BBC - The Apprentice Series 5 - Episode Extras - Article Expansion - Predictor round-up week 9

Episode 9 surprised our predictors this week. Lorraine was their favourite to go but she escaped the boardroom by winning her task. Predictions were split between Debra and James but at the end of the day it was boasting Ben who Sir Alan sent home.

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.

Ben

Ben’s departure surprised the majority of predictors. Despite Ben’s weak performance, only a select few predictors realised that the cocky candidate’s time was up. Sir Alan sucker-punched everyone with a sly summary that suggested James was going but it was Ben who was fired.

Debra

Once Lorraine had won the baby task, Debra became the number one prediction for the taxi ride home. Never the most popular of Sir Alan’s candidates, Debra’s decision to back a luxury rocking horse seemed to spell her doom. However, in the boardroom, Debra steered the conversation away from her costly gamble in the boardroom and Sir Alan saved her due to her sheer belligerence.

James

James was a confident and competent project manager and he received few predictions until his team lost the task. Predictions for James increased as the boardroom battle commenced. James countered Sir Alan’s interrogation with convincing explanations of his business decisions and provided more substance than Ben or Debra.

Jockeying for position

You can’t argue with results, and so it was that Lorraine delivered another victory as project manager.

With Lorraine out of the firing line, second-most-predicted Debra shot to the top as favourite to go. Despite putting up an impressive defence in the boardroom, most predictors still felt that Debra had dished the dirt on the others for the very last time.

Predictions rose for James as Sir Alan referred to James’ jokey, jape-heavy presence among the candidates. Even though James responded to these accusations with strong arguments for his eligibility for the job, Sir Alan did not seem impressed.

Comments posted on the Predictor reflected the surprise when Sir Alan sidelined Ben at the episode climax. Many predictors believed he was sacking the wrong horse. Here's a selection:

“Ben was offered a scholarship at Sandhurst - did you know?!!” – Lizzie, Cirencester

“Hasn't every new parent worried about their baby's forehead ruining the ‘newly-laid marble floor’?" – Editor, on Howard’s reaction to the baby crash helmets

“Two words. Rocking Horse. James should be safe.” – DMMV, London

“Dammit I had Ben for the longest time and then changed.” Babies, London

“I could have sworn it was going to be Debra!” - Patrick, Belfast

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

See you next week on The Apprentice Predictor

See also:

• Predictor round-up week 8
• Predictor round-up week 10
• Predictor round up week 12
• The inventions revealed
• Backing the wrong horse

In this episode:

Previous
A scholarship to Sandhurst

Next
Junior Apprentice is coming soon