I agree, Ben is coming across as far too contrived and rehearsed and has ended up just looking like a knob with an out of control ego. But I still don't think he deserved to go this time round, he was the only one that actually did anything.
Ben should have gone this week
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Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.
Once we got past the strange sex thingy, I thought Ben's initial concept was fine and the target audience was fairly reasonable (entry level females -thus the bingo buster tag).
He lost sight of the task though when he added all the bells and whistles (or leads and pulleys in this case) which moved it away from the target audience. Who was it aimed at - Ben himself most probably.
And what was going on in the sales pitch when he started doing press ups and sits ups on the box. Why would you spend thirty quid on a box to do that ? Wouldn't any old box do. Poor lad - testosterone overdose I feel.
Lost himself completely in the task. Failed to stick to the primary rule of business - understand your target audience. Surprised they didn't pick up on the production costs as those bells and whistles would've made it far more difficult and ttherefore expensive to productionise.
Should have gone without a doubt.
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.
Once we got past the strange sex thingy, I thought Ben's initial concept was fine and the target audience was fairly reasonable (entry level females -thus the bingo buster tag).
He lost sight of the task though when he added all the bells and whistles (or leads and pulleys in this case) which moved it away from the target audience. Who was it aimed at - Ben himself most probably.
And what was going on in the sales pitch when he started doing press ups and sits ups on the box. Why would you spend thirty quid on a box to do that ? Wouldn't any old box do. Poor lad - testosterone overdose I feel.
Lost himself completely in the task. Failed to stick to the primary rule of business - understand your target audience. Surprised they didn't pick up on the production costs as those bells and whistles would've made it far more difficult and ttherefore expensive to productionise.
Should have gone without a doubt.
Originally Posted by lucretia:
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!”
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!”
Yes, plus James and Michael (from last series) were interchangeable. Both giving cringeworthy boardroom 'performances.'
I do not like Ben at all, but I think the right decision was made this week.
Better to get rid of the dead-wood since at least he came up with something.
Better to get rid of the dead-wood since at least he came up with something.
Originally Posted by lucretia:
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.
Once we got past the strange sex thingy, I thought Ben's initial concept was fine and the target audience was fairly reasonable (entry level females -thus the bingo buster tag).
He lost sight of the task though when he added all the bells and whistles (or leads and pulleys in this case) which moved it away from the target audience. Who was it aimed at - Ben himself most probably.
And what was going on in the sales pitch when he started doing press ups and sits ups on the box. Why would you spend thirty quid on a box to do that ? Wouldn't any old box do. Poor lad - testosterone overdose I feel.
Lost himself completely in the task. Failed to stick to the primary rule of business - understand your target audience. Surprised they didn't pick up on the production costs as those bells and whistles would've made it far more difficult and ttherefore expensive to productionise.
Should have gone without a doubt.”
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.
Once we got past the strange sex thingy, I thought Ben's initial concept was fine and the target audience was fairly reasonable (entry level females -thus the bingo buster tag).
He lost sight of the task though when he added all the bells and whistles (or leads and pulleys in this case) which moved it away from the target audience. Who was it aimed at - Ben himself most probably.
And what was going on in the sales pitch when he started doing press ups and sits ups on the box. Why would you spend thirty quid on a box to do that ? Wouldn't any old box do. Poor lad - testosterone overdose I feel.
Lost himself completely in the task. Failed to stick to the primary rule of business - understand your target audience. Surprised they didn't pick up on the production costs as those bells and whistles would've made it far more difficult and ttherefore expensive to productionise.
Should have gone without a doubt.”
Shouldn't that be down to the Project Manager, with the assistance of the rest of the team for that matter to manage and lead the project which was essentially the product design and manage, lead, reign him in where necessary and actually lead the task and not leave it all to Ben and his humungus ego?
Yes, James should have had a firmer hand, but it was quite clear Ben monopolised everything.
If Ben had stuck to the original idea, the final poduct could have sold. He took it upon himself to add all these bits and pieces after the group had agreed on the concept, therefore it was his responsibility for the shoddy mess. He even deluded himself into thinking it was good; at least James admitted it was awful.
