I couldn't end my Apprentice blogging for this series without a congrats for our winner, Stella. Bookies favourite from the off, I've been back and forth on the ice-cool Lady Stella. Week two was definitely the week she showed us all what kind of candidate she was, whipping the aggressive boys team into shape. She made them clear up the mess they made of the china shop the week before when they corralled into it, horns blazing, and made it clear she'd stand for no more of their nonsense. Although their idea for a beach product was also rubbish, her calming influence led her team to victory.
In the weeks that followed, Stella's efforts were somewhat overshadowed by the large number of massive morons doing and saying stupid things; Alex and his apple-pie made of oranges, Melissa and her made-up business speak, Laura throwing strops and declaring everything to be SHIIIT. Throughout, Stella managed to stealthily avoid the boardroom so far.
She returned in week eight to project manage the crisp task, leading her team once again to victory. However the next week was not so rosie for her as her team failed to negotiate as well as the boys and lost the task. Her team then turned on her calling her too 'corporate' for Shoogs but she held her own and winging Laura was finally booted out. After a spat with Liz in the cab on the way back to the house, in which Liz implied Stella should have gone over Laura, Stella's steely determination stepped up a gear.
Week ten saw Stella take on the role as tour guide to prove to Shoogs and the rest of them, that she could be silly and let her hair down. This didn't go as planned, however and she managed to patronise a cockney, failed dismally to whip up a sing-song with her lack-luster version of 'Knees-Up, Mother Brown' and led her tour group down a dodgy alley to look at some graffiti. I thought it might be all over for Stella then but in a boardroom travesty, record-breaking Liz was fired over Baggs and his ponies. It was a lucky escape for Stella.
Lady Stella redeemed herself and then some at the interviews in week eleven by taking on the interviewer's difficult questions with a cool head, giving considered and concise answers. Up in my estimations she once again rose and I wasn't the only one who was impressed, Shoogs was too, taking her and Chris through to the final.
Early on in the final week there was no question as to who would be crowned Shoogs' apprentice. Stella led her team well, her drink idea was better and the bottle far less ridiculous.
Stella came from a council estate and with no qualifications and built a successful career in a Japanese bank who found her so indispensable they created a position for her. She works hard and is, and this is key, SENSIBLE. She's not a ridiculous character like Baggs or Alex; she's not as charismatic as Jamie; she doesn't rely on hypno-eyes like Chris; she was just better all round than all of them and was SENSIBLE throughout. Like I said at the beginning, I know nothing of the alien world that is business, but I do know that every company could surely use a Stella.
Well, that's the ponies back in the stables until next year, fellow Apprentice buffs. Follow that!
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