We’ve reached the halfway point of this year’s ‘The Apprentice’ and it’s not entirely clear if anyone has the chops for the business deal of £250,000 from Lord Sugar.
To be fair, the first half of the series generally weeds out wheat from chaff, however, it must be said no one has yet covered themselves in glory, and some elementary errors have occurred. As of this week, spelling ‘GILET’ wrong is no longer the most stupid thing anyone’s done.
Some questions we now have...
Why didn’t Rebecca volunteer for Project Manager? She knew she was going to be fired if she ended up in the losing team and she hadn’t put her hand up, but she still demurred. She was on the back foot from then on.
Anyone know the difference between a ‘tagine’ and ‘tahini’ spice? And ‘soap’ and ‘soup’ come to mention it? This was Rebecca’s undoing, when a phone conversation found her wires truly crossed. Her understanding of why she was eventually fired? “I’m not enough of a twat,” she rationalised. Fair enough.
Why is Sofiane not listening to anybody’s advice that he needs to COLLABORATE? For the third week in a row, he’s been told off about his “independent streak”.
Where is that bagel bakery that can rustle up 200 bagels on demand? We must be told.
Why was Karren Brady so cross about Alana’s charming her way into a low price for cigars? “Begging” was the Baroness’s description, although her bad-smell expression implied something far, far worse.
Where was Courtney doing when he was being taught geography at school? And where does he actually think Morocco is? When Alana asked him if it was in Turkey, he admitted, “I don’t know.” This has to be the series low point so far.
Why is no one falling for Karthik’s unique charms? We saw him distinguish himself once again when negotiating for a traditional Indian lengha. It sort of worked… the sellers directed them to another shop and wished him well.
Who on earth is Lord Sugar going to trust with £500,000? The mind boggles.
This week’s KARTHIK WATCH:
High point:
Getting a massage and setting his compass for the Hollywood screen.
Low point:
“I don’t do physical labour. I eat, I drink and I make love, that’s what I do…”
There might not be any coming back from that.
‘The Apprentice’ continues on Thursday evenings at 9pm on BBC One.
Profession: Owner of a food distribution business
In his own words: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”
Profession: Owner of a design and marketing business
In her own words: “I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”
Profession: Sales manager
In his own words: “My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy.”
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.”
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'.”
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.”
Profession: Online fashion entrepreneur
In her own words: “A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning.”
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.”
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.”
Profession: Owner of IT consultancy company
In his own words: “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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’.”
Profession: Digital marketing manager
In his own words: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar, past contestants have been weak."
Profession: Cake company owner
In her own words: “I'll stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Profession: Recruiter
In her own words: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”