I even have respect for James for keeping quiet his opinions on the product for the sake of keeping the team as productive as possible
If Ben had stuck to the original idea, the final poduct could have sold. He took it upon himself to add all these bits and pieces after the group had agreed on the concept, therefore it was his responsibility for the shoddy mess. He even deluded himself into thinking it was good; at least James admitted it was awful.
I even have respect for James for keeping quiet his opinions on the product for the sake of keeping the team as productive as possible
the right desction was made maj was weak he came up with the over compllcated design ben only wanted something simple. Maj had to go he sat in the back ground and didn't do much
Originally Posted by Tissy:
“The men seem pretty poor this year - apart from Phillip who stepped up this week.”
“The men seem pretty poor this year - apart from Phillip who stepped up this week.”
I actually think Howard has potential. In the first task he wasn't autocratic, yet offered his support to the other half of the team struggling with the car washing. Phillip's response was to moan; in my eyes he needs to do a lot to make up for that.
Originally Posted by marsha_Cutiepie:
“Madge took another back seat on this task but it was his first time in the bottom two and he wasnt the PM. He should have been given the chance to prove himself as PM and if he failed then got rid off.”
“Madge took another back seat on this task but it was his first time in the bottom two and he wasnt the PM. He should have been given the chance to prove himself as PM and if he failed then got rid off.”
Part of the reason he was fired was that he didn't put himself forward - not in his final boardroom to be PM to keep himself in the game, and not at any other time either. He was too much of a bystander. He admitted on You're Fired his plan to sneak under the radar, and he got found out.
I'm glad. I hate it when they "do an Alexa", only to mess it up the following task and get fired then instead. Waste of everyone's time. He had his chance and blew it already.
Originally Posted by lucretia:
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.”
“Thought this was quite similar to the episode where Raif went out last year - only with a quite different outcome. Double standards then Sir Alan !!
Raif's love of film-making took over last year and he lost sight of the task. With the narcistic Ben, it was his love of keep-fit.”
It sounds like the complete opposite to me. Raef was project leader, and got too involved in the film-making. This task project leader James had no ideas about the product and had a hands-off approach to developing it. There's nothing wrong with delegating part of a task to the person best suited to doing it.
There was an argument for firing James, but Sir Alan generally only fires project leaders if there's no alternative, and here there was. I very much doubt he was kept for ratings reasons. Sir Alan doesn't do that.
I think if it wasnt Majid who had gone I would have agreed that Ben deserved the chop. But we're three weeks in, and all I can think about Majid is him seeming to be quite sexist. Nothing buisness, nothing notable. Ben's idea sucked, but at least he produced something unlike the guy who went over him.
I agree with Sir Alan for the third week in a row. That's a new record. I liked Rocky and, to some extend Maj, could've made an argument for firing Mona, but actually he's got it pretty much spot on.
What saved Ben was the fact he'd worked very hard on the, crap, product. Maj had not worked very hard, but still had a big hand in the product. James specifically said, 'keep it simple', they ignored him. James did say he didn't rate the product. He told us. It was too late however, and there was no point demoralising his team. James is erratic in the boardroom, but can't see what he did so wrong in this task. It should always have been between Ben and Maj, Ben took the risks, so in my eyes deserved to stay.
What saved Ben was the fact he'd worked very hard on the, crap, product. Maj had not worked very hard, but still had a big hand in the product. James specifically said, 'keep it simple', they ignored him. James did say he didn't rate the product. He told us. It was too late however, and there was no point demoralising his team. James is erratic in the boardroom, but can't see what he did so wrong in this task. It should always have been between Ben and Maj, Ben took the risks, so in my eyes deserved to stay.
Originally Posted by Rugby Rose:
“Shouldn't that be down to the Project Manager, with the assistance of the rest of the team for that matter to manage and lead the project which was essentially the product design and manage, lead, reign him in where necessary and actually lead the task and not leave it all to Ben and his humungus ego?”
“Shouldn't that be down to the Project Manager, with the assistance of the rest of the team for that matter to manage and lead the project which was essentially the product design and manage, lead, reign him in where necessary and actually lead the task and not leave it all to Ben and his humungus ego?”
