Easy explanation. Thousands submit a business plan.
Ten idiots/narcacists/delusional people plus one about credible and the winner Are selected. Lord Sugar has already decided the one that's going to make him even more money but it's dragged out for a few months with the performing monkeys entertaining us with their unique brand of obnoxiousness (that peasant librarian wannabe gentry!!!)
After real business people completely humiliate them nothing changes in their jelly brains and they still think they have been on the program for merit, not basically a slaughtering that even web toed folk who marry their sister can look down on.
To give them credit though, they can dress themselves and are toilet trained. I think.
22 Reviews
addictive reality TV with clueless business types
didi-56 May 2009
Now in its fifth series, 'The Apprentice' has 14 candidates for a top job with Sir Alan Sugar's group of companies - carrying out a range of tasks (face painting, washing cars, cooking, making a TV commercial, launching a product, selling sandwiches, etc.) in order to be in the winning team at the end of the day.
With catchphrases like 'this is a job interview from hell' and, carried over from the US version, 'You're fired', it can come across a bit more reality TV than business acumen. The eventual winners have ranged from nice Tim to liar Lee to dim Michelle to er, the other one. Strong characters tend to stay in until the last few weeks to give the viewer something to loathe.
Sir Alan's aides, Nick and Margaret, are good value to watch, their expressions showing their disdain for the candidates as they flunk one task after another. And yes, these high flyers are dim - the scary thing is that the candidates have top salary jobs outside of 'The Apprentice'! As a reality show, it's watchable and fun - even though the last two series have had candidates who play up to the camera more than their predecessors. As a business programme, it's fairly useless - even the tasks have got less interesting as the series has progressed.
With catchphrases like 'this is a job interview from hell' and, carried over from the US version, 'You're fired', it can come across a bit more reality TV than business acumen. The eventual winners have ranged from nice Tim to liar Lee to dim Michelle to er, the other one. Strong characters tend to stay in until the last few weeks to give the viewer something to loathe.
Sir Alan's aides, Nick and Margaret, are good value to watch, their expressions showing their disdain for the candidates as they flunk one task after another. And yes, these high flyers are dim - the scary thing is that the candidates have top salary jobs outside of 'The Apprentice'! As a reality show, it's watchable and fun - even though the last two series have had candidates who play up to the camera more than their predecessors. As a business programme, it's fairly useless - even the tasks have got less interesting as the series has progressed.
A Really Great Show
martimusross5 January 2020
The Apprentice
I have watched this show from the start and in all that time Alan Sugar has made but one mistake in keeping a candidate on a further week when someone else should have gone, (Stuart Baggs) this very fact underpins the very real and identifiable skills that are required in the changing world of business. Of course these are very different skills from a profession that does not have a product or need to sell or market.
The candidates have often already risen to the top of the pile through avarice and it is for this reason and the constant refreshing of the format that keeps this show at the top of its game.
If I was to acknowledge a weakness it is the creeping political correctness and it's often London centric concerns that reflect the aberration of the metropolis and its peddling of liberal authoritarianism. The programme must always reflect the wider UK to maintain is relevance and preeminence.
Tom Allen on your fired is the best since Adrian Chiles
I have watched this show from the start and in all that time Alan Sugar has made but one mistake in keeping a candidate on a further week when someone else should have gone, (Stuart Baggs) this very fact underpins the very real and identifiable skills that are required in the changing world of business. Of course these are very different skills from a profession that does not have a product or need to sell or market.
The candidates have often already risen to the top of the pile through avarice and it is for this reason and the constant refreshing of the format that keeps this show at the top of its game.
If I was to acknowledge a weakness it is the creeping political correctness and it's often London centric concerns that reflect the aberration of the metropolis and its peddling of liberal authoritarianism. The programme must always reflect the wider UK to maintain is relevance and preeminence.
Tom Allen on your fired is the best since Adrian Chiles
Reality TV As It Should Be Done
bs3dc15 May 2007
'The Apprentice' is labelled as the interview from hell, and it is certainly no walk in the park. A range of aspirants from wide-ranging backgrounds are formed into two teams and must attempt to make the most amount of money in a variety of tasks, with one member from each of the losing team getting fired after each task until only one person is left.
