Not at all - she was simply fortunate that he had someone in front of him who was even worse.

I never said she personalised issues. I disagreed that she is polite and respectful. She wasn't respectful in the boardroom and backtracked when they talked about her management skills outside of the boardroom. She was overcritical and when they were in the firing line (which they thought they wouldn't be) she went back on what she had said.

Did she not also call her a liar?

Apart from Raef, Lucinda is the only woman I have warm to so far. Perhaps she reminds me of myself I am pretty eccentric.

I Do not think she should have said what she said about the Helene/Jennifer rift in the boardroom. There is time and place. It came across as petty. They could have discussed it among themselves at home.

Justt my view.

Babeth

Lucinda mentioned the unease of others to Jennifer in the cafe. She declined to name names and said it was up to them to do that.

In the boardroom explaining why she didn't insist on what was a good idea of mixing up the teams, she said it was because she knew there would be friction between Jennifer and Helene. It was only when Helene denied this that Lucinda qualified her statement by repeating what Helene had told her about Jennifer.

Lucinda was in no way malicious or stirring in her manner, she was merely explaining and then defending herself against the accusation of being a liar.

When Jennifer later called Lucinda a liar SAS looked quite taken back. I think he knows damn well who was and wasn't lying and Jennifer was lucky that Lindi was the number two, otherwise she would have been out.

Lee was great for backing Lucinda up. Especially in the cafe when he called them out for only now finding fault with her PMing skills, after they'd lost.

She wasn't lying- but even if she was- so what? She got one over on bitchmeister Helene.

I think you and I must have interpreted that scene differently

Nonetheless, I don't think he kept her because he was impressed; I think he kept her because Lindi was undoubtedly the worst of the three in the boardroom.

I'm not a Helene fan and it's clear that Lucinda wasn't lying but I think if someone at work said something bitchy about another colleague to me, I wouldn't break that confidence. Lucinda could have been less specific about it rather than going into details using words like 'evil' and 'snake'.

Ie - Lucinda is hopelessly naive and I wouldn't confide in her.

Helene, Claire and Jennifer have all been extremely nasty to Lucinda, and therefore have no right to complain when they get some back. If you remember last week, Helene deliberately stitched her up by giving her a job she clearly wasn't capable of.

This wasn't a boardmeeting, more akin to an internal meeting about why a project failed. If it is partly because two people didn't get on, then it would be unprofessional NOT to bring that up.

And in life in general, if you bitch about people behind their back, then I don't think you can really complain if it comes back to haunt you.

That said, Lucinda can't possibly win because she's permenanty on the verge of tears, and crying in important meetings is a definite no-no!

It was Lee.

G

Indeed: during the task he said he was impressed by her management style. Lee McQueen was not concerned.

I think it was a mistake for Lucinda to bring up Helene's name in the boardroom....not because it was a lie etc (it was obviously true) ...I just thought "ah don't Lucinda" simply because strategically Helene is not someone you can trust in that boardroom situation. She holds a grudge and can be extremely argumentative. I'm pretty sure that at each boardroom she has suddenly, out of nowhere, had a dig at someone or other. The best strategy with Helene might be to let sleeping dogs lie.... don't invite the opportunity for her to speak unless it's absolutely necessary.

I had utter respect for Lee last night. He seems able to think +act independently and to rationally judge how things are going based on the task at hand not on personalities - Unlike Jennifer and Lindi.

Jennifer's arrogance and Lindi's stupidity lost the task...The women this year seem incapable of understanding the concept that good/focussed team work can help to secure a win. A win heaps glory on everyone. (I mean the other team was organisationally crap... but the fact the team dynamic wasn't being pulled 2 ways which must have contributed to their success/motivation).

Surely being the best person on a losing team is an incredibly short sighted tactic?

Jennifer’s business brain is obviously lacking if she thought making sure she secured the best sales appointments FROM HER OWN team was clever... Raif Jennifer and Lindi suffered because as long as they sold more than Lucinda they were happy … this led to self congratulation and complacency. Just a quick quick word in her ear Pshht you're not in competition with your team …until you lose of course.... at which point having decided to be a nuisance to your project manager turns out to be not that clever either……even Helene - who I believe truly loathes Lucinda – has figured that one out.

