So it’s all over bar the six-figure salaried job with Sir Alan Sugar. Another series of The Apprentice is done and dusted, leaving a gaping void in the Wednesday night viewing schedule. And after 12 long weeks which seem to have lasted a lot longer, the eventual winner came as something of a surprise. For faced with the choice of the ever so slightly predictable winner Kate or the riskier Yasmina, Sir Alan opted for the latter, persuading the restaurateur to give up her business and come and work for him.

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In a way I kind of saw that outcome a mile off. Kate was certainly dependable, had performed solidly throughout the series and certainly displayed a lot more business acumen than many of the so-called ‘finest business brains of Britain’ who were picked to take part in the show. Yet even though I took a dislike to Yasmina after she insistedon using Asda smartprice tuna in the catering task (surely a restaurant owner should know better?) she seemed less of a sure thing, a riskier choice somehow, and therein lay the appeal of her winning the series. Safe and boring, or unsafe and a tad more exciting? You be the judge.

With five series down, there have been complaints from some viewers this year that the series is losing its sparkle, that it’s not as much fun as it once was, that the candidates are, how shall we put this, rubbish. I have to say I disagree. This is one programme which starting from humble beginnings (let’s not forget it started out tucked away in a 9pm slot on BBC2) has gone on to become one oif the highlights of the year’s viewing, and it just keeps on going from strength to strength.

OK, so maybe this year’s didn’t have anything to match up to the majesty of Kevin and the pub task from season four, but there were many superb moments to savour. Kate and Phillip’s ill-judged romance for example. Lorraine’s barbed putdowns. Debra’s bitchiness. Noorul’s uselesness. Mona and her lone facial expression. And of course the tasks themselves, from the now almost legendary shopping channel task right through to Pantsman, which has already gone down in Apprentice history, never to be forgotten.

While other reality shows seem to be dying on the vine, this is one show that keeps on getting better and better (and given that 10m people tuned into the final it must have something going for it). OK so the candidates are quite often hopeless, but surely that’s part of the appeal? How dull would it be if they were polished and perfect at all times? It certainly wouldn’t be as much fun as it is now.

Quite what series six will be like without Margaret Mountford – who has quit to work on her PhD – remains to be seen. But if it carries on being as good as it has been then we could be seeing The Apprentice on our screens for a long time to come.

Now then, where can I buy a box of Cocoa Electric….?