The show's always highlighted the general ineptitude and incompetency of its candidates. It's not a parody of itself because that's how it's always been.

Seriously do they?
I never have, especially when many have claimed to have been previously paid more than was offered as a prize.

I wouldn't say it highlights that. It highlights it when they screw up the tasks - which they invariably do at some points - but the tasks generally involve doing incredibly complex things in two days without any help. The candidates are usually pretty successful if you look at what they have done off the show. In Series 1, the candidates generally did better on the tasks - but not because they had better candidates, it was because the tasks were easier in those days.

Obviously people are chosen for the show to keep ratings up, because it is a reality TV show. However, I wouldn't say they're completely chosen for their total incompetence, as entertainment value encompasses a lot of things. I read an interview with Alan Sugar that said if you think the people that get through are incompetent, you should go to auditions and see the people they turn down. There are people there who are really crazy and would be better suited on Big Brother. Most of the people on the show have at least some basic business knowledge, and if you watch them on You're Fired!, and in their audition videos on the website, they generally come across as okay actually. A bit arrogant sometimes, but a lot of quite successful people are arrogant.


Well, that's the way that the show has always advertised itself, that's how Lord Sugar, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady refer to it in interviews and we see enough basic business discussed on the tasks and in the boardroom to think of it like that. It's a reality show, but it is more of an intellectual reality show. I can't speak for anyone else, but I tend to assume that most viewers see it as a genuine business competition, just as I see it in that way also.

Yes, I remember that show - in fact it was an episode of "Trouble at the Top".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1884056.stm

Given that Mark Burnett wanted Mark Cauldwell for the original series of the (US) Apprentice, which premiered in 2004, it seems that he got the idea from the BBC.

Up until now, LS hasn't been that bad but I fear with his latest decision the credibility of the show is going to take a massive dive.

John Cauldwell has done something similar to this on another show - it was called "The Angel" and broadcast on Sky last year.

What this show involved was 5 contestants, and there were 5 'games' as such to test things like teamwork, problem-solving etc; with 2-3 people in 'the firing line' after each game. It's very similar to TA in that there's a 'fire tease' before JC goes "You're too much of a risk. I can't go into business with you."

JC only found out the plans after each person was fired. The person who wins gets £100k (I think). Most of the shows you think he picked the wrong person.

Which decision is that? The decision as to who will win this series (which we don't know yet) or one of the firings?

How about the director-general of the BBC, Tony Hall, as the next boss of the show?

"If you win The Apprentice you become my deputy and I will let you commission a new series of Eldorado and The Voice."

Well, that would mean that all the tasks had to be about working on different media projects and not on business. I wouldn't mind a show like that actually, but it wouldn't be The Apprentice, which is about business deals.

In response to that article Sugar's tweeted the following:

"Lord Sugar ‏@Lord_Sugar 9 Jul

Media reports of me quitting the apprentice are rubbish.Nick Hewer misquoted.If BBC decide to do more after next year,I'll do it for them."

So, I suppose from his end he's still up for it.

Fair enough!

One thing about Lord Sugar - he's direct!

I think it might be worth the producers tweaking the format a bit more. Perhaps some new tasks, perhaps with a time limit or one with Sugar actively involved. For example, Sugar will be in a certain location at a certain time and the teams have to get their first. Sort of a race task.

I'm sure the format can be altered a bit and if people moan and say "the new tasks don't work as well as the old ones" then they can go back to the old format. I do think the show should evolve a bit more now that it's almost a decade old!

I have made a few suggestions for changes and here is another one.
They should all be interviewed, just about their business plans in advance, but not about their personal lives. That does not mean any of the 16 should be forced out then, but at least it will tell us and the other candidates what to think of them as we go along.