Apprentice 2012 - The Final: Wricky Wrestles the Wonga and Tom, Jade and Nick Submit

Wricky the Wrester will wrestle no more which is sad. After winning the big purse he is hanging up his shiny Speedo's and keeping his mask for other activities. Wresting which I generally think is about authentic as a beach bought Rolex, will suffer for surely he would have been one of its stars. Put him in the overheated mullet and oiled torso parade that is WWF and I would not resent my nephews' need to watch it. Wricky versus 'The Big Jessie James' or whoever.

Anyway if he doesn't make a success of his recruitment agency for ethical boffin's idea he can always re- don his cape. A slight concern I read the New Scientist and see regular ads from firms which specialise in recruiting scientific staff so it's not a new niche. Still since we only know that Claude loved Wricky's business model and Margaret thought him pretty credible we will know that he has a lot more behind his cape.

Anyway, let's talk about the others. Tom who I have now realised is a weedier version of Mark Wright form TOWIE (The Only way is Essex), was found out a bit as the inheritor of a rich dad who gave him a lot of ideas. He might also like to credit the labour market economist and cartoon character sound-alike Orley Ashenfelter as the person who dreamed up the idea of a fine wine hedge fund and did loads of econometric work to define the best Chianti or Bordeaux. In fact he already runs one. http://www.liquidasset.com/artic.htm

Speaking of fine whines Jade's plaintive sell of her concept of a call centre which flogs data to people who disturb you just before tea time may have made money but Sugar showed either ethical instincts or PR nous by giving it the brush off.

Then there was Nick. Nick had an idea which in principle I think is quite good. Get the ingredients for your favourite recipe packed up and mailed to you but I actually used to pass a place in Clapham Junction which already does this. OK Innovation isn't just about box fresh ideas, it's about improving something but it also needs to be nimble and the sunk cost in programming every recipe concept or buying the code from someone who already has, weren't taken into account. That's why he could talk about returning the money five hundred fold after five years. Lord Sugar's inquisitors did their bit and destructively tested the ideas so that Wricky's idea came out on top.

It was less interesting than usual. There was no repeat of Claude's famous "you're not even a fish" dig at Stuart Baggs but I suppose the candidates were mostly too boring for such for quips. Jade got off lightly especially when she was found not to have one of the domains she listed in her business plan. But this was all about Wricky and wrestling's loss could be the business world's gain. One thing is for sure we need to find and recruit more science and technology professionals and if Wricky can help do that, he'll be hero for all of us.

Performer
Wricky who put everyone else on the canvass.

Plodder
Jade who's running cost would have seen Sugars lolly gone through quicker than the England football teams bandage supplies.

Please Stop
Claude being so nice it's not your USP Claude.