Gone but not forgotten. I mean who could forget Stuart “The Brand” Baggs writes Tracey O’Sullivan.

He did give us some of the most classic lines in this series of the Apprentice, if not in the history of the programme.

I mean just for starters there was “everything I touch turns to sold” and the best yet as he squirmed on Lord Sugar’s hook last week – “I’m not a one trick pony, I’m a field of ponies”.

But he also made last night’s interview episode the most amusing in years by feeding his team of interrogators some of their best lines.

“I’m a big fish in a small pond,” he claimed as he faced a grilling. “You’re not a big fish, you’re not a fish” came the cutting reply.

Oh he will be missed but it was definitely time for Bagpuss to leave the building.

He may have talked the good talk in the boardroom last week but when Liz, one of the strongest candidates by far, was given her marching orders the audience had their fingers at the ready for a flurry of online backlash as Lord Sugar looked to have caught a touch of Cowellitis.

It had all the hallmarks of those in control judging on the basis of good television rather than merit – something we certainly did not expect of the tough businessman who is allowed to dish out the evictions without the hint of a public vote. To fans he was above all that.

But just when we thought the controversial style of judging was catching Lord Sugar proved what we knew all along last night. He’s no fool but should be caught out in a weak moment lo and behold the person trying to pull a fast one.

It was the last time anyone was leaving last night before the final with three given the boot. At that stage in the competition Lord Sugar is normally fairly impressed with all his remaining candidates and simply has to whittle it down as best he can.

While cleaning company owner Joanna was given high praise from the business guru and while estate agent Jamie was let off the hook for his miserable performance in the interviews Stuart was hauled over the coals good and proper.

Lord Sugar laid into him with both barrels openly declaring he didn’t believe a word he said and admitting that he was angry that Stuart’s tendency to blag his way through had only emerged at this stage of the game and on that basis he had regretted firing Liz last week.

There was no doubt by his reaction he felt conned and didn’t like it – not one little bit.

Now Stuart was annoying and yes the one in 2010 that fans were waiting to see get his comeuppance. But this was a battering of epic proportions.

You almost had to feel sorry for a candidate who had produced such golden moments of television.

Almost until it was revealed that Stella and Chris had made the final. Certainly a pair well matched and with Stuart back to help out it’s certain to a fitting finale on Sunday. One not to miss.