The decision to have Sir Alan Sugar head the show was inspired as though he may not be the richest entrepreneur in Britain, his gruff, no-nonsense manner works very well on television and better I suspect than someone like Richard Branson. His sidekicks Margaret Mountford and Nick Hewer are also great value with their world-weary sarcasm and their ability to say more with a lifted eyebrow than anybody since Roger Moore in 'The Saint.' Sir Alan makes tough and controversial decisions about who gets fired each week and though as a viewer you may not agree with his choice, ultimately it is up to him as he will have to pay the winner's wage packet. With some tasks taking place over several days, we get to see what the editor wanted to some degree and not necessarily a 100% accurate reflection of events, but The Apprentice is supposed to be entertaining and not a documentary about business practises.
There are frequent accusations of bullying being encouraged by the programme. While it is true that the candidates will often do their best to stab each other in the back whenever possible, there is some satisfaction in seeing the negative tactics leading to the failure of the task and the possibility of them being fired. There is even more to be had when people who claim in front of the camera to be able to able to crush anybody in their way turn into jellyfish when they get into the boardroom. The tension mounts considerably as the series goes on, as the obviously weaker candidates get filtered out and there is less room to hide behind other people when things go wrong (as they frequently do). Some of the bitchiness and aggressiveness must come from the pressure on the candidates which must be enormous, increased by the television cameras and in particular when for most of them being the winner would be a massive opportunity.
I can't help but feel that the quality of the candidates has declined since the first season as now the producers probably have to wade through applications from people who failed the Big Brother audition. Also the fact that some of the losers have managed to carve out TV careers for themselves probably boosts the attraction for fame-hungry applicants. It is certainly worrying if the 14 finalists represent the greatest business potential in the UK, though in fairness in the business world a £100,000 salary is probably not enough incentive to attract the best who are on more than this money already.
For once a winning format has managed to cross the Atlantic and actually last unlike so many others in the past decade and appears to be here to stay for a good while yet.
The decision to have Sir Alan Sugar head the show was inspired as though he may not be the richest entrepreneur in Britain, his gruff, no-nonsense manner works very well on television and better I suspect than someone like Richard Branson. His sidekicks Margaret Mountford and Nick Hewer are also great value with their world-weary sarcasm and their ability to say more with a lifted eyebrow than anybody since Roger Moore in 'The Saint.' Sir Alan makes tough and controversial decisions about who gets fired each week and though as a viewer you may not agree with his choice, ultimately it is up to him as he will have to pay the winner's wage packet. With some tasks taking place over several days, we get to see what the editor wanted to some degree and not necessarily a 100% accurate reflection of events, but The Apprentice is supposed to be entertaining and not a documentary about business practises.
There are frequent accusations of bullying being encouraged by the programme. While it is true that the candidates will often do their best to stab each other in the back whenever possible, there is some satisfaction in seeing the negative tactics leading to the failure of the task and the possibility of them being fired. There is even more to be had when people who claim in front of the camera to be able to able to crush anybody in their way turn into jellyfish when they get into the boardroom. The tension mounts considerably as the series goes on, as the obviously weaker candidates get filtered out and there is less room to hide behind other people when things go wrong (as they frequently do). Some of the bitchiness and aggressiveness must come from the pressure on the candidates which must be enormous, increased by the television cameras and in particular when for most of them being the winner would be a massive opportunity.
I can't help but feel that the quality of the candidates has declined since the first season as now the producers probably have to wade through applications from people who failed the Big Brother audition. Also the fact that some of the losers have managed to carve out TV careers for themselves probably boosts the attraction for fame-hungry applicants. It is certainly worrying if the 14 finalists represent the greatest business potential in the UK, though in fairness in the business world a £100,000 salary is probably not enough incentive to attract the best who are on more than this money already.
For once a winning format has managed to cross the Atlantic and actually last unlike so many others in the past decade and appears to be here to stay for a good while yet.
One of the best programs the BBC have ever aired! AMAZING!
