Viewers watched as James proudly stood up for Project Manager for this week's task, and then promptly fell on his sword by making a fundamental business error, that he tried to keep from the rest of his team.
Both teams were tasked with selling items at a country show, and all eyes were on the main prize - some very profitable hot tubs, with only one seller. Faced with the alternatives of a smoother-than-smooth Daniel or James, the supplier remained undecided, until James got his name wrong, and called him Derek - twice.
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James fought for his place in the boardroom, but Roisin gave it to him with both barrels
"We all make mistakes. I stand by that," James told HuffPostUK afterwards. "I made a simple mistake and it cost us."
Less forgivable was his curt treatment of colleague Roisin, telling her off for patronising him, cutting her short and generally throwing his toys away when it started going wrong.
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'I was tired, I snapped'
"It gets tiring," James acknowledges. "I started snapping. I was getting very tired. The whole series does challenge you, particularly as it gets towards the final stages. But there can be only one winner, so I'm proud of how I did."
James took more heart from Lord Sugar's words, even as he got rid of him.
"He said he saw himself in me, a self-starter. I'm going to take on board what he said."
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Daniel and Felipe were swinging handbags at dawn over who should be fronting hot tub sales
James was certainly one of the strongest personalities in the house this series, and was even the subject of romantic rumours surrounding him and fellow contestant Lauren. He can barely keep a straight face as we decide what he can best say about this, and eventually settle on...
"Lauren’s a lovely girl. We both took it very seriously, we were in it to win it. We’re friends and I wish her well."
Something tells me we haven't seen the last of James Hill.
Finally, asked who he thinks will win the competition now he has gone, James's opinion is that Aussie Mark Wright will beat the others this year.
Who do YOU think has what it takes to walk off with victory this year? Check out the original lineup below...
Meet The 2014 'Apprentice' Candidates
Bianca Miller(01 of20)
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In her own words: "I regret not becoming a scientist so I could clone myself and be more successful in half the time." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Mark Wright (No... Not That One)(02 of20)
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In his own words: "I’m very, very aggressive. I will not leave the room without getting a sale." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Nurun Ahmed(03 of20)
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In her own words: "I’m the type of person that doesn’t take five hours to do one job, I do 20 jobs in five hours." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Scott McCulloch(04 of20)
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In his own words: "From the minute I wake up to the minute I go to sleep, making money and conducting business is on my mind." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Jemma Bird(05 of20)
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In her own words: “I’m always the girl that nearly wins, I’m hoping this time it will be different.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Robert Goodwin(06 of20)
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In his own words: "I’m fearless, and if I don’t shut up about something, you should just trust it’s a well thought out decision." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
James Hill(07 of20)
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In his own words: "Me and Lord Sugar could build an empire together. I think I am him when he was my age." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Lauren Riley(08 of20)
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In her own words: “I’m absolutely not a shrinking violet. I’m very known for speaking my own mind.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Steven Ugoalah(09 of20)
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In his own words: "I can deliver in minus 50; I can deliver in plus 10. If we went to Mars right now, I’d find a way to be excellent." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Ella Jade Bitton(10 of20)
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In her own words: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Felipe Alviar-Baquero(11 of20)
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In his own words: “I studied law because I wanted to change the world. But my real passion is business.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Sarah Dales(12 of20)
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In her own words: "I am the pioneer and the ground breaker, and I possess all the talents to succeed." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Daniel Lassman(13 of20)
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In his own words: "I will out-sell them, I will out-class them and I will perform the best just by being me." (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Pamela Uddin(14 of20)
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In her own words: “I am street and people savvy as well as being business savvy.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Sanjay Sood-Smith(15 of20)
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In his own words: “If I had to choose between friendship and profit I’d choose profit. I’m not in this process to make friends with people, I’m here to win.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Roisin Hogan(16 of20)
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In her own words: “Manipulate, persuade and conquer. I would identify my opponent’s weaknesses and pick them off one by one.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Solomon Akhtar(17 of20)
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In his own words: “I am from the ‘ideas generation’; because of my age I understand technology and how to turn it into a business.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Lindsay Booth(18 of20)
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In her own words: “The other candidates will underestimate how feisty I am, and how I will fight and prove that I can get to the end.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Chiles Cartwright(19 of20)
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In his own words: “I consider myself one of the most credible candidates in this process. I don’t believe that anyone has the wealth and breadth of business acumen that I’ve gained over the years.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)
Katie Bulmer-Cooke(20 of20)
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In her own words: “In business I’m like a little stealth bomber that flies under the radar and smashes the competition before they’ve even realised I’m here.” (credit:BBC/Boundless/Jim Marks Photography)