AND so the waiting is over and the geek has inherited the earth, or a huge investment from Lord Sugar at least.

Yes, Tom took the Apprentice title, bringing to an end another cracking series that has been compulsive viewing from the start. For once my crystal ball must have been working as I tipped the likeable inventor to win from the first show.

The Apprentice is a classic example of how a ‘reality’ programme can still be great viewing. Part of that is down to the way the whole thing is shot, from the sweeping panoramas of London to the cleverly choreographed set pieces as the would-be business gurus emerge from their palatial digs at some unearthly hour of the morning.

Then there was the change in format for this year. Any other season and ice maiden Helen would have walked into a job with Sugar, as Jedi Jim called him.

But this was a different show and ideas man Tom took the title, reacting with typically schoolboyish delight at the news.

I thought the series would end with a twist. Clearly Tom is a bright spark and his little notebook is full of half-baked schemes. What he needs is someone like Helen to keep him in check, so I thought Lord Sugar would take them both on and set up a company to take on the world.

After all, a lot of us would fancy a trip down to the MyPy store the couple came up with last week.