Apprentice winner Simon Ambrose said today he had always expected fellow contestant Kristina Grimes to win the BBC One show.

Sir Alan Sugar chose the former public schoolboy as his new Apprentice on last night’s show, awarding him a £100,000 job with his company.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Ambrose said: "Up to the 11th hour I thought Kristina was going to walk it. We have seen her deliver week after week. She's a fantastic leader."

But the 27-year-old said he was determined to prove Sir Alan had made the right decision when he takes on a real estate project for the Amstrad founder.

"He's an entrepreneur, he has taken risks all his life. He is taking a risk with me and hopefully I will deliver."

Sir Alan said that this year's decision was the toughest so far but admitted the job he had in mind needed "someone with a good education".

In the past Sir Alan has hired candidates from less privileged backgrounds – a mould Grimes would have fitted.

The 36-year-old was sent to a convent after falling pregnant at 17 and later worked to put herself through university.

Visibly upset by Sir Alan’s decision to hire Ambrose, Grimes commented: "I came on this intent on getting the job with Sir Alan. My heart and soul was in this, so it's very tough. I was so confident, I really was."

Speaking this morning on BBC Breakfast she said: "I'm going to look at what other opportunities are out there. What's really important to me is to find a company out there that will give me the opportunities to make CEO. I want to make CEO in five years."

In a column written for today’s edition of The Mirror, Sir Alan expressed his admiration for Grimes.

“She got respect from her team mates and I'm sad to have to let her go. I'm sure our paths will cross in the future - I would employ her any day of the week, but the rules are there is only one job.”

But last night, after Ambrose told Sir Alan he would "work my cotton socks off for you", the entrepreneur's decision was sealed.

Sir Alan replied: "It's a very difficult decision. There's only one job.

"I've got someone who's very experienced. I've also got someone who's enthusiastic, a great talker and willing to learn.

"But I'm thinking to myself 'do you want to be the headmaster again?'.

"Simon, you are not a good leader of people, that's something you need to work on. Yet you suddenly surprised me with very good innovative ideas and a well thought-out presentation.

"Kristina, you are a thinker, you don't rush into anything. You're a great salesperson. You brought your child up in difficult circumstances and now it's Kristina time.

"Simon, some devil inside me says I wouldn't like to let you go either."

He then told Ambrose: "Bloody old fool that I am, I'm going to take that risk, you're hired."

The nail-biting final was watched by 6.8million people, a figure that turned the tables on rival reality show Big Brother.

The Channel 4 show’s recent launch caused a slump in Apprentice ratings, but last night belonged to Ambrose and Grimes.

Big Brother pulled in 2.1million viewers, an 8.4 per cent audience share, while The Apprentice went out with a bang, grabbing 27.4 percent of viewers.

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