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Apprentice final four dish the dirt on what they REALLY think of Sir Alan, his secretary and each other
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10 June 2008
The Apprentice finalists have spilled behind the scenes gossip ahead of tomorrow's highly anticipated boardroom showdown.
Claire Young, Alex Wotherspoon, Helene Speight and Lee McQueen will fight it out for one last time in a bid to land the coveted £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar.
But not before delivering their verdict on the tycoon host - and each other.
Final four: Helene Speight, Claire Young, Alex Wotherspoon and Lee McQueen, in London yesterday, will battle it out in tomorrow's final
In a sign he's not afraid to criticise his potential future employer, Alex admits he believes Sir Alan made the wrong choice in deciding to keep on Michael Sophocles after a string of poor performances.
Alex says: 'I think Michael was kept in for longer than he should have been, but that's maybe because Sir Alan liked him.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO:
For her part, Helene concurs: 'Some people never got a chance, but Michael had about 25.'
Claire, a former Club 18-30 rep, thinks Sir Alan just needs to let his hair down a little.
Asked how she'd keep the tycoon entertained, she replied: 'I'd take him on a booze cruise, then a St Trinian's hen-party. I'm sure he'd like that; he needs a big of oestrogen.'
Tough competition: The finalists will go head to head in an attempt to land a £100,000 job with Sir Alan Sugar
The finalists have also revealed who they think deserves the job - excluding themselves of course.
Helene says: 'I'd hire Lee. He's got a lot of skills and was a brilliant team-leader. He's very driven and committed, but by his own admission he has a lot to learn. Sir Alan doesn't want someone with a fixed agenda. He needs somebody he can mould a bit.'
Alex considers fellow male finalist Lee as his 'main competition.'
Claire, however, would prefer an outsider to storm back in just for kicks, telling the Independent: 'I'd love Sir Alan to hire Lucinda.
Popular: Lee has described Sir Alan's pretend PA as 'well fit'
'I'd love for him to arrive at work, with the office arranged by feng shui, candles burning and a yoga mat for when he's stressed out.'
Lee says odds-on favourite Claire is his biggest rival, adding: 'I'd hire her if I was Sir Alan. She's proved she can deliver under huge pressure, particularly in the ice-cream task.
But it's another Apprentice star who's left an unlikely impression on the Lee - Sir Alan's PA 'Frances', a production company stand in.
He concludes: 'She's well fit.'
The Apprentice final airs Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.
'Rottweiler': Claire Young
Name: Claire Young
Age: 29
Home town: Wakefield
Career: Senior Retail buyer
Style: Big mouth.
Appearances as project manager: 2
Times on losing team: 7
Appearances in boardroom: 6
Most likely to say: 'I'm a Rottweiler, I never let go.'
Best quote: ( of property developer Paul Kemsley) "There's something quite powerful about him, quite Neanderthal. I should have leaned over the desk and sucked his lips off."
Worst moment: Being shouted out by Sir Alan Sugar and ordered out of the boardroom.
Best moment: Crying tears of joy in the boardroom after winning ice-cream task.
Odds: 6-4 favourite
Corporate: Helene Speight
Name: Helene Speight
Age: 32
Home town: Leeds
Career: Global pricing leader
Style: Full-on 'Alpha Female'
Appearances as project manager: 2
Times on losing team: 5
Appearances in boardroom: 4
Most likely to say: 'I'm a ballsy northener'.
Best quote: 'I am not used to being surrounded by 15 gob s*****.'
Worst moments: Almost fired in episode ten against Michael. Or being told by Sir Alan her posture reminds him of the Mona Lisa.
Best moment: Winning the photography task.
Odds: 5-1
Salesman: Lee McQueen
Name: Lee McQueen
Age: 30
Home Town: Princes Risborough, Bucks
Career: Recruitment Sales Manager
Style: Hyperactive Rough diamond.
Appearances as project manager: 2
Times on losing team: 3
Appearances in the boardroom: 1
Most likely to say: 'That's what I'm talking about'.
Best quote: 'I'm concerned. Lee McQueen is concerned.'
Worst moment: Performing his 'reverse pterodactyl' in front of interviewer, then caught out for lying on his CV.
Best moment: Leading his team to victory in Marrakesh.
Odds: 3-1
Charmer: Alex Wotherspoon
Name: Alex Wotherspoon
Age: 24
Home Town: Bolton
Career: Regional Sales Manager
Style: Self-styled business prodigy
Appearances as project manager: 2
Times on losing team: 5
Appearances in the boardroom: 3
Favourite saying: 'I'm only 24 years old.'
Best quote: If you fail to prepare then you prepare to fail and that's what she's done....we're about to fail."
Worst moment: Being told by Margaret Mountford "he backed so far off he was practically out of the door".
Best moment: Winning the car sales task with other £11,000 worth of sales.
Odds: 9-4
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