef did intervene and they edited that bit out. But back in the house I notice Lucinda sitting beside Raef. So we cannot judge as we do not know.

Thats what I think anyway.

Babeth

as you say its hard to know due to editing

but I felt that Raef was another one avoiding the 'radar' tonight, putting his stealth suit on, saying nothing and avoiding the boardroom.

he pulled his weight doing the printing (a job which was new to him) but said very little, as did about 75% of the candidates tonight!

I see what you mean. But What else could he do but to get on with it? Simon's team drama was bad enough to concentrate on instead of someone just doing just the job. Even Helene made that point when she was 'bullying' Lucinda.

So I think if anything he was one of the few who listened to Sir Alan-good for him.

Babeth

I hope Claire goes next.

I liked Helene last week but this week she was wrong to put Lucinda in charge of the computer when Lucinda clearly stated she wasn't technical and she was also wrong to lie and say Lucinda never said she wasn't technical.

Do not get me started on Claire . Since week two, I have seen a side of her I don't like and she showed her true colours again tonight.

Simon was a nice guy but he wasn't a good project manager. Having said that, Claire should have gone

but he's got no one else can take a photo and he's stuck as PM after SAS told him he wanted to see him managing last week...........

Lucinda's useless at everything, how she got through to the show I have no idea.

Lmao. Has anyone ever been de-sirified?

We don't know that he did nothing, he just wasn't shown doing anything, because the focus was on Simon, Claire and Alex as they were the ones that went to the boardroom.

totally agree with the above!!

I was disappointed Simon went.....I really liked him!

So much for my calculated guess