You’re fired! Lewis bows out of The Apprentice

The interview episode in every series of The Apprentice is the BBC’s answer to I’m A Celebrity.

On the ITV programme, the celebrities have to undergo all kinds of unpleasant tortures for the amusement of millions of viewers.

There are no wichity grubs or creepy crawlies on The Apprentice. You just watch the final five candidates crumble as Lord Sugar’s trusted advisers pull their business plans apart.

It’s brutal. That’s why it’s great TV.

There may be tears on The Apprentice when it’s interview time but the only injury the candidates are likely to sustain are bruised egos.

In this year’s episode which was broadcast last night, there was a twist. Would any of the interviewers be able to survive interviewing Lottie, a ruthlessly ambitious 19 year old librarian (not words you often see together in the same sentence), without being turned to stone?

They did, and she was the first to be fired because there was a major flaw in her business plan for a country club for women so exclusive that you have to pay just to apply (and that’s not a joke) – it didn’t include any costings.

Next to be fired was last Manc standing Lewis on the grounds that he has no experience as a tour operator.

He was followed by Pamela, leaving Carina the baker who can’t bake and recruitment specialist Scarlett to contest the final.

Lewis has nothing to be ashamed of. He finished a very respectable fourth in the series, was the only man to reach the final five, and lasted longer than Lottie.

He has told the BBC that, despite not winning the £250k up for grabs, he has decided to try make it on his own as a tour operator. We wish him well.

Lewis will be remembered for his bromance with Ryan-Mark, his dodgy perfam and, like cockney geezer Thomas, for being one of the good guys. And that’s not a bad thing to be.