[AUK] The Interview Round

TV Programme: The Apprentice (UK)
Season: 5
Episode: 11
Date I watched this episode: 04/06/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 8 days.

Fired: James, Lorraine, Debra

• This episode was the annual interview stage, where the candidates face some very tough interrogations. I was disappointed to see that Paul Kemsley, often the hardest of interviewers, was not present this time around (The Times reports that this is because his company is on the brink of collapse). However in general the format of the interview stage was pretty much the same as ever, which I think is a shame, because they should try to spice it up a bit. At least last year they had the thing with asking Lee to sell the pen back to them which was a clever idea.
• At the start when they were leaving the house, for the first time it struck me that it seems quite empty there, there aren't many people left. It must feel strange for the candidates.
• From the start to the end of the episode, Lorraine looked completely unstable, like she was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. It's weird how she seems to slip in and out of different accents when she is in different moods too.
  
• James just looked gormless and seemed to miss the point of this entire stage. He is very funny but he doesn't know when to stop joking.
• I think the right decision was made in the end. Debra was portrayed in quite a good light, but she is just trying to push herself too hard at a young age, and hasn't developed the right experience in communication. Yasmina on the other hand is a very credible candidate, and it was good that she didn't get penalised too much for not knowing the exact figures of her company.
• I think Yasmina will win. Although Kate has been the favourite for quite some time, she does come across as too controlled, and I think "Car Crash TV" showed that she was just not able go all-out and retain her dignity.
• It was really nice to see that there was so much positive emotion between Kate and Yasmina at the end of this episode. There is no particular hostility, they are both pleased for each other.