If you took that arguement to its logical conclusion though, wouldn't the PM would be responsible for everything, the wider team very little and therefore the PM would get sacked every week.
Originally Posted by lucretia:
“If you took that arguement to its logical conclusion though, wouldn't the PM would be responsible for everything, the wider team very little and therefore the PM would get sacked every week.”
“If you took that arguement to its logical conclusion though, wouldn't the PM would be responsible for everything, the wider team very little and therefore the PM would get sacked every week.”
The difference is that on this occassion James literally did not a thing of note. Not one. So while I don't support the notion that the losing Pm should go every week, I do certianly feel that having taken the role on (especially when they were so keen to do as as James was), that they have to demonstrate at least some element of control and leadership over the team.
Ben was actually more of the project manager than James was.
Originally Posted by marsha_Cutiepie:
“Ben deserved to go to the least of the three for actually doing something in the task.
The only reason James was kept is for the TV factor, he comes out with all this crazy sh!t in the board room, gets overly emotional and the producers think its good tv.
Ben was never going to go and didnt deserve to - he was the only one in the task who did anything. The only one who came up with an idea and the only one who had any drive and enthusiam. He basically took over the PM duties cause James didn't have the balls to step in when needed. Yes the idea idnt deliver in the end but he was the only one on the team willing to give something a go.
Madge took another back seat on this task but it was his first time in the bottom two and he wasnt the PM. He should have been given the chance to prove himself as PM and if he failed then got rid off.
As i said James was kept in for tv purposes only, god knows why people would find him entertaining!!!”
“Ben deserved to go to the least of the three for actually doing something in the task.
The only reason James was kept is for the TV factor, he comes out with all this crazy sh!t in the board room, gets overly emotional and the producers think its good tv.
Ben was never going to go and didnt deserve to - he was the only one in the task who did anything. The only one who came up with an idea and the only one who had any drive and enthusiam. He basically took over the PM duties cause James didn't have the balls to step in when needed. Yes the idea idnt deliver in the end but he was the only one on the team willing to give something a go.
Madge took another back seat on this task but it was his first time in the bottom two and he wasnt the PM. He should have been given the chance to prove himself as PM and if he failed then got rid off.
As i said James was kept in for tv purposes only, god knows why people would find him entertaining!!!”
I disagree, coming up with an idea is only good if it works, the end product was a joke James recognised that, while Ben was congratulating himself on his brilliance.
Ben should have gone.
Originally Posted by lucretia:
“If you took that arguement to its logical conclusion though, wouldn't the PM would be responsible for everything, the wider team very little and therefore the PM would get sacked every week.”
“If you took that arguement to its logical conclusion though, wouldn't the PM would be responsible for everything, the wider team very little and therefore the PM would get sacked every week.”
Isn't that why no one puts themselves forward so easily as PM as if they fail they are ultimately responsible and more likely to get fired? As Muttley said, James did nothing to control the team or oversee the product. Yes there should be delegation, but while keeping some degree of control, which James didn't do. In fact he didn't do anything. As a result he ended up with a product he didn't want because he didn't just delegate he handed over the most crucial element of the project to someone else and it was too late to change anything. Ben then made a complete prat of himself of the team with the demonstrations, and again, James did absolutely nothing to stop him. Howard stepped in at one point, but at the end of the day it was up to James to try to make the most of a bad job, but again it was left to Ben.
What part of don't make it too complicated did Ben not understand then? He got completely carried away with designing something to show off his own self claimed physical fitness and forgot about the 'pathetic' people (his words) that have no upper body strength and have bingo wings. Lost his target market in a haze of self appreciation. James told him not to over complicate it on the phone and he goes off and does just that. James approved the concept, not the hideous model that Ben eventually ended up with.
What an idiot. Needing so many parts gave the people that made the model no choice but to make it look like a pier end magicians box. His ego and need to show off his own 'advanced' fitness level lost that task and he should be embarassed. Especially of his love handles and inability to do an elevated push up without looking like he is going to pass out. And for pointing out James was crying when his voice was at times shaking like a man on trial for his life. And for saying he will bite James' teeth out in the boardroom. Is that a common phrase?
