(18-07-2013) The Apprentice final: fewer than 6 million viewers watch Leah Totton win H0us3

The Apprentice final: fewer than 6 million viewers watch Leah Totton win Jul 18th 2013, 10:31



BBC audience hits a seven-year low as Lord Sugar chooses winner during two-hour special broadcast at 8pm




Winner , but there will be furrowed brows at the BBC after The Apprentice final sank to a seven-year low of fewer than 6 million viewers.



to the prize of EUR250,000 of investment from Lord Sugar, averaged 5.7 million viewers, a 27.6% share, between 8pm and 10pm on Wednesday.



Not only was it down on last year's final, , it was also a seven-week audience low for the current series.



This year's ninth series climax was also the lowest audience for an Apprentice final since it was first screened on BBC1 in 2006. Its second series, won by Michelle Dewberry, was also watched by 5.7 million viewers.



Last night's audience may not have been helped by an 8pm start time, an hour earlier than its normal slot, and an extended two-hour running time.



Last year's final was also extended to two hours but aired slightly later, between 8.30pm and 10.30pm on a Sunday night.



The BBC has already commissioned a 10th series of The Apprentice, to be screened next year, but spin-off show The Young Apprentice has been axed.



It remains to be seen whether Sugar, or the BBC, will want to extend it further into 2014.



Sugar : "I think the Apprentice has got longevity in it as long as we can continue to find interesting and different characters.



"At the end of the day, it is down to the candidates if it is interesting TV."



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