The Apprentice has to be one of the most dramatic and engaging things on the telly.

I can't think of any other programme which has me clasping at the chair, causes my heart to beat furiously and apparently seems able to slow time.

As Sugar pondered on his decision as to who to fire after Lucinda I was fully engaged emotionally with all the candidates, even the ones I loathed, as I tensed up ready to spring up in relief or anger and then........ he let them all off the hook to a crescendo of released breaths in the boardroom and in my living room.

There is something about seeing the candidates battle with real world hurdles that one might face oneself and see them compete and struggle with one another that not only engages the emotions but one's intellect as one ponders what one would do in the place of the candidates.

I find even the most dramatic cinematic experiences barely compare to the best Apprentice boardroom scenes ( the scene in the recent oscar winner of no Country for Old Men when the "hero" is pursued by a savage dog and is chased by some baddies comes to mind as comparable). I presume I am not alone in thinking this.

I wasn't tense at all although that was due to me knowing what would happen!

It wasnt that tense, TBH as much as I love the show. i really dont care who will win. As once its over, It dont matter

I wasn't tense at all.

I wasn't tense until snake boy stuck the knife in, then I was worried that he would sack Lucinda. Which he did.

Sorry to butt into the thread, but does anyone know when this last episode is repeated on the Beeb? For some reason it's not appeared on catch-up TV, which is how I usually get a chance to see it

Don't worry, have looked and it's repeated at 10.30pm on Saturday night, BBC 2. With the 'You're fired' episode straight after.

You could try BBC iplayer if you can't catch the repeat.

I read the spoiler thread and was still tense!

I wasn't tense at all. The ones that I considered better candidates, and nicer people, had already been dismissed by SAS. I felt sure that SAS would not want Lucinda in his organisation, which says as much about SAS and his organisation as about Lucinda. I would not wish to work for a rude, loud, inverted snob, would you?

When he announced that 4 would go through to the final, I felt as if I had been suckered. I don't think this was because he couldn't make up his mind about which of the other candidates to fiire--it was obviously a decision that had been decided upon previously to make 'better TV'. Fake, fake, fake.

I wasn't especially tense as when he was talking to Claire like he would definitely fire her (with the dramatic background music) I did think he would let her be in the final anyway. Something about the editing or whatever- it was as though it was this big massive build up to Claire being fired, but I felt it was sort of OTT the way it was done, which gave it away to me.

I was thinking he would fire Lee and Helene after he let Claire off the hook, so was surprised when he said that they were all in the final. It was said so quickly after he finished with Claire though I didn't really feel there was much time to think too much about it.

Not, at all really I was waiting for the inevitable, it was obvious that Lucinda was going just measuring the amount of coverage she got against the others and the odious comments about candles and interior design from the sniggering mutley.

Once she had gone and we were left with the remaining pack of jokers I didn't care who else left.

Thank you

I wasn't tense, but I was disappointed. I thought it was a very lacklustre ending. Saying that, I was picking up my jaw after it hit the floor with Lucinda's sacking.

I only tensed up when Alex snaked his way through the grass and told SAS about Lucinda having doubts.

Yes I suppose if you are a Lucinda fan what happened afterwards would be resented and seen through a cloud.

I am surprised at the some people who commented at not being moved to high emotions at that point where Sugar was about to name the next firing. I wonder if these people find anything in the visual media gripping? Perhaps they wrestle lions for stimulation, whereas I restrict to brief moments of bear wrestling if I am under stimulated.

The odd thing is I don't really like any of the candidates left, yet I seemed to be pumping a comparable amount of adrenalin to the candidates.

*goes off to wrestle a bear*

Goes off to play with his widget more like.

I was tense until Lucinda was fired. I had accidentally read a spoiler about 4 being in the final anyway so it wasn't a shock to me when he didn't end up firing anyone else. But even if I didn't know what was going to happen, I didn't care about any of the candidates enough to be tense about it.

I was so tense I had to de-clench my cheeks witha shoehorn...

I wasn't tense I knew the result before I watched.

It wasn't tense or gripping at all. With Lucinda fired, Lee was the only remaining candidate I would have liked to win.

This series has been a huge let down.

Although there is drama Lucinda going wasn't quite a ring dropping and rolling on the floor shocking twist moment for me.

after Lucinda - I couldn't really give a crap about the others

Good for him. He was already one of my favourites and became my clear favourite after doing that.

Lucinda was on her way out regardless but what Alex did has to be done.

I would have been tempted to offer him the job on the spot and sack the other four there and then.