The latest boardroom battle on The Apprentice ended in an awkward hug that viewers declared the most cringeworthy in the show's history.

Fans of the BBC series were gripped as Siobhan Smith and Elizabeth McKenna locked horns over a corporate hospitality task in front of Lord Sugar.

Smith ended up receiving her marching orders and was stood looking dismayed in the lobby when McKenna left the boardroom.

Viewers were in stitches as McKenna approached with her arms outstretched, clearly going in for a hug, and Smith tried to fob her off with a handshake.

Many posted messages on social media saying how uncomfortable the whole scene was.

“OMG SAVAGE. The handshake. The hug. I'm shaking,” one person wrote on Twitter.

“Well that was the most awkward hug in the #apprentice history between Siobhan and Elizabeth!” another said.

“I've not seen a more awkward hug between two people since Voldemort and Draco Malfoy,” said another.

Some joked that they could barely watch as Smith tried to brush off McKenna's gesture.

The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Show all 18 1 /18 The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Anisa Topan Age: 36 Occupation: PR Fashion Agency Owner 'I’ve got everything Lord Sugar needs in a business partner. I’m passionate, dynamic and persistent – he’ll love that.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Bushra Shaikh Age: 34 Occupation: Clothing Company Owner 'I’ve been raised not to be a pushover-in the words of Destiny’s Child, ‘I’m an independent woman.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates James White Age: 26 Occupation: Recruitment Firm Owner 'Intimidation is what motivates me. I want to be bigger and more successful than anyone else.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Andrew Brady Age: 26 Occupation: Project Engineer 'I don’t blow smoke up someone’s behind. If someone deserves credit, I will give them it.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Siobhan Smith Age: 34 Occupation: Wedding Company Owner 'I fly aeroplanes, scuba dive, jump off cliffs, paraglide; I’m a blogger and a mother - as well as running my wedding planning business. A lot of people call me superwoman.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Michaela Wain Age: 33 Occupation: Business Owner, Construction 'I have no patience for people who say stupid stuff, and I can’t cope with lazy people.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Sajan Shah Age: 24 Occupation: Event Company Owner 'I am like a Chinese dish – potent, deliciously driven, full of flavour and I sure do sizzle.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Ross Fretten Age: 29 Occupation: Digital Product Consultant 'I’m usually the smartest person in any room and I’ll make sure people know that.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Sarah-Jayne Clarke Age: 25 Occupation: Clothing Company Owner 'I am the definition of a girl boss – I get things done and make things happen.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Charles Burns Age: 24 Occupation: Management Consultant 'When life throws you lemons, make and sell lemonade for a healthy profit.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Jeff Wan Age: 28 Occupation: Business Analyst 'I bring character, charm and swagger to the table. Coupled with my professional and educational experience, I am sure I will be able to separate myself from the rest.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Danny Grant Age: 32 Occupation:Online Retail Store Owner 'I don’t get on with people with a stick up their arse'. BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Elliott Van Emden Age: 31 Occupation: Legal Firm Owner Sometimes to get to the top, you have to grease the pole behind you' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Harrison Jones Age: 27 Occupation: Sales Executive 'I have a good work ethic and am always willing to work to full capacity to achieve my goals.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Jade English Age: 25 Occupation: PR & Marketing Manager 'I’m extremely emotionally intelligent and able to get the best out of people. I am a brilliant negotiator and I’m not all talk - I put every weird idea into action and gets results.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Elizabeth McKenna Age: 39 Occupation: Florist Chain Owner 'My big feet are good for two things; getting me into trouble as they’re as big as my mouth and I constantly get them stuck in it, but... they also kick butt.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Joanna Jarjue Age: 23 Occupation: Digital Marketing Manager 'My demeanour can be related to the saying ‘Don’t wake a sleeping lion’ - If you underestimate me I might just bite.' BBC The Apprentice 2017: Meet the candidates Sarah Lynn Age: 35 Occupation: Confectionary Company Owner 'Women are like tea bags – you don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.' BBC

“That hug was painful to watch,” tweeted one person.

Others shared hilarious video clips and memes about the clumsy exchange.

But while there were plenty of jokes, some people watching took a sterner view, saying that giving a fellow candidate the brush-off was “unprofessional” and “rude”.