We all know that the new series of the Apprentice was postponed due to Alan Sugar's association with the Labour Party, but surely these new revelations regarding criminal behaviour of one of the candidates are much worse?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-11444321

Maybe they could edit this candidate out of the footage (I'm assuming he doesn't win, or they would have cancelled the series already on this news). Or they could blue-screen someone else over the top of his bits or something.

The BBC should not be making a celebrity of someone with a conviction for carrying offensive weapons, and with a fraud probe looming over them, especially when he apparently boasts he wants to give people a "kick up the backside".

Can OFCOM do something about this?

We'll be watching it knowing that though - in fact I wouldn't be surprised if they preceded it with a reminder.

G

LOL, sorry but digitally edit out? Never seen that happen to Mel Gibson when they show Braveheart, etc. What about Charlie Sheen?

As for a warning beforehand? That's only done if the content warrents it.

While in no way condoning carrying weapons, today has seen a lot of tabloid articles digging dirt. It's mainly the Daily Mail who starts it as they have always hated Sugar. Each article starts with the 'terrible news' then down the bottom, last paragraph, gets the other side. But the mountain has already been built then.

Spot on post.

Whilst not quite the same, this is relevant to the fraud accusation.

Karren Brady was first arrested in April 2008, and again for the second time along with others (now running West Ham) over tax evasion, fraud, bungs etc in Feb 2009 and released on police bail. In early August 2009 all charges were dropped. During that time S4 and S5 aired. The BBC made no mention officially. Probably no one even privately called her a bitch on bail It was however at the end of August she was confirmed as Margaret's replacement.

In December 2008 she won the NatWest Every Woman Award for services to women in business. Probably not the same business women advertising in the back of the Sunday Sport. It was her increasing Sport advertising that got her the break she needed from David Sullivan in 1989.
BBC don't mention that either lol

So how is this relevant?

It's relevant to show how being on police bail doesn't mean you are neccessarily going to be even put on trial as you may well be innocent of charges. Innocent until proved guilty. The BBC are following that, the tabloids are as usual going up to the edge. It's also relevant in that having followed this once, the BBC can't change their treatment (re the fraud accusation)

It shouldn't be cancelled because nobody cares.

I'm so excited about this new series but can't believe the stories coming out about the two male contestants. It's already been filmed so cancelling it would be a waste of time and an over the topic reaction seeing as no one has been sent to prison. I think it's a god example of not checking a contestant's background enough . I wonder if either of them are through to the final?

I would think not in Christopher's case as why would be be in Spain rather than working (as the finalists do) for Alan Sugar. Though whether the finalist have been there all year is unknown. The actual winner is decided a few days before the final in Dec 2010.

The stories about Shippi are little more than reprimands at work. It's being reported in a way that tries to suggest very unprofessional conduct with patients or that patients have suffered or worse. The GMC handles several of these cases most days. I think he's really a junior doctor, training on surgery, a bit arrogant and like most juniors very over worked.

It's too late. Maybe if they'd known before filming started, they could have rejected him and used a backup. The situation now is not much different to if he'd got the conviction after the series had been broadcast.

I expect he's disqualified from winning, though, which they can make stick because they don't commit to a winner until a few days before the final episode is broadcast. If he gets to the final, that could be awkward, but less so if it is a four-way.

I suspect that if he's really a wrong-un he probably won't get far in the contest. Statistically he's 75% likely to get knocked out before the final four anyway.

It'd be interesting to known when the BBC found out, and whether they had opportunity to change the edit, either to make him feature less, or else to make him look bad.

And another one it would seem http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s108/...onviction.html

Not alleged, not on bail but a convicted racist. Nice.

AIso hate this bullshit excuse of so and so isn't racist they're mixed race themselves. Duh, it's entirely possible to be racially prejudiced against a different ethnic group. Some of the most bigoted people I've ever met were descendants of immigrants themselves.

:yawn:
God, how I would hate to work for OFCOM.

I reckon they put all the new employees in a special telephone call centre where they have to pay their dues for a few months answering calls from outraged (and obviously very bored) television addicts that the their favourite got kicked out of X Factor, that an Apprentice candidate was a naughty boy AFTER he'd been accepted for the series, that Holly Willoughbaps was wearing a costume they deemed 'too low cut' on DOI, that the Big Brother house had the kitchen wall painted the wrong colour, etc etc etc...

For goodness sakes, this 'call OFCOM over the slightest thing I disagree with on telly' mentality is so tedious!

Quite agree!. Do you think they have a box marked 'from Angry of Forum' ?

I think OFCOM has a huge call centre whose sole function is to answer calls from bored couch potatoes, who have their number on speed dial. Right next to the number for the pizza delivery service and the one to vote for their X Factor / Big Brother / I'm A Celebrity / Britain's Next New Got Talent Celebrity Cooking On Ice favourites...

Well if they don't, they should set one up. Esp. as this Govt is determined to get 'jobs' for everyone. People of Britain, rise up and demand that the Great Call Centre Industry returns to it's natural home, UK PLC. We might not make many 'things' these days, but by God can we make calls!

Oh damn, the conference season has finished

For goodness sake. Save your energy for something a little more important. I'm sure OFCOM have much better things to be doing than listening to your whining. Not everything is worth complaining about.

Im sorry but why would you go to ofcom about this?
They ran a crb check, but his conviction came about after the filming, because of this im assuming he hasnt won anyway. WTF can ofcom do about it?
To complain that high up is stupid and only poeple with way too much time on their hands woudl bother (the same people that complained officially about Gamu not getting through on the X factor)

apart from reflecting badly on the apprentices themselves I don't see what relevance previous or pending convictions have, Leslie Grantham had a previous conviction for murder but it didn't stop him playing Den in EastEnders! and even if a CRB check shows something up, it is then up to the prospective employer to decide whether or not he is going to employ the candidate, or are all people convicted of a criminal offence permanently unemployed

Ha ha ha. I've been reading these forums for ages now but that comment just actually made me laugh out loud (at work so not good...) coz I had the exact same conversation with my boyfriend last night! So it inspired me to actually register. Hi!