I'm sorry, I was of the understanding that they lost because the design of the bottle would have been too costly.

I believe they lost because Sir Alan had already decided that the Lee/Claire team would win. It was a case of finding reasons for Alex/Helene be fired afterwards.

Had he wanted Alex/Helene to win he could have said although there may have been a problem with the costing of the bottle design it was so innovative that it overcame that problem and Mr Top Perfume Man liked it so much and he knows the industry back to front that they were the winners.

He could also have sadi that Lee and Claire's ideas were far too 70s and had the insurmountable problem of being associated with gambling so regretfully, Lee and Clair, y'fired.

I think there is some truth to this. However, firing them for not costing the bottle was entirely valid. They made a product that wouldn't physically be able to make them a profit within the budget they were set, which is a HUGE error. But I do agree he wanted Claire and Lee to be the final two. In which case I think he should have just ditched the other two the week before, as there was no point to the exercise.

The four candidates had been working for Viglen in the time between the filming of the second last week and the final. A large part of SAS' decision would have been based on which candidate had performed the best during that time and therefore the team that that candidate was in would have had to blow things big time to not win. In essence the winner was decided before the task was started.

In the real world, that is what would happen.

The packaging of something can always be revamped if it is uneconomical or lets the product down in any way.

The idea was good, the advertising was good and the scent was different among men's perfumes.

In reality, a dated product with dated image (and not even in a retro or classic way) and slightly dodgy message would struggle to sell so it would be a false economy, regardless of the cost of the packing.

I think it would have been better to have seen how Lee and Claire performed solo. Or maybe he thought the task was too big for one person to cope with?

I too think it would have been a better final if two candidates had gone head to head as is normal. And they could have given them an extra former contestant to make up for their being one less of them.

Leave the guy alone! He's only 24 years old! He can't....extend his age!






(I HATE HIS GUTS)

Au contraire!! One of the experts said he could have it on the shelves in weeks and it would sell.

Never underestimate the rank lack of taste of the GBP

He can't make that excuse any more, he's 25 now

I think he probably had in mind who he wanted, probably Claire or Lee, or both.

Claire and Lee's creative ideas were a bit dodgy but neither of them have design or advertising experience. What they demonstrated clearly - and effectively outstripped the other two with - was their ability to work together as a team (ie compete by not competing with each other) and have a positive relationship, and lead their team effectively and efficiently. Producing a new perfume, bottle design and advertising campaign in a few days by inexperienced people was never going end up with a perfect package. Its how they did it that counts.

I believe that too, I just can't see why he didn't fire them the same week as Lucinda unless it was a gimmick to have 4 in the final

I think you've hit the nail on the head there.....

Unfortunately the gimmick somewhat backfired on them because the final 4 were such an uninspiring lot....

agree entirely

Siralun - and, in the US, the Donald, has the absolute right to sack one or more of them - at any time!!!!

My impression was that Helene had no chance and that it was Lee's to lose; if Lee totally ballsed it up, Sugar would probably not have minded either Claire or Alex, and - given that he was put on the alternate team - Alex might have had a slight edge.

No, the final was filmed just after the main tasks. Then Helene and Alex were fired and were free to seek employment elsewhere. Alex happened to find a short-term contract with one of the interviewers, but Helene didn't. Only the final two get taken on by Sir Alan, and that's because they have to make themselves available to accept the first prize and so can't easily get jobs elsewhere.

It's possible that the choice between Lee and Claire was made just before the final episode was broadcast, but Helene and Alex were fired months before based on the tasks and interview.

Helene probably decided it was in her interests to take up the offer of her old job at GE rather than some bitty contract with one of AS's offshoots (if any such thing was offered).

She was obviously valued highly at GE.

Of course!! After all - SHE was a Global Pricing Leader!! Possibly THE Global Pricing Leader.

If you had an idea of the size of GE's portfolio of products you would realise the absurdity of that suggestion.

But just imagine - if she really was GEs ONE AND ONLY Global Pricing Leader (lol)

That's easy.

If GE only had one pricing team they would be in a state of collapse

But surely Helene had the balls to be able to stand on her own?? ( bless!)