JoshuaUK27 March 2005
The beginning of March 2005 saw one of the best programs to ever air on English TV. The Apprentice.
This English remake of the hit American series sees millionaire entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar search through 12 young hopefuls to find his apprentice - the award being a 6 figure salary and the chance to work with him.
The hopefuls range, some high flying university graduates to some who never attended school - all going for the same job.
To enable Sir Alan Sugar to pick his apprentice he splits these hopefuls into 2 teams (originally boys and girls) and then sets them tasks - these tasks can be anything from; Selling flowers on Londons Streets, to holding top celebrity auctions, creating advertising campaigns and let us not forget creating a brand new toy for the market - the episode and "secret signals" still haunts me!
Every week the loosing team has Sir Alan Sugar fire the person who performed least in the task - and in the board room looks them in the face and says "You're Fired!"
The series is a brilliant piece of television. It has everything TV needs, suspense, drama, laughter and bitchiness. They all soon learn a big part of this show is not learning how to cope with the challenges but learning to cope with each over.
Overall an amazing, brilliant piece of television. The sort of television that has you an inch away from your screen for the whole hour shouting at the screen as the hopefuls stab their team mates in the back, lie and stitch each over up - all to get in that position of being an apprentice.
Broadcast on BBC2, the 12 60 minute episodes all offered superb entertainment and left the audience not wanting to blink at any stage during the program!
A brilliant piece of television, fingers crossed for a DVD release and 2nd series!
"YOU'RE FIRED!"
This English remake of the hit American series sees millionaire entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar search through 12 young hopefuls to find his apprentice - the award being a 6 figure salary and the chance to work with him.
The hopefuls range, some high flying university graduates to some who never attended school - all going for the same job.
To enable Sir Alan Sugar to pick his apprentice he splits these hopefuls into 2 teams (originally boys and girls) and then sets them tasks - these tasks can be anything from; Selling flowers on Londons Streets, to holding top celebrity auctions, creating advertising campaigns and let us not forget creating a brand new toy for the market - the episode and "secret signals" still haunts me!
Every week the loosing team has Sir Alan Sugar fire the person who performed least in the task - and in the board room looks them in the face and says "You're Fired!"
The series is a brilliant piece of television. It has everything TV needs, suspense, drama, laughter and bitchiness. They all soon learn a big part of this show is not learning how to cope with the challenges but learning to cope with each over.
Overall an amazing, brilliant piece of television. The sort of television that has you an inch away from your screen for the whole hour shouting at the screen as the hopefuls stab their team mates in the back, lie and stitch each over up - all to get in that position of being an apprentice.
Broadcast on BBC2, the 12 60 minute episodes all offered superb entertainment and left the audience not wanting to blink at any stage during the program!
A brilliant piece of television, fingers crossed for a DVD release and 2nd series!
"YOU'RE FIRED!"
One of two reality shows I actually like!
TheLittleSongbird16 September 2009
This is my number one favourite reality show, and I really like Dragon's Den. I do think both are vastly superior to the excrement that is Big Brother. True, some of the contestants have at times shown a lack of ambition and scope, and I am probably the only person who found Debra Barr of the recent season really unpleasant and patronising, like Saira in the first season and the horrible Katie Hopkins from season 3. Still, the Apprentice is very very entertaining. The tasks are very interesting too, season 3's teleshopping channel and the season 4 Marakesh tasks were classics. I like Alan Sugar too, he is honest, straight talking and funny, and the boardroom scenes are just priceless, especially when he summed up perfectly one team's idea in last series' cereal box and advertising week, when he cried, "the whole thing sucks" in reference to I think was the pants man idea. His "sick on a stick"(season 3) and "only room for one big gob"(season 1) were also great. I like Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford too, they shed light on how they think the teams do. Overall, I really love this. A definite 10/10 Bethany Cox
The funniest comedy of errors I have ever seen
c-6032522 March 2024
What can I say about the Apprentice? It's a a show about a bunch of complete morons claiming to be 'businesspeople' failing miserably at not that hard tasks. What's not to like?
