HE'S the apprentice who said ‘you’re fired’ to Sir Alan Sugar.

Chigwell entrepreneur Adam Freeman, who runs the loans website www.mrlender.com, dropped out of the hit TV show hours before it started, avoiding the media circus that was about to engulf his fellow contestants.

Each week, Adam will give his verdict on how he thinks each of the candidates have performed.

THE BOYS

BEN CLARKE: This guy just gets funnier and funnier each week – what a joker. Cracked under the pressure of being team leader yet he believed he could stand his ground on the battlefield with explosions going off around him – OK then! He wanted to bring James back into the boardroom with him but changed his mind to Debra at the last minute. Sandhurst Scholarship mentioned only twice this episode.

JAMES MCQUILLAN: Consistently putting more than 100 per cent into each task – ‘A’ for effort ‘E’ for attainment! He did well to make a last minute sale of the rug with just moments to spare. Sir Alan's remark that he was the ‘village idiot’ was a bit harsh, but he didn’t really understand the comment - so if the cap fits...

PHILLIP TAYLOR: He was lucky to find that skeleton lover in the pub and even luckier to sell the carpet to the guy on the street, even if he was slightly intoxicated. He seemed to have his team behind him and showed OK leadership skills, although it was a bit slap dash – act now, think later.

HOWARD EBISON: Good to see Howard get involved a bit more in the selling task. We actually saw him sell something for the first time, even if it was just a pair of old boots. Well done, Howard.

NOORUL CHOUDHURY: [FIRED] No lucky escape for “Noor-who” in this task. Should have gone weeks ago. Clever guy and very academic but just lacked the arrogance and stupidity one seems to need this series to be Sir Alan's next apprentice.

THE GIRLS

YASMINA SIADATAN: Seemed to put a lot of effort into this task. Bad-mouthed Debra (who probably deserved it). She and James both managed to sell a poster of Frank Lampard and some jellied eels - which must have been difficult!

DEBRA BARR: She came across very aggressive in this task, especially in her back-chat to Nick, who seemed grateful when Sir Alan stood up for him. She confidently offered herself as bait to be brought back into the boardroom with Ben and Noorul. First time we have really seen the argumentative side of her. She should think first, take a breath, and then speak.

LORRAINE TIGHE: Sorted out her differences with Philip that lasted, hmmm, all of five minutes. She sniffed out value on that rug which showed a possible hidden talent for antique valuations. Her constant nagging, moaning and persistence about the value of the rug did not change the team leader's mind. In the boardroom, Margaret said she seemed a bit like ‘Cassandra’.

MONA LEWIS: And this week's ‘non participation’ award goes to ….. Mona – again!

KATE WALSH: She was moved from Team Empire to Team Ignite by Sir Alan. Good team spirit and got on with the task by selling a few of the items. She did not really contribute much else to this week’s task.