If you cannot work with a project manager and only see the tasks in terms of your individual success...what does that say about your ability??

No matter what experience some of these folk have, based on what we've seen so far I wouldn't want to be working with 90% ....they take an opportunity to shine and consistently flush it down the toilet.

Lucinda probably has many faults but so far this was the first time I could really discern an overall plan of action directed from PM *...however as before consistent resistance and “I know better” attitude basically scuppers everyone -whether that’s through arguments or cold, implacable resistance LOL.

(* I know of course we have to rely on the editing ..)

Lucinda was not lying, but she has done herself no favours. I really hope SAS puts the Jennifers and Helene in the same team next week, and keep them away from Lucinda for a week as they will all be out to get her - Helene and non ginger Jen for this week and ginger Jen cos she clearly views her as weak and will just bully her into submission.

I think the Jens, Helene, Kevin and Michael and since we've not seen much of them this will give us a chance - and possibly Raef (not sure if these numbers work though).

If I had to work for any of them, I'd only consider Lucinda.

That's of the females and Kevin, anyway. I'm still not sure who's who on the male side. They're keeping their heads down

Doubt she was lying.

She comes across as someone who can't lie...which isn't always a good thing.

That's why sales isn't her strong point......

So when she decided to enter did she assess the risk this turning into The Apprentice - the Mean Girl Years as high?

i don't think Lucinda would know HOW to lie.

she's as straight as they come but very daft revealing what Helene has said to her.

Of course she was, however they both screwed up royally as they are in a competitive situation and should not make the mistake of 'trusting' others with potentially damaging commentary on the other contestants. Tough moment for Helene to realise that, and yet also Lucinda should have damn well known thse remarks were 'in confidence' and therefore kept the confidential.

Earlier Lucinda tried to maintain the morale high ground by saying 'other people have mentioned' and then joined the snakes in the pit by naming and shaming.

Simply proves neither are really trustworthy nor have much integrity.

Oh, and of course - Jennifer - is just a conniving, self-inflated, pompous little cow. No sympathy whatsoever. You saw the result of that type of character when the three of them were whistling around telling each other how 'wonderful' they were - they've all got the chop coming!

Lucinda is just an easy target because she's not a mouthy cow, she is the only girl I'm really rooting for at this stage and a number of other people I've spoken to think the same thing

I think she really proved herself in this task and was let down by the team - SAS was absolutely right not to fire her, I was worried that he might use her being PM as an excuse

Yes she did call Lucinda a liar, which is rather personal I would agree, but Lucinda had claimed that Helene had said that Jennifer was a "snake in the grass", which Helene disputed, which is pretty personal and I think justifies the "liar" which was delivered in a pretty restrained manner.

Jennifer's behaviour in the boardroom was respectful and polite. I don't see how you can contend otherwise.

Oh come on, it was a party piece for the camera, and it was ambiguous enough to allow Sugar to use as a motivational ploy. He is always making some motivational comment to the reprieved apprentices which I suspect are prepared well in advance.

What exactly was she revealing? Helene had said it on camera.

Perhaps, perhaps not.

But I still think it's true that he only kept Jenny because Lindi was even worse than she was. He doesn't always keep people because they are good - sometimes he keeps them because there is someone worse than them in the boardroom (this seems to be happening a lot this series).

As an admirer of Jennifer M your interpretation is understandable - but I doubt if many think as you do. She made a monumental mistake and was fortunate that Lindi was even worse.

I agree and I think that, after building up a much better rapport with Helene, Lucinda has damaged it all again by dragging Helene into her argument with Jennifer.

A very poor and naive mistake that will invariably cause trouble in future weeks.

Lucinda has an open and honest style which will serve her well in some circumstances but not in others. She doesn't appear to be able to adapt her style to suit the type of person she is dealing with and thats going to do for her. Telling Sir Alan that business is all about fun could have got her sacked this week !!!!