The Apprentice

Week 5 Sir Alan fired go-getter Natalie 'with regret' after her team's poor sales in the art gallery task. We caught up with the mother of two on her exit from the competition...

How did you find the experience of The Apprentice?
It was a fantastic experience. It's very intense. You enjoy it and hate it at the same time.

Do you think you were too nice for The Apprentice?
As the game goes on, people are starting to get nastier. I wasn't playing a game at all, and maybe it was my downfall. In reality I don't believe you get anywhere being nasty. You need to build business relationships, not slaughter people. Moving forward I feel I'm better suited in a real-life environment than some of the candidates that are coming across as cut-throat.

Who's the most cut-throat candidate left?
Katie. To say she'd like to see Adam get run over is too personal for me.

In the boardroom after the Zoo task, Sir Alan talked about Adam having a vendetta against you. Is this true?
Not at all. There was no vendetta. Adam's very driven and despite what everyone thinks, he's a very good friend in the house and was probably my nearest and dearest confidante. He could do with a bit more energy though.

You had two boardroom experiences in a row.
Adam summed it up well saying it's like being in a boxing match. You really do feel like you've had a work-out. You come out drained.

You got your labels in a muddle in week four.
Neither Simon or I picked up on the tiger orange lolly name change. I hold my hands up.

Sir Alan accused you of lying?
It was a mistake. I got the call from Adam in the printers. We'd printed all the labels, done the props and branded them all as natural orange lollies. We had to get out of the printers. It was too late to make changes. The labels are going to dog me forever!

Which was your favourite task?
This week's art task. It was the first task that made you feel you were in a business environment. The kiss-a-gram was fun, but this task was by far the most enjoyable. I've come out on a high.

Were you surprised to go?
No, I wasn't surprised to go. The whole team worked so well together. The only minute error at the time was the labels - and the sales. I reluctantly brought Lohit into the boardroom because there was an error in the labels. There was nothing obvious to pin on Simon or Katie. The seat had to be filled. My team had fantastic camaraderie, but I was accountable for us failing.

Who do you think will go all the way?
Kristina's clever - a true businesswoman, exceptionally driven and a fantastic project manager. She won the task fair and square. I'll put my bets on it being a two-woman final again.

What were your highlights?
That people liked me! As the tasks went on, I didn't feel people wanted me out. My sales skills were noticed and people said I was a good all-rounder.

What are your plans?
I'm a social bunny and I'm planning to open a bistro wine bar in Upminster, where I live.

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