I am fully convinced this is a comedy show, they are hilariously stupid. It's hilarious. Alan Sugar has to be holing in his laughter, if I was him I'd die of laughter because of how stupid these people are.
If you have an hour to waste watch any episode of the Apprentice, you'll be crying with laughter. There's something so funny about watching complete morons failing at basic common sense.
So in conclusion a near perfect comedy show- 9/10.
I am fully convinced this is a comedy show, they are hilariously stupid. It's hilarious. Alan Sugar has to be holing in his laughter, if I was him I'd die of laughter because of how stupid these people are.
If you have an hour to waste watch any episode of the Apprentice, you'll be crying with laughter. There's something so funny about watching complete morons failing at basic common sense.
So in conclusion a near perfect comedy show- 9/10.
Simple Business Education For The Masses
t-d-t-m8211 January 2023
What I enjoy the most about this extremely long-running show (impossible in today's cancellation culture) is the basic business facts given in each episode to the general consumer.
You can learn a lot from Sir Alan Sugar. How to communicate effectively and the risks of business and his regrets (Spurs' football club) and his early innovations with Amstrad and his burgeoning property portfolio.
His straight-talking; directness and dry humour are traits which I especially enjoy if I'm going to work with somebody. It's fun and effective TV and it's also comedy as the apprentices have to deal with a variety of tragic environments with each one becoming more desperate to outperform the other and the edited show is a delight to watch. The gaffs on each show continue to surprise me at how desperate the candidates are to impress.
The problem I find with this show is it's very formulative-driven. They repeat similar tasks; make a product in a factory and sell to consumer; find certain products from a list and sell a tourism experience.
It's hard to judge how they succeed after as there's no programme dedicated to what they do after the show. It would be nice to have a documentary of what really happens when you become the Apprentice.
It's a fun show and it's not to be taken to seriously yet the core business values are very serious. They always seem to hire the most silly quotes "I'm the next business billionaire" or "James Bond (of business)" and it would be better if they hired disadvantaged kids from hard backgrounds and helped them with their life.
I watch it every year and it's full of gems so a strong 7/10. Claude is a great aide and Karen is very astute (see West Ham's stadium deal) in business and you can learn a lot from what they have to offer. Required viewing.
You can learn a lot from Sir Alan Sugar. How to communicate effectively and the risks of business and his regrets (Spurs' football club) and his early innovations with Amstrad and his burgeoning property portfolio.
His straight-talking; directness and dry humour are traits which I especially enjoy if I'm going to work with somebody. It's fun and effective TV and it's also comedy as the apprentices have to deal with a variety of tragic environments with each one becoming more desperate to outperform the other and the edited show is a delight to watch. The gaffs on each show continue to surprise me at how desperate the candidates are to impress.
The problem I find with this show is it's very formulative-driven. They repeat similar tasks; make a product in a factory and sell to consumer; find certain products from a list and sell a tourism experience.
It's hard to judge how they succeed after as there's no programme dedicated to what they do after the show. It would be nice to have a documentary of what really happens when you become the Apprentice.
It's a fun show and it's not to be taken to seriously yet the core business values are very serious. They always seem to hire the most silly quotes "I'm the next business billionaire" or "James Bond (of business)" and it would be better if they hired disadvantaged kids from hard backgrounds and helped them with their life.
I watch it every year and it's full of gems so a strong 7/10. Claude is a great aide and Karen is very astute (see West Ham's stadium deal) in business and you can learn a lot from what they have to offer. Required viewing.
The show that never stops giving
gibbs-181727 November 2019
The original and still head and shoulders the best.
Hard to pick the very best series but it's season 15 now and these spoon fed clowns who believe that everything they do is brilliant is a close 2nd to any previous season.
Where do they find these people? As children they must have always got everything and been told untruths by parents or guardians. Because most are thick as pig muck.
Bring on season 16
Where do they find these people? As children they must have always got everything and been told untruths by parents or guardians. Because most are thick as pig muck.
Bring on season 16
Down the reality TV tubes...
honest-movie-tv-reviews22 October 2019
When this came out it used to be interesting to watch. The contestants seemed quite good and the tasks made sense.
