Sir Alan explains his final choice

Sir Alan Sugar has explained his final choice in picking the winner of The Apprentice.

The final episode saw Simon beat Kristina in a challenge to design a building.

Sir Alan, writing in the Daily Mirror, revealed the logic behind his choice.

The host said of the winner's effort: "The audience of experts at the launch were really impressed with Simon's presentation and the way he handled their questions. He did very well and you would have thought he had been in this business all his life.

"Kristina's design was more conventional but still innovative. However, her scheme would never have passed the stringent planning laws and it would have had to be toned down a lot."

Sir Alan concluded: "Simon is young, highly intelligent, eager to learn and enthusiastic, and I felt that he has the best potential to be the winner this year. It was hard to decide but in the end I went for him.

"Kristina is a great girl and she should be proud of reaching the final considering the hard life she has had. She's tough and doesn't take any nonsense and was able to get through in a dignified way without slagging anyone off."