The Apprentice 2013 final: Leah Totton and Luisa Zissman set for series climax

Leah Totton (right) and Luisa Zissman (left) set for series climax (PA)

Apprentice finalists Leah Totton and Luisa Zissman swap the boardroom for the chess board as they plot their final moves ahead of the climax to the series.

The duo - who are pals in real-life - will be seen doing battle tonight in the BBC1 show as viewers find out who will land £250,000 of investment from show boss Lord Sugar.

Totton and Zissman posed around a chequered board shortly before one of them is crowned queen of business for their entrepreneurial skills.

In the finale of the programme the final two have to pull together their own brands and launch campaign in the space of just a few hours, with the help of other contestants who have already exited this year's series.

Cake shop boss Zissman opts to create a wholesale firm catering to the baking market with cake tins and utensils, while medically-trained Totton also sticks with her specialist area with a plan to set up a cosmetic clinic which she wants to roll out across the UK.

But as ever, not everything goes smoothly with some doubts about the choice of colours which Zissman favours for her products, and there are concerns about the logo which Totton is planning, with Lord Sugar's right-hand woman Karren Brady declaring: “It's a bit bland.”

Both hopefuls then have to pitch to not only Lord Sugar but 100 industry experts to complete their bid for glory.

And Zissman, who has been seen as a tough cookie through the show, will be seen displaying her vulnerable side when she bursts into tears after she fears she has bungled her pitch by being unable to answer a question about her projected profits.

PA