The Apprentice reject Lucinda Ledgerwood said she was pleased to have been fired because she'd had enough of the bullying.

Ledgerwood, 32, was sacked by Sir Alan Sugar last night, a decision she called 'the right one' because the job was not for her.

But the former risk manager also criticised the behaviour of the other contestants towards her.

She said: 'I was pleased to have gone.  At that point I'd had enough. I wasn't liked. My accent wasn't liked and what I wore wasn't liked.

Fired: Lucinda Ledgerwood was fired from The Apprentice after failing to impress during the round of interviews - Sir Alan said she was 'too zany' for him

'I would certainly not condone the behaviour of the majority of them. On occasions, it was verging on bullying. I do not advocate bullying or bitchiness.

'In the real business world it would not be tolerated, people would be dismissed or given a warning. I was an easy scapegoat, but I don' t regret going on the show.'

Ledgerwood, from Edinburgh, whose triumphs on the show include winning an ice-cream manufacturing task, was described as 'zany' by Sir Alan and fired just a week before the final show.

But she said she wasn't disappointed and dismissed the prize of a job with the Amstrad chief as a 'sales' position.

Lucinda was given a rough ride in the boardroom by Alex - who revealed that she had said she wasn't even sure if she wanted the job with Sir Alan

Lucinda leaves the boardroom and Sir Alan makes the shock announcement that the remaining FOUR contestants will compete in next week's final

Claiming she had never seen the BBC programme before she applied, Ledgerwood added: 'It wouldn't have been right for me to have been located in the middle of nowhere in a bland office environment. I'm not going to be disappointed that I'm not going to be a sales person.'

'Obviously in the interview stage I was questioning whether or not I was suitable for the company."

But she said she would have taken the job if she had been offered it. She said: 'If I say I will do something I will certainly do it.

'I do think I was pinpointed by the others as someone who was different. I am different. It's very difficult because it's not really the environment where you can walk away and rationalise with people. It is very difficult because it is very stressful and people's personality traits come out a lot stronger.

'It really was a struggle at times. But I held my own.

Sour face: Lucinda Ledgerwood described the position of Sir Alan's Apprentice job as a sales position

She admitted she was now interested in a media career as a TV or radio presenter. She said: "The future is open - we will see what it brings."

"I think that some of the women on the show, not all of them, have not done justice to how women are in the workplace."

Lucinda said: "I was disappointed by some of the back-biting by individuals and it was disappointing. They probably would not behave like that in a normal job."

She added: 'People's behaviour should be addressed in the boardroom. In the real business world it would not be tolerated, people would be dismissed or given a warning.'

'The boys paired up and I was an easy scapegoat. But I don't regret going on the show. I've learnt not to be so naive, not to wear colour if you want to blend in.'

Birmingham City boss Karren Brady is impressed by Lee's sales technique when he attempts to sell her a biro pen

Of her rival, Helene Speight, who she has clashed with in the series, she said: 'I don't think I know anyone who would want to work for her".

Asked who she tipped to win, she said Lee was 'hardworking, and a brilliant personality to be around' but Claire was 'probably the most capable'.

And Ledgerwood added that she'd like to be remembered for being 'a little ray of sunshine and for demonstrating that you don't need to be a bitch in business'.

Lucinda's departure left Sir Alan with four remaining candidates, of which two more were expected to be fired.

But this year Sir Alan has taken the unusual step of allowing four candidates to fight for the £100,000 prize money in the final.

Sir Alan gets feedback on his candidates from his trusted business advisers

All of the remaining four candidates; Alex Wotherspoon, Lee McQueen, Helene Speight  and Claire Young will compete in next week's final.

Instead of a task this week, the final five were grilled by Sir Alan's trusted business colleagues.

Lucinda who was frequently at the centre of bickering among the candidates, had been given a particularly tough time in her interviews with Sugar's trusted business colleagues.

'Clearly you're a very bright individual, but you look to me to be unemployable ... you're a contractor because no one can employ you ... your job does not have anything to do with teamwork ... is there a something in your character that gets up people's noses ... I just find it really hard to deal with you Lucinda,' one told her.

Recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen did his famous 'reverese pterodactyl' impression - which left his interviewer cold

Bemused interviewer property tycoon Paul Kemsley looks less than impressed by Lee's impression

The other candidates did not escape criticism.

Alex failed to 'come alive' during his interviews, while there was a discrepancy on Lee's CV.

Claire still came across as loud and abrasive despite warnings from Sugar, while Helene still failed to show "that magic moment".

But despite that, he told them: 'I'm going to let you all stay. And the reason is because you're all very good candidates. You've all got something about you. All four of you are in the final.'

Under pressure: Claire shows the strain following the day long session of intense interviews

Helene Speight looks cool, calm and collected and received positive comments from interviewer Karren Brady

Lucinda, who has said her greatest regret in life was once turning down the role as a body double for a Bond Girl, said in the taxi on the way home: 'I feel that throughout the process I haven't been myself and I've struggled.

'I certainly wasn't one to scream and shout about how good I was.

'I wasn't liked, my accent wasn't liked, my approach to life wasn't liked, what I wore wasn't liked. I am who I am: I don't need to answer to them.'

Drained: Alex Wotherspoon rests between interviews

Finalists: The final four celebrate their entry to the next week's finale