The longer it's gone on the more it's skewed to having contestants who are annoying and seem to be there to make a name for themselves, but to be honest it's the programme itself that's led to that.
The tasks they're given and the way the show is presented is so manufactured now and clearly edited/scripted to be that way.
The sooner this is scrapped the better!
The longer it's gone on the more it's skewed to having contestants who are annoying and seem to be there to make a name for themselves, but to be honest it's the programme itself that's led to that.
The tasks they're given and the way the show is presented is so manufactured now and clearly edited/scripted to be that way.
The sooner this is scrapped the better!
Keep slamming that door for a good while yet Lord Sugar.
davidhiggins-8975618 October 2018
I find it hard to believe Karren Brady took over from Margaret Mountford in season 6 in 2010. Doesn't seem like eight years ago, maybe 4 years or so. As for the show as a whole, there are only a few programs on the BBC that I find worth watching, The Apprentice UK and Dragons Den, long running shows both since 2005.
You can't beat it from when Lord Sugar slams the Rolls-Royce door (almost as big as him!), just that alone does it for me. Steps out in an assured bulldog type way and almost slams it into the next street. He can't slam the car door hard enough for my liking!. Best part of the show.
The humour of the man is also quite telling, generally you need intelligence to conger up wit, he has both in abounds. Worth watching just for his remarks alone. The picking of the contestants does look a bit formulaic in that after all these seasons by now you are bound to get most of the latest bunch that either physically resemble or has a similar character to one of the previous 300 odd contestants. They can hardly get away from that problem. Though you have to notice the Production team do replicate some of the more stronger more memorable past contestants to some fashion.
In a season most of the tasks are usually more interesting to watch than not. At the end of the day it all comes down to it being a well produced show. You get the feeling lord Sugar wouldn't do it if it was any old tat. If it wasn't up to his standard he wouldn't be in it.
You can't beat it from when Lord Sugar slams the Rolls-Royce door (almost as big as him!), just that alone does it for me. Steps out in an assured bulldog type way and almost slams it into the next street. He can't slam the car door hard enough for my liking!. Best part of the show.
The humour of the man is also quite telling, generally you need intelligence to conger up wit, he has both in abounds. Worth watching just for his remarks alone. The picking of the contestants does look a bit formulaic in that after all these seasons by now you are bound to get most of the latest bunch that either physically resemble or has a similar character to one of the previous 300 odd contestants. They can hardly get away from that problem. Though you have to notice the Production team do replicate some of the more stronger more memorable past contestants to some fashion.
In a season most of the tasks are usually more interesting to watch than not. At the end of the day it all comes down to it being a well produced show. You get the feeling lord Sugar wouldn't do it if it was any old tat. If it wasn't up to his standard he wouldn't be in it.
What do you call 20 well-dressed but useless divs in a room? The Apprentice.
gilleliath10 October 2019
When The Apprentice UK appeared, I regretted the fact that it bumped the American version off prime-time; I never felt that Lord SrAlan (or just 'SrAlan' as he was then) was any substitute for Trump - this was before Trump became the world's most dangerous moron, of course.
I read recently that Lord SrAlan is getting sick of it now, though, and I don't blame him: I'm sick of it too. Where do they find these people: year after year, a batch even more stupid, ignorant, selfish, arrogant and ungracious than the last? You can't imagine for one moment that any of them would be any use in business, I guess all they really want is a TV career.
When in last night's episode a guy who is pitching an ice-cream business couldn't make ice-cream, I felt like banging my head against the wall. But why did he fail? Because he tried to screw the customer a little too hard, passing off the cheapest rubbish he could produce as 'premium'. That's the ethos they all have - it's depressing. Then there's that awful woman who is actually a school librarian, but seems to think she's Lady Diana Spencer. You just want a 16-ton weight dropped on the lot of them: how much more can we take?
It's gonna reach the point soon where it's more excruciating than entertaining (not least because of Lord SrAlan's own awful gags, he really needs a new writer). In fact I'm not sure we're not already there.
