You're hired!

Byline: BY ROZ LAWS

AND then there were two. From 10,000 applicants, 14 hopefuls have been whittled down to the last pair of contestants - and this week, instead of booting someone out, Sir Alan Sugar will say: "You're hired!"

One thing is for sure - the winner of The Apprentice (BBC2, Wednesday) will be a woman. Their lucky conkers worked, and the final boardroom battle is between Ruth and Michelle.

Midland viewers will be rooting for the more exciting of the candidates, the dynamic sales manager simply known as The Badger. Wolverhampton's Ruth Badger, 27, is the woman of a thousand faces who lets you know what she's thinking.

By her own admission, she is stubborn, sarcastic and undiplomatic, and prone to marching into rooms without knocking. But she's a credible straight-talker who gets results.

"Sir Alan would ma mistake if he didn'i me," she says.

She takes on telecon sultant Michelle 26, from Hull. It was prise to many when she chosen over head-Paul Tulip, but Sir. impressed by the way worked her way up the checkout at Save.

For the final task, and Michelle have stage shows at T Bridge in London. ' are helped by the other contestants, which some cases can more of a hindrance. The bad news for Michelle is that she has to cope with Syed, while fellow Midlander Jo - of the mad hair and madder laugh - is on Ruth's team.

CAPTION(S):

POINT OFORDER: willSir Alan pickMichelle orRuth?