Category: TV Entertainment; 91Èȱ¬ TWO
Date: 04.05.2006
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After 12 grueling weeks battling it out against Britain's brightest business hopefuls the end is firmly in sight for this year's Apprentice finalists - telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry (26) and sales manager Ruth Badger (28).
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On Wednesday 10 May at 9.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ TWO they will square up against each other and face tough-talking boss Sir Alan Sugar in the first all-female final.
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It will decide which one of them walks away with the prize of a six-figure salaried job with Sir Alan.
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There can be only one winner and before the victor is crowned, the pair must face their biggest challenge yet - project managing a team of fired apprentices who will work alongside them to create a dazzling event in the hallowed walkways of London's Tower Bridge.
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They will have to pull out all the stops to convince Sir Alan that they have what it takes to be his Apprentice but both are brimming with confidence ahead of their final test.
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Ruth said: "I am thrilled, my plan was to be the last woman standing, so winning is the only option for me.
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"I don't see Michelle as competition for me as we are like chalk and cheese."
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Michelle said: "I am very proud to be in the final - and it proves it's the quiet ones you have to watch.
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"Being a part of The Apprentice has been one of the most exciting events in my life so far."
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Competition this year was fiercer than ever with tears and tantrums from day one as 14 wannabe tycoons pushed themselves to the limit in the 12-week job interview with the self-confessed "most belligerent person you'll ever come across".
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The teams had to compete in series of tough business tasks that included working on the sales floor at Top Shop, selling new innovations to the trade and designing a charity calendar for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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This series saw some of the most explosive boardroom scenes yet when each week an apprentice was singled out for the sack with Sir Alan's terminal catchphrase - "You're Fired".
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Quietly confident and quick on her toes, Michelle found herself on the losing team only twice throughout the whole series but narrowly escaped getting the chop after seven tasks by messing up during the selling task in Top Shop.
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Her high point in the series came when she triumphed as project manager during the property letting task.
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As well as letting out two flats herself, her team cruised to victory by bagging the most commission.
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Meanwhile Ruth proved to be one of the strongest sales people ever seen on the show - displaying some gritty determination and managing to turn her hand to selling everything from cars to coat stands.
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She found herself on the losing team for six out of the 12 tasks and facing Sir Alan four times in the boardroom.
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The series has been a ratings success for 91Èȱ¬ TWO by regularly attracting more than four million viewers for its Wednesday night slot.
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