The Apprentice 2016: Final Five candidates breakdown at cringe-inducing interview stage

The Apprentice battle to secure Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment reaches its climax tonight as the Final Five candidates are whittled down to two during the dreaded interview stage of the BBC show.

In what is every fan’s favourite episode, Lord Sugar’s trusted advisors: Claude Littner, Claudine Collins, Mike Soutar and Linda Plant – interrogate the candidates over their business plans.

The five remaining candidates, who are all business owners, include cake company owner Alana Spencer, 24, online fashion entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham, 29, make-up studio owner Grainne McCoy, 31, children’s clothing company owner Frances Bishop, 25, and the only male left in the competition, Courtney Wood, 29, who owns a novelty gift business.

One by one, Lord Sugar’s prospective business colleagues are summoned to the interview room to face his unremitting band of advisors, in an (often car crash) attempt to convince them they would be the best investment option.

Jessica remarks that she left her “dignity on the 42nd floor” following her grilling from Linda, who she claims ripped her to “absolute shreds” after calling the business hopeful’s figures into question.

Elsewhere, Frances, who has lost eight of the 10 tasks in the series, clashes with Claude, who criticises her business plan, saying it “looks like it’s been thrown together”, then adding: “it’s appalling.”

As it turns out, the Apprentice Rottweiler was just warming up his vocal chords ahead of his meeting with Courtney, who he holds over the coals for his apparent lack of enthusiasm.

“Courtney, I’ve been watching you for the last 11 weeks, and frankly, for most of that time, I’ve wanted to smack you round the face to wake you up,” Claude comments, adding: “I look in your eyes and I think where’s the energy, where’s the passion?”

Meanwhile Grainne, who has previously been praised for her organisation, pragmatism and level-headedness, faces a mathematical struggle with interviewer Mike while Alana confronts an equally challenging set of questions during her round of interviews.

Following their cringe-inducing consultations, the five contestants will be called into Lord Sugar’s boardroom where they will be fired or proceed to Sunday evening’s series finale.

The Apprentice airs Thursday at 9PM on BBC One.