I read recently that Lord SrAlan is getting sick of it now, though, and I don't blame him: I'm sick of it too. Where do they find these people: year after year, a batch even more stupid, ignorant, selfish, arrogant and ungracious than the last? You can't imagine for one moment that any of them would be any use in business, I guess all they really want is a TV career.
When in last night's episode a guy who is pitching an ice-cream business couldn't make ice-cream, I felt like banging my head against the wall. But why did he fail? Because he tried to screw the customer a little too hard, passing off the cheapest rubbish he could produce as 'premium'. That's the ethos they all have - it's depressing. Then there's that awful woman who is actually a school librarian, but seems to think she's Lady Diana Spencer. You just want a 16-ton weight dropped on the lot of them: how much more can we take?
It's gonna reach the point soon where it's more excruciating than entertaining (not least because of Lord SrAlan's own awful gags, he really needs a new writer). In fact I'm not sure we're not already there.
The different tasks keep it fresh while the different characters and conflicts keep it interesting very easy to see why this has been a winning formula in the US and UK
bob the moo2 April 2006
Fourteen aspiring business people (seven men and seven women) come together to go for one available job working for Sir Alan Sugar for $100,000 a year. However this is no ordinary job interview and instead of being a couple of days long the interview lasts about 12 weeks. Each week the two teams are given a task to carry out, the team that succeeds the most (in terms of sales generally) is rewarded but the team that loses is berated before three are selected for one final discussion before Sugar fires one.
I didn't bother with this show at first just because I'm not a massive fan of reality shows and this one looked like it was based on cruelty and shouting. However I gradually started to watch it and, although I don't worry about missing a show, I do enjoy it as a show. The task structure makes each week different and interesting for different reasons and I was surprised by how engaging each show was. Of course being a harder reality show it is driven forward by a lot of fighting, raised voices and confrontation but it is not forced or cruel for the sake of it it just happens as a result of the structure and task. The dynamics of the characters are constantly interesting and it is impossible to watch it without getting drawn into the debate and judgement. This is why it works because it engages on this level you won't like many of the people in the show and you may not like Sugar but it is the dramatic race against time and tensions that make it work.
I'm not totally convinced that the whole business concept rings true because for the type of job they are going for £100,000 a year isn't really that much money, plus their antics are not the sort of thing you expect from people in their earning bracket or areas of responsibilities. Some of them are smart, sharp and controlled but others you just have to wonder why they think anyone would want to give them a lot of responsibility. The tasks do require skills but they normally are more about the ability to work under a great deal of time pressure that makes them hard rather than requiring much more than good common sense. So aside from the link to business skills being a bit questionable this is quite an enjoyable show. It is cruel (Sugar plays the harsh host just like countless others) but mostly it is interesting and engaging to watch the two sides race against the clock (and each other) to complete their task. A winning formal then which, although it is a reality gameshow, stands out as one of the stronger reality gameshows.
I didn't bother with this show at first just because I'm not a massive fan of reality shows and this one looked like it was based on cruelty and shouting. However I gradually started to watch it and, although I don't worry about missing a show, I do enjoy it as a show. The task structure makes each week different and interesting for different reasons and I was surprised by how engaging each show was. Of course being a harder reality show it is driven forward by a lot of fighting, raised voices and confrontation but it is not forced or cruel for the sake of it it just happens as a result of the structure and task. The dynamics of the characters are constantly interesting and it is impossible to watch it without getting drawn into the debate and judgement. This is why it works because it engages on this level you won't like many of the people in the show and you may not like Sugar but it is the dramatic race against time and tensions that make it work.
I'm not totally convinced that the whole business concept rings true because for the type of job they are going for £100,000 a year isn't really that much money, plus their antics are not the sort of thing you expect from people in their earning bracket or areas of responsibilities. Some of them are smart, sharp and controlled but others you just have to wonder why they think anyone would want to give them a lot of responsibility. The tasks do require skills but they normally are more about the ability to work under a great deal of time pressure that makes them hard rather than requiring much more than good common sense. So aside from the link to business skills being a bit questionable this is quite an enjoyable show. It is cruel (Sugar plays the harsh host just like countless others) but mostly it is interesting and engaging to watch the two sides race against the clock (and each other) to complete their task. A winning formal then which, although it is a reality gameshow, stands out as one of the stronger reality gameshows.
