The whole thing is a lie from beginning to end. Of course they are completely spoon fed. To start with they must have more than half an hour to get dressed. Business appointments are set up for them, factories are sourced, designers/ad agencies are on call, equipment is ready for them to use. In reality the tasks are simpler and easier than they appear in the editing.

The ones who get the most air time are usually the ones who do or say really stupid things. Obviously they are encouraged to make ridiculous claims with regard to their business acumen. Sometimes candidates that appeared quite obnoxious in the editing turn out to be pleasant and reasonable enough when you later see them being interviewed.

The standard doesn't seem very high this year does it?

It's a pity that a past contestant doesn't come on here and explain exactly what goes on!!!

That used to happen; not here, but in another online forum. The BBC cracked down on it around series 3 or 4.

Nothing in television is what it seems.

For starters it's amazing how readily people forget that everyone we see on screen is doing everything with the bizarre experience of an entire camera crew stood in front of them all the time. Try acting naturally with all that circus going on and joe public going "oooh look, theyre filming for the telly.."

I know somebody who was on the show. Just like all other reality shows, certain parts are fake or edited in a certain way. when they answer the phone, there is nobody there -its just for show, of course they have more than 20minuites to get ready. When the secretary answers the phone, LS isnt on the other end saying 'send them in'.. its just a dead line. Certain parts have to be reshot...for example some of Karren and Nicks comments. There's quite alot there but it does spoil the enjoyment of the show.. I like to think its all authentic..

I think most sensible folks would hope that the BBC wound up, what was a clever interesting format but which isn't any longer. Just why they keep on flogging these dead horses defeats my comprehension.

I think most sensible folks would stop watching if they were no longer enjoying it, and not give a toss that other people were still enjoying watching it. It's a very strange mindset to me, this idea that if you, personally, don't enjoy watching something that it should therefore no longer be on TV.

I strongly suspect it's part of the contract they sign that they are not allowed to talk about the show in a negative light. Other than their Twitter accounts, I believe all communications with the outside world during and after the show have to be approved by Taylor Herring PR (Nick Hewer's firm) anyway. That's certainly been the case when I've asked candidates directly for interviews or quotes for my blog in the past.

I think its funny how when they recieve the morning call...most seem to be in bed.They tell them the cars will arrive in 20 minutes, and all seem to be showered and looking good when they turn up in front of lord Sugar.Is there 20 bathrooms in that place?

A very common mindset on DS though!

All television is lies.

Yes, that's why I have given up on so much of it. It's mostly manipulated by the makers of the programmes.

We know that AS reads all their applications and business proposals beforehand so, personally, I reckon he's already decided who he's gonna hire (along with, possibly, a couple of back-ups) and then the rest of it is just all about watching the rest of them bickering, squabbling and making fools of themselves.

When it comes right down to it, even if AS's "chosen one" ends up in the board-room the format means there's always 2 other candidates to choose from and it's very rare that only 1 out of the 3 has done something worthy fo being fired for.

For example, if Katie had been this years "chosen one" it would have been very easy for AS to have found reasons to bin Adam or Azhar.

Besides, if AS has decided on a winner and they make an utter shambles of something then it gives AS a chance to think "Blimey! they'd be a nightmare to work with" and sack them if he wishes to.


FWIW, though, I don't think this (even if it happens) detracts from the show.
The real meat of the show is watching people double-talk, back-stab and attempt to weasel their way out of responsibility for bad things.
I'm sure that IS all real.
The candidates might not realise that 15 of them are just there as cannon-fodder and the winner is gonna be the one with the best business plan but it still makes for good TV.


I think TA went kinda off the rails a few series' ago but the last two series' have been far more down-to Earth and I think that's created an added value for the show.

I mean, at least 2 or 3 of the tasks are designed to show how a person can, with relatively little cash, go out and make a good wage if they're willing to graft at it.

A TV show that gives people ideas for how to work for themselves and, in the process, highlights all sorts of things you SHOULDN'T ever do in business can't be all bad, can it?

I still host Adam Hosker's (Series 3) diary he hosted on his site before the BBC sent him a letter telling him to remove it.

http://www.thecoolmarkwebsite.co.uk/adamhosker

Says alot about what goes on behind the scenes.

Interesting, thanks for posting - and hosting - that.

This weeks task and others like it are pre aranged, you cannot just turn up with a catering van and start selling, first the local authority will want to make sure your van is up to the standard for preparing and cooking, whatever food you are selling, and then you would have to pay for your pitch, which on the locations they stood in would quite considerably eat into the money they took.