Sir Alan Sugar fires tenth 'Apprentice'

Howad Ebison has become the tenth candidate to be fired by Sir Alan Sugar after failing a TV shopping challenge.

The 24-year-old retail business manager was axed by the multi-millionaire for being too "ordinary" and not taking enough risks.

"A very tough decision there to a very nice guy," said Sugar afterwards. "An organisational person, but it's a sign of the times I'm afraid, because I haven't got time for just ordinary people."

Howard, who was project manager for Team Ignite, was brought back to the boardroom with Kate and Lorraine after they only managed to make £1,376.73 of sales. Team Empire's Debra, Yasmina and James earned £1,541.88 for their TV selling.

Sugar praised the trio for their choice of chip fryer, air guitar toy and expensive leather jackets, but criticised them for picking a cheap craft kit as their fourth item.

He told Lorraine that he didn't have time for a "slow burner" and warned Kate that she had "stepped back" after her performance this week. "You say you're not a one-trick pony, [but] I think there's a possibility you might be," he said.

However, he pointed the overall finger of blame at Howard, commenting: "Howard, I think you're a Steady Eddie. We're going through very, very tough times at the moment and I need the winner of this contest to be something special...It had to come to an end for one of you today. Howard - you're fired!"

Speaking in the infamous black cab, the Maths and Business graduate said: "I'm gutted, really gutted. There's no denying that. I really, really wanted to go all the way through this process.

"If Sir Alan thinks that I'm risk-averse then ok, I'll take on the feedback and maybe I do need to be a bit more of a maverick in the future."

The Apprentice continues next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.