Who will win the Apprentice?

As predicted last week Phillip has been shown the boardroom door on BBC1's The Apprentice. Sadly it didn't hit him on the arse on the way out. And as predicted, the more people leave, the weaker the remaining candidates appear for closer scrutiny. But who will prove the best of a bad lot? Who will be the least weak? It's starting to hot up now.

Debra, driven, bolshy and proudly objectionable, leads the pack. Amid this year's intake that may be damning with faint praise but she seems to understand how to sell and may win by default as the competition shoot themselves in the foot. Her biggest threat is herself, with one boardroom hissy-fit already under her belt. (Honest Will's odds* 4/1 fav)

The patient approach appears to be Mona's gambit. Fairly quiet since a forthright episode one she may be playing a waiting game. Stepped up this week with a solid performance, banked some cash and moved effortlessly and professionally on to the next challenge. Appears to have a lot more to give. (9/2)

Over the past week, Kate has perhaps proven herself to be the worst judge of character since a Vienna careers advisor asked "have you thought about politics, Adolph m'boy?". She is also the biggest victim of the dwindling numbers which expose individual weakness. An early favourite and widely touted as "the eye candy" of the series, as push comes to shove she doesn't appear to have much at all in her locker. However, 2007 winner Simon Ambrose showed it's possible to win with style over substance and she's likely to pout her way to the latter stages. (8/1).

The dark horse of the group. Hampered so far by the inability of others and yet to prove her mettle, Yasmina is the fourth and final potential winner. Her incredulity at Lorraine's monumental incompetence this week won her favour with me and suggested she too is willing to let Darwinism carry her through to the final stages. (10/1)

The also rans: After Yasmina the quality doesn't so much go downhill, more it falls off a cliff. The final four remaining contestants have about as much chance of winning The Apprentice this year as they do the Nobel Prize or the Derby.

Quiet and largely inoffensive Thingummy (is it James? I can't even be bothered to look it up) will probably limp rather ineffectively into episode 10 before Sir Alan realises he forgot to fire him in week 2 and remedies the situation with immediate effect. Constantly beset with a confused hangdog expression and consistently looking out of his depth, I suspect nobody will be more surprised than him if he's still there in the final few episodes. His best chance perhaps is if the producers insist on having male representation at least until the penultimate episode. (33/1)

Stockbroker-caricature and 80s throwback Ben may simply be hiding out on The Apprentice until the markets pick up again but if owning braces is all it takes to win then he's definitely in with a shot. If actually having a brain that works properly is in any way necessary though he's proper screwed. As shrewd and analytical as a fence post, Ben offered up this insight en route to their latest rendez-vous with Sir Alan: "London Gateway? It sounds like it's a 'gate' 'way' to somewhere. D'you know what I mean?" Yeah, probably London, numbnuts! Out within the next three weeks. (50/1)

Howard fascinates me and after episode 9 I'll really miss him. The great anticipation around Howard isn't so much when he'll be fired but whether he's ever actually going to throw up on camera. He looks as though he's constantly walking around with a mouthful of sick. Mark my words. Next week, watch out for it. It probably also explains why he doesn't speak much, or do much of anything. Begging Debra to let him claim her sales leads this week was one of the final acts of a clueless man. (100/1)

Oh dear. Her name's Lorraine. Don't get too attached, she'll be gone the very next time her team loses. About as inspiring as a wet weekend in prison, Lorraine is the self-confessed thicko of the bunch, which is actually quite a feat given the competition. The best thing she can think to say about herself is: "I'm a little bit of a slow burner in the thought process." Yes, you really are. (500/1)

(*Honest Will's odds are a guide only... it would be illegal to run an unlicensed bookmakers.)