The Apprentice
jboothmillard23 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I first heard of this programme when it was featured numerous times on Harry Hill's TV Burp, and since I have started from the Comic Relief special and Series 3, it is a very good programme, almost as good as a reality show. Every series 14 candidates are brought in, every one has quit their high paid job and left their family for the chance to get a job worth £100,000. The man they have to impress to get this job is the founder of Amstrad (Alan Michael Sugar Trading) since 1968, and worth over £800m, Lord Sir Alan Sugar. They are split into two teams, with aides Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford - replaced by Karren Brady, keeping an eye on them, and each week they are set a business task to make as much money as possible from the certain theme, e.g. selling coffee, dog products, sweets for zoos, art work, beauty treatments, chocolates, wines, fun fairs, etc. At the end of each task he gives the winning team, that made the most money or had the biggest numbers, a special treat, and the losing team faces a member being fired. All this continues till 12 weeks, when one candidate will win this job, the £100,000 and become 'The Apprentice' working alongside Sugar, or in the new version form a new company, with Sugar as partner. Narrated by Mark Halliley. It is funny to see ridiculous ideas brought forward, the silly decisions and actions of candidates, the bickering between them, and of course Sugar is the star with grouchy demeanour, a fantastic documentary series. Very good!
Absolutely amazing!
violetlrapunzel17 March 2022
No matter what they do, they always fill every episode with humour and the idiocy of what they do adds so much laughter and funniness to the show that it is enjoyable the whole way through. Definitely watch it, the kids'll enjoy it too!
Buisness Brilliance!
hallkairyan10 April 2024
Lord Sugar pioneers what is an excellent show for the masses. In some forms can be educational for business hungry minds. However from a reality TV perspective The Apprentice is a form of comic relief for many despite accusations of scripting I still feel it makes for quality television as they create products that could be frowned upon and reactions from the several candidates. We now reach Series 18 and the show continuesly finds humour and education in the buisness field. After hearing some previous insights on what it was like to be on the show it seems very harsh as for the rules they impose onto the candidates which could be the reasoning for the woefully bad products that come out of the Apprentice in some stages.
Lord Sugars infamous show tells the tales of buisness from the man who knows it all granting a £250,000 investment for Britain's best buisness mind in flawless format.
8/10.
Lord Sugars infamous show tells the tales of buisness from the man who knows it all granting a £250,000 investment for Britain's best buisness mind in flawless format.
8/10.
not bad
frankzappayay8 December 2010
I wrote a scathing review of this last week after Sugar made a terrible mistake. I'm editing it as this week he redeemed himself somewhat by acknowledging his mistake. It was pretty good to watch actually.
I still have reservations about how 'realistic' this show is. I wonder if the job is genuine at the end of the process, or just some thrown together task for the sake of the show. I doubt if the candidates chosen at the start of the process are the best in Britain or more likely just some good ones mixed with some morons who make good TV. I also wonder if the selection process throughout the show is affected more on popularity than actual business ability.
Nevertheless, it's good to watch, and a lot less dumbed down than all the other reality TV shows out there. I am still happy to watch it year after year, although I am disappointed at the mistake the big boss made this year cost a very talented applicant her chance at the final.
I still have reservations about how 'realistic' this show is. I wonder if the job is genuine at the end of the process, or just some thrown together task for the sake of the show. I doubt if the candidates chosen at the start of the process are the best in Britain or more likely just some good ones mixed with some morons who make good TV. I also wonder if the selection process throughout the show is affected more on popularity than actual business ability.
Nevertheless, it's good to watch, and a lot less dumbed down than all the other reality TV shows out there. I am still happy to watch it year after year, although I am disappointed at the mistake the big boss made this year cost a very talented applicant her chance at the final.
