'The Apprentice' Sees Karthik Nagesan And Samuel Boateng Both Fired

Two more candidates went home this week.

‘The Apprentice’ Week 7 saw the shock premature firing of Karthik Nagesan, after what Lord Sugar generously described as a “diabolical” effort as project manager. 

Despite his prowess at “project managing the conception of my baby boy”, Karthik was not quite up to the task of leading this mission to shift boating and leisure industry products. 

The end result for his Team Titans was £188 in sales, a mere £42,000 less than their rivals Team Nebula. 

Lord Sugar didn’t even wait for him to choose two colleagues to come back in with him. He told Karthik, “There is no excuse, you have been a diabolical project manager - I don’t trust you to bring anybody back into this boardroom. Karthik you’re fired!”How shocking? Alana’s face took on a whole new expression.

 

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Karthik proved a less than effective project manager... okay, diabolical
BBC

Clearly, the main question must be... how did Karthik ever make it this far? However, the show will be all the poorer without him. 

Other posers that come to mind...  

Why did Karthik put Samuel on low-end goods, despite Samuel’s experience in high-end marketing? This crackpot decision turned out to be terminal for both of them. Could Claude Littner have looked any more impressed with Grainne’s questions about the jet-ski?

Or approving when she got the yes-vote from the vendor? 

Or disappointed when she and Courtney forgot to sell it to anyone?

What happened to Sofiane’s ‘team spirit’ as promised last week? Was that an actual sulk we saw when Frances decided to take on the bulk of the cold-calling?

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Samuel was the surprise second firing in this week's competition
BBC

How surprised were you to see Samuel go? Lord Sugar called him “an assassin”, which seemed a little strong. Aren’t they all out for themselves?

Why was Karren Brady so contemptuous of Dhillon’s praise of Samuel? He was only being nice.

Can Claude keep saying ‘frolick’?

Can you actually picture any of the nine remaining contestants as the winner of this series?

‘The Apprentice’ continues on Thursday evenings on BBC One at 9pm.  

Oliver Nohl-Oser
BBCBoundless
Age: 33
Profession: Owner of a food distribution business

In his own words: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Rebecca Jeffrey
BBCBoundless
Age: 31
Profession: Owner of a design and marketing business

In her own words: “I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”
Samuel Boateng
BBCBoundless
Age: 27
Profession: Sales manager

In his own words: “My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
Grainne McCoy
BBCBoundless
Age: 31
Profession: Make-up studio owner

In her own words: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.”
Courtney Wood
BBCBoundless
Age: 29
Profession: Owner of a novelty gift company

In his own words: “How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: 'awesome'.”
Aleksandra King
BBCBoundless
Age: 38
Profession: Owner of a business consultancy firm

In her own words: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.”
Jessica Cunningham
BBCBoundless
Age: 29
Profession: Online fashion entrepreneur

In her own words: “A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning.”
JD O'Brien
BBCBoundless
Age: 37
Owner: Beachwear company

In his own words: “I won’t suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don’t know their arse from their elbow.”
Dillon St. Paul
BBCBoundless
Age: 37
Profession: Art director at a fashion magazine

In his own words: “Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes.”
Karthik Nagesan
BBCBoundless
Age: 33
Profession: Owner of IT consultancy company

In his own words: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
Sofiane Khelfa
BBCBoundless
Age: 32
Profession: Senior sales executive

In his own words: “The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I’m the best at adapting. I’m like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”
Natalie Hughes
BBCBoundless
Age: 30
Profession: Hair and beauty salon owner

In her own words: “I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler’s ambition.”
Paul Sullivan
BBCBoundless
Age: 38
Profession: Owner of a marketing agency

In his own words: “I'll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I'm here to win; I'm not here to make up the numbers.”
Michelle Niziol
BBCBoundless
Age: 35
Profession: Owner of a property consultancy company

In her own words: “I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic.”
Frances Bishop
BBCBoundless
Age: 25
Profession: Owner of a children's clothes company

In her own words: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”
Mukai Noiri
BBCBoundless
Age: 36
Profession: Digital marketing manager

In his own words: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar, past contestants have been weak."
Alana Spencer
BBCBoundless
Age: 24
Profession: Cake company owner

In her own words: “I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Trishna Thakrar
BBCBoundless
Age: 28
Profession: Recruiter

In her own words: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”