One week to go before Sir Alan must choose his apprentice. It's the interview round. There's no place to hide and they have to face three of the toughest interviewers in the business. Claude Litner, a global trouble shooter; Bordan Tkachuk, chief exec of Viglen computers, and property developer Paul Kemsley. These guys are awful. I'd hate to be interviewed by them, especially Paul Kemsley, who is incredibly shrewd.'I don't know how to be shy', boasts Tre, but cracks in his armour start to show during his interview with the ferocious Paul. Tre's empire baffles Paul. 'So in your spare time you're running an international conglomerate from your bedroom?' asks Paul. 'No', snaps Tre, 'from my home office'.
Katie's not stumped by personal questions, admitting she doesn't like to think of herself as a mum and that she lied and cheated, 'to get someone else's husband because I wanted him'. Awarding herself eight out of ten for ruthlessness for this steal, Bordan winces. 'So you can be more ruthless than that?'
After three hours of intense interviews the consultants report back to Sir Alan. Lohit is ruled out as 'boring' and Tre as an aggressive 'fantasist'.
Kristina's described as 'not a flash in the pan' and all three felt being Sir Alan's apprentice would give her an opportunity to do something better with her life.
Paul calls Simon a 'gross underachiever', but Claude is kinder, concluding that Simon's lost his way and never really recovered from losing his City job... 'but I wouldn't like to rule him out'.
Katie poses the biggest dilemma: 'a powerful, aggressive lady' says Paul with a glint of recognition in his eyes. Bordan wonders if the Apprentice is just a 'leap frog' to somewhere else. But Claude is the least impressed, writing Katie off as a show-off, 'flashing her eyelashes', a performer who gets by turning on the feminine charm.
It's decision time for Sir Alan. Mr Nice-Guy Lohit is fast put out of his misery and fired. Turning on Katie, Sir Alan tells her he's bothered by her, asking her 'if she's for real?', but then offers her a place in the final. Tre makes a last attempt to convince Sir Alan he's right for the job, but Sir Alan doesn't like his aggression so the seven-times winner is the next head to roll.
Then it's the final three. Location is bothering Sir Alan. Would Kristina move from Harrogate? Would Katie up sticks with her two small children and move from Devon to London? Katie's already in, but doesn't look too happy. In a shock move, she steps down! 'I don't want to make a fool of you or me...', she says, but without discussing her plans with the people who care for her children, she can't stay in the competition. Thanking Sir Alan, Katie dramatically leaves the boardroom. The finalists remain - Simon and Kristina have made it to the final...
Finally Katie proves she is human. I'm so glad she's gone, but I would have loved to see her get fired. Of the two that are left, I think that Kristina deserves to win, but I like Simon and would be really pleased if he was the winner. I think Sir Alan likes him too.
One interesting point - who would Sir Alan have fired if Katie hadn't pulled out?
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