The Apprentice 2016: Dillon St Paul on Alana Spencer’s sweet victory and behind the scenes at the final

The former candidate met up with the other hopefuls at the You’re Hired shoot
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Dillon St.Paul19 December 2016

In The Apprentice final, Alana Spencer went head to head with Courtney Wood for a 250k investment from the Big Sugar himself.

At this stage we all know the drill: previous candidates return to help the finalists reach the finish line. I was not in attendance – I can only suspect it was because I was suffering from a bout of walking pneumonia!

What ensued was the typical branding, advert, and packaging endeavour. Alana’s Ridiculously Rich cakes took centre stage alongside Courtney’s Purple Whale (no pun intended).

Alana hit the nail on the head when she soon realised that her cakes actually had no USP… other than herself. Whether she is unique or not is another story.

Courtney Wood and Alana Spencer face off in The Apprentice final
BBC/Boundless

Meanwhile Courtney’s novelty gifts, however original, were entering a flooded market and without the protection of patent could be easily replicated – so he would have to have a new idea as fast as the last one was produced. It’s a pity Courtney didn’t realise that he himself was his products’ USP and slap his name on a label too. It seems de riguer to do so!

I got the impression this race to the finish line had become about whose personal brand would shine most, rather than the business brand – an interesting twist.

In the end it was Alana who took the crown. In the interviews her “personal brand” was one of demure confidence – a journey, a welsh fairytale, a brave naiveté (presenting interviewers with cakes). Courtney had as good a business proposition, but despite Claude’s best efforts to get him to find his story Alana pipped him to the post. Her profit margins just made a lot more sense – and in The Apprentice, money talks.

On Wednesday, myself and all the other candidates (sworn to secrecy) attended ITV studios to watch as the drama unfolded and congratulated the finalists – they were both winners in our eyes. Alana, however, had fallen ill and so the barrage of ‘winner-with-fellow-candidate’ selfies was not to be.

Still, Claude made up for it and posed happily in the green room. A smiling Claude! Like spotting a unicorn or a shooting star – rare but wonderful.

Dillon St.Paul

The night itself was bittersweet. We were having so much fun but I knew that it was nearly over – our year of boardroom drama was behind us. I had shared intimate moments with most of these candidates, and now without the magical production team booking flights, hotels and cars to pick us up and take us to secret locations, it will be tricky to ALL meet up again.

Of course I’ll see Jessica, my sister from another mister, and Gráinne, my fellow Irish caiín deas (this means “nice girl” to you non-Irish speakers).

Dillon St.Paul

Then there’s Trishna, my favourite no-bulls*** aficionado, and Courtney, who I was very close with inside the house. But with everyone dotted around the UK – it’s no easy feat to meet!

Dillon St.Paul

At my very first audition, I sat tentatively waiting in the lobby, daydreaming about my potential new adventures, dreaming that I’d go dancing with my new BFF Karren Brady. I’ve had the adventure, but sadly the dancing hasn’t happened… yet.

Still, onwards and upwards …who knows what exciting adventures 2017 will bring? Here’s hoping they will be just as sweet, even if they are Sugar-free.

Follow @dillonstpaul on Twitter

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