BBC - The Apprentice Series 5 - Episode Extras - Article Expansion - Predictor round-up week 10

Episode 10 caught our predictors off-guard this week. Many thought Debra was going right up until Sir Alan revealed she had won the task for team Empire.

With Debra safe for another week, the majority of predictions shifted to Lorraine. Predictors only began to sense Howard’s time was up in the final showdown. Howard’s departure proved that playing it safe can be just as dangerous as taking big risks in The Apprentice.

Please note: The graphs show users' predictions for the final three candidates from the start of the show to the moment when Sir Alan makes his final decision.

Howard

Howard seemed safe for the duration of Episode 10. Ultimately, he played it a little too safe for Sir Alan’s liking. Predictions for Howard only began to increase when Nick directly accused Howard of not being “a brave warrior” in the final moments of the boardroom. Even then, very few people realised that project managing the shopping channel task would cost Howard his chance to be the next apprentice.

Kate

Kate’s popularity with predictors meant that she hardly registered at all throughout the episode. Despite a passionate performance as a presenter of the shopping channel, she failed to convert her screen time into major sales. Fortunately for her, Sir Alan revealed that Kate had selected the two items with most sales potential. Predictors correctly guessed that this would shift Sir Alan’s focus onto Howard and Lorraine as he prepared to fire the next unlucky candidate.

Lorraine

Amongst the three candidates to end up in the boardroom, the majority of predictors felt that Lorraine’s time was up from the outset. Her decision to pitch a bizarre pet toy cost team Ignite crucial sales and her unprofessional criticisms of Kate fuelled predictions for her departure. Nick defended Lorraine during a private discussion between the board members. Lorraine then put up a remarkably strong defence in the boardroom and defied the expectations of our predictors to endure to Week 11.

Sold out

Project manager Yasmina left Debra to her own devices and won the shopping channel task for Team Empire. Debra proved predictors wrong and excelled as both studio director and presenter on the shopping channel.

Howard proved less successful as project manager of Team Ignite and ultimately failed to get the best performances out of his fellow candidates.

Predictions increased for Lorraine as she reignited her feud with Kate, selected a particularly poor product for Kate to sell and failed to take responsibility for not selling a sure-fire hit with shopping channel viewers.

It was only at the very last minute that predictors guessed Lorraine wasn’t going home in a black cab this week.

Comments reflected the predictors’ surprise when Sir Alan decided that so-called “Steady Eddy” Howard was the next candidate to leave the process.

Classic comments

“Is it true that Sir Alan watches cartoons in that little room he comes out of?” Will, Nottingham

“’Man-made polyester?’ Hahaha!” Apprentice, Newcastle

“The more you interact with the dinosaur the more it develops a personality. If only that were true of Howard..." Editor

“Howard is Mr Safe.” Ozymandias, Perenporth Beach

“Guitar Hero: Kate Edition!” Al, Couldon

“I reckon James has had his chips.” Matt D, Northampton

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAM! I HAD 701 POINTS BANKED ON DEBRA! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Maisie, Gloucestershire

“Lorraine must go.” Bob, Here

“997 points banked on Howard.” Jonathan, Basildon

“Alan mate, what are you doing?” Sinbad, Salisbury

“James, a village is missing an idiot...” Piers, Plymouth

“WILL LORRAINE WIN????” Jasd, London

See also:

• 'It's all about strategy'
• Messing-up the demo
• 'Don't scare them!'
• Cheeky chips
• 'I'm really gutted'

In this episode:

Previous
Episode 10 recap

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The final five