What an idiot. Needing so many parts gave the people that made the model no choice but to make it look like a pier end magicians box. His ego and need to show off his own 'advanced' fitness level lost that task and he should be embarassed. Especially of his love handles and inability to do an elevated push up without looking like he is going to pass out. And for pointing out James was crying when his voice was at times shaking like a man on trial for his life. And for saying he will bite James' teeth out in the boardroom. Is that a common phrase?
Originally Posted by pixiepoppet:
“Ben should have been fired for wearing those awful stripey socks!!
”
“Ben should have been fired for wearing those awful stripey socks!!
”
Not to mention the daft braces.
Originally Posted by lou-kate:
“And for saying he will bite James' teeth out in the boardroom. Is that a common phrase?”
“And for saying he will bite James' teeth out in the boardroom. Is that a common phrase?”
No it's 'just one he prepared earlier'
[quote=lou-kate;31817940] James told him not to over complicate it on the phone and he goes off and does just that. James approved the concept, not the hideous model that Ben eventually ended up with.QUOTE]
Why wasn't this ever mentioned in the boardroom? It seems strange noone bought it up. For me, this was the reason why it should have been Ben that was fired - although Maj was also very keen to add all the extras.
Why wasn't this ever mentioned in the boardroom? It seems strange noone bought it up. For me, this was the reason why it should have been Ben that was fired - although Maj was also very keen to add all the extras.
[QUOTE
Why wasn't this ever mentioned in the boardroom? It seems strange noone bought it up. For me, this was the reason why it should have been Ben that was fired - although Maj was also very keen to add all the extras.[/quote]
I thought that. Maybe we didn't see a phone call with James approving all the extras or something, because otherwise I think James may be a little too 'behind the door' to survive the boardroom again. Surely the over complication should have been mentioned to Ben as soon as it was unveiled. And Maj, you are right. He loved all the extras.
Why wasn't this ever mentioned in the boardroom? It seems strange noone bought it up. For me, this was the reason why it should have been Ben that was fired - although Maj was also very keen to add all the extras.[/quote]
I thought that. Maybe we didn't see a phone call with James approving all the extras or something, because otherwise I think James may be a little too 'behind the door' to survive the boardroom again. Surely the over complication should have been mentioned to Ben as soon as it was unveiled. And Maj, you are right. He loved all the extras.
COMPLETELY agree that Ben should have gone. Absolute waste of space who got carried away and turned what he had been told to produce into something completely different, targetting the complete wrong audience.
There's something endearing about James that I really like. I think he got a bit too much flack when he actually did a decent job. He reminds me a bit of Lucinda last year, in that a lot of the others don't seem to like him and try to unfairly put a lot of the blame for failure onto him. Business needs more people like him and Lucinda, and less slimeballs like Ben.
There's something endearing about James that I really like. I think he got a bit too much flack when he actually did a decent job. He reminds me a bit of Lucinda last year, in that a lot of the others don't seem to like him and try to unfairly put a lot of the blame for failure onto him. Business needs more people like him and Lucinda, and less slimeballs like Ben.
Originally Posted by lou-kate:
“What part of don't make it too complicated did Ben not understand then? He got completely carried away with designing something to show off his own self claimed physical fitness and forgot about the 'pathetic' people (his words) that have no upper body strength and have bingo wings. Lost his target market in a haze of self appreciation. James told him not to over complicate it on the phone and he goes off and does just that. James approved the concept, not the hideous model that Ben eventually ended up with.”
“What part of don't make it too complicated did Ben not understand then? He got completely carried away with designing something to show off his own self claimed physical fitness and forgot about the 'pathetic' people (his words) that have no upper body strength and have bingo wings. Lost his target market in a haze of self appreciation. James told him not to over complicate it on the phone and he goes off and does just that. James approved the concept, not the hideous model that Ben eventually ended up with.”
What an ego!
Let's also not forget the exercise while you are having sex idea - coming from the guy who says making money is better than sex
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