Cliche after Cliche....Overdone & Boring..!!!
carmenjulianna2 July 2019
The British version of "The Apprentice" is far inferior to the American Show...The 'cast' always seem to be performing a role ready for their next venture "Reality Tv" As we all know nowadays, you really do not need talent, personality or a great Character to appear on British television; let alone an education...Anything goes it seems...perfect for the ratings. What happened to quality British Entertainment and Broadcasting like the good Ol' days. Bring back the 70s, where Men were Men and Women were Women.!!! It all seems too eutopian like a fantasy world filled with plastic people covered in 50 layers of make-up, plastic veneers and botox (men inc') Where have all the men gone???
Dismal, Boring, Abusive, Repetitive, Social-distraction Rubbish.
notom-230121 November 2018
Why are we - the British tax payers - paying for this absolute piece of garbage?
14 seasons of a complete and utter non-entity (Alan Sugar) - the epitome of capitalism gone wrong - braying, bullying, abusing and manipulating so-called contestants for a prize that seems to be absolutely worthless - employment by him.
Could I, as a business man, bet the BBC to fund my 'talent' search? I don't think so...
Could we please place this rubbish in the receptacles provided - or better still, just flush the entire, stupid idea... so that'll reside in posterity, along with Sugar - in its fitting home.
Two, or three, have a chance the rest are there for their entertainment value.
plan9916 February 2022
It's becoming increasingly obvious that very few contestants are chosen for their business acumen, two or three are, the rest are chosen due to them having read too many bad self help management books, they endlessly trot out what they consider to be management speak but it's just phrases they have read in the bad books mentioned above. The book readers must be of great embarrassment to their families and they must get ridiculed a lot when they get back home, after been seen on TV they would struggle to get a job anywhere as they come across as village idiots.
Outdated, bully, setup
imdb-9208318 April 2024
It's reality TV at its worst. Sugar and his cronies think they are above. The law, but it is a long time since Amstrad.
The prize is not worth the effort, they set the contestants up every time, set to fail and then criticised for doing so.
Balloon suits, made to look ridiculous. Suits where nobody wears a tie these days? If I went in, jeans and T-shirt.
Out of date, needs updating, Sugar has enough to get by surely. Trump on the other version. Pointing the finger at people trying to make it, ignoring influencers. Dragons Den is a bit better, they have moved with the times.
Sugar and his cronies will be held to account for this, like Springer or Trisha. It should be updated to reflect new opinion. There is no reason to see this sort of TV in 2024.
The prize is not worth the effort, they set the contestants up every time, set to fail and then criticised for doing so.
Balloon suits, made to look ridiculous. Suits where nobody wears a tie these days? If I went in, jeans and T-shirt.
Out of date, needs updating, Sugar has enough to get by surely. Trump on the other version. Pointing the finger at people trying to make it, ignoring influencers. Dragons Den is a bit better, they have moved with the times.
Sugar and his cronies will be held to account for this, like Springer or Trisha. It should be updated to reflect new opinion. There is no reason to see this sort of TV in 2024.
Your Fired!! What . A . Line
BrookeRules14 April 2005
From the outset, this show has always been interesting. Tempers fraying, tense boardroom meetings and the on-going quarrels of Saira and Paul all mix together to make one hell of a good show.
I, myself, am rooting for Saira to win, but that is irrelevant at the moment. For anyone who hasn't watched it as of yet, do so. Yeah, Alan Sugar is a rude and ignorant jerk - but it just makes it more compelling to watch! As to who I think will win...well Miriam and James are good contenders, Paul is hope goes next because I find him repulsive, but he has a good chance. Saira also has a good chance.
Plus, Alan, I praise you for kicking Raj out - totally inadiquate.
I, myself, am rooting for Saira to win, but that is irrelevant at the moment. For anyone who hasn't watched it as of yet, do so. Yeah, Alan Sugar is a rude and ignorant jerk - but it just makes it more compelling to watch! As to who I think will win...well Miriam and James are good contenders, Paul is hope goes next because I find him repulsive, but he has a good chance. Saira also has a good chance.
Plus, Alan, I praise you for kicking Raj out - totally inadiquate.
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