Not a sham as such, but it does highlight the disconnect between task success and the requirements of a series winner. In truth, it's always been that way even under the old format - and there's nothing wrong with that, in all honesty. Business investment decisions are based on numbers, but they're also based on subjective factors such as empathy, trust and the proverbial cut of someone's jib. If it was purely rational, we could let computers run our businesses for us.

The show is designed to find a winner, but it doesn't do so by totting up wins and losses like football teams in a league. What it does is give candidates a chance to show what they can offer in terms of skills and knowledge - not quite the same as winning and losing - or, more often, provide Sugar with reasons why he shouldn't work with them.

But by underperforming in the tasks, as Tom did, a firing was warranted, and didn't come.

Isn't this essentially what the process is about. The PM appoints and backs team members, the team agrees with and supports the PM, all until they fail and then they all turn on each other.

I think Mark's approach was as good as any towards failure on this task, in fact better than most. He suggested he'd be in the firing line if it failed because of his promises and he only blamed Daniel in as much as the direct criticism the team and their drink had received but he clearly stated he thought Lauren should go. Someone had to be brought back and I think Mark's reasoning was sound tbh



Very well put and I certainly agree but yes you are still swimming against the tide as far as on here is concerned

The feud seems to have calmed down, both praised each other this week. As I've said on another thread, Mark and Daniel will team up to get rid of Felipe next week

I think Mark, Daniel and Felipe should have gone to New York. Lauren would have been better off at home with Katie

I really don't see why people are so anti Mark all of a sudden. To me, he's no where near as arrogant as James or as deluded as Daniel, and his behaviour towards the other contestants has been far more respectful than either of theirs has. Yes, Mark can be quite sly at times, although we've seen far worse cases of this on the show over the years, and I don't think what he's said against some of the others has been that unfair to be honest. He's an extremely competent candidate who clearly clashes with Daniel, yet I don't understand how that makes him a bully? But everyone sees it differently I guess.

So typical Marks steps up when he knows Lord Sugar is onto him and he knows it will guarantee him a trip to New York, slimeball!

No redeeming qualities whatsoever....

So what's he supposed to...? Not become PM and then risk getting sacked just to show how nice he is...?

So what was he supposed to do? Not be PM and be accused of being a passenger again? Lord Sugar was onto him for not being PM, so he'd be stupid not to have put himself up for it. How does that make him a slimeball?

Really? He can sell unlike Daniel. He sold The Love Guru - one of the worst products in Apprentice history - to Toys R Us. That was pretty incredible, considering how prestigious Toys R Us are and how utterly horrendous the Love Guru was.

You're fighting a losing battle Arthur I'm afraid. The thread itself is called 'Mark is Pathetic'

There is IMO an irrational dislike, well hatred for Mark on here and after challenging it for some time now I realise it's baseless in fact as it's all about personal feelings that originate goodness knows where

It's very strange isn't it? I can't think of anything he's done that is that bad. He's not as arrogant as James or as deluded as Daniel, and he seems very competent. Yet he appears to be loathed on here

I noticed he wasn't as critical of other candidates this week, which made a nice change.

But then I thought - hang on a minute, he is the PM afterall. So really any negative comments would reflect badly on him as PM, as he is supposed to be in control and steer the task in the right direction.
When he's not PM he can just throw people under the bus and not have to worry about suffering any consequences.

He couldn't keep the positive attitude up in the boardroom though, finally going back to his usual attitude towards Daniel. But Daniel has started getting the psychological advantage over him now, which has been amusing to see, especially in full view of Lord Sugar.

But only after Daniel had thrown a childish tantrum over the fact that Mark had brought him back into the final boardroom.

I'm with Arthur. I don't particularly like Mