THE 12-week process to select Sir Alan Sugar's new Apprentice came to an end tonight.

Former Queensmead School pupil resident Lee McQueen beat 15 other contenders who took part in the BBC1 reality show, to the six-figure salary job under the Amstrad boss.

In the final Lee was partnered with mouthy Claire Young and had to design a concept-led eau de toilette, battling against Helene Speight and Alex Wotherspoon.

Their Roulette brand was enough to see off the Dual brand of their rivals, leading to a tense boardroom showdown between the teammates.

The result has proven to be a disaster for the Hillingdon Times weatherman, who hastily vowed after the first week "I will eat my hat if he wins".

Fortunately, a concerned reader stepped in and provided a sugar paper hat for the culinary event, which will be filmed and posted on the Hillingdon Times website tomorrow afternoon.