IT'S a sad day for fans of top TV, as we say farewell to those wannabe businessmen and women who have helped deliver some of the year's most compelling viewing.

Alan Sugar's search for a new employee in The Apprentice (BBC 1, 9pm) has featured no end of great moments so far.

And as the contest reaches its conclusion, let's reflect on all those glorious moments from weeks gone by.

Who could forget barrister, artist and property developer Nicholas de Lacy-Brown? He met his Waterloo at the fish-selling assignment in Islington.

By week two, mosaic artist and company director Shazia Wahab was sacked because of her shortcomings in the laundry task.

Seven days later, while most of his team were cooking with gas during the pub-food challenge, software sales manager Ian Stringer went off the boil.

Then, satellite technician Simon Smith was thrilled to take on the photography assignment, but things didn't develop the way he wanted.

Following his departure, business liaison manager Lindi Mngaza found the ice-cream task a far from tasty experience, and in week six, Matt Lucas lookalike Kevin Shaw gave an arrogant sales pitch in a greetings card challenge which paved the way for his downfall.

Week seven marked one of this series' most exotic and memorable assignments.

Lowest price

The teams were sent to Marrakech to buy 10 specific items at the lowest price possible.

Marketing consultant Jennifer Maguire was so keen to get to the market, she didn't do any research.

Both telesales executive Michael Sophocles (a self-proclaimed "good Jewish boy") and sales manager Jenny Celerier left millions stunned by claiming to not know what kosher meant. Needless to say, it made buying kosher chicken especially tricky.

In an unforgettable boardroom scene, both Jenny and Jennifer were fired.

In week eight, car trader Sara Dhada fell foul of the wedding challenge, and in week nine, thousands of hearts skipped a beat as Raef Bjayou, was shown the door. His arty advert for tissues may have looked good, but it barely plugged the product.

In one of their final assignments, the candidates were ordered to rent out a selection of Aston Martins, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Pagani Zondas to the public. Alas, the team headed by Sophocles made a mere £2,114. Their rivals made £11,815.

Sugar called Michael a `disaster zone'.

Risk manager Lucinda Ledgerwood departed after last week's series of interviews with Sugar's top aides, and this week we finally discover who will hear those long-awaited words: "You're hired."

Let's hope we don't have to wait too long before Alan - and his wonderfully acerbic assistants Margaret Mountford and Nick Hewer - return.