You're hired! Tim is Sir Alan's man

For the past 12 weeks he watched his competitors succumb to those infamous words - 'You're fired'.

So it was with a sigh of relief last night that wannabe entrepreneur Tim Campbell heard ruthless tycoon Sir Alan Sugar utter the less chilling words: 'You're hired'.

Tim, 27, from London, was chosen as The Apprentice after winning the hit reality TV show and a £100,000 job with the tycoon.

The former London Underground manager took on feisty sales manager Saira Khan, 34, from Nottingham, for Sir Alan's final task - organising rival boat parties on the Thames.

Although Tim's fashion show made less money than Saira's wine tasting, Sir Alan made him the winner.

'He's eager to learn and he's a good all-rounder,' said Sir Alan. 'He's a nice guy and has a good way with people but he's ambitious and determined.'

Tim said: 'I felt a load of different emotions - relief, excitement and also sadness for Saira because we >have become really good friends. I just wanted to better myself and make my mother proud.'

Tim said he would take his mother Una, who raised him and his two siblings single-handedly, on a cruise with his first pay packet.

He said: 'I'm doing it for my mother, who raised me brilliantly, even though she had nothing.'

Saira said she was disappointed but added: 'I am really pleased for Tim. He's become a really good friend.'

Sir Alan hinted there was also a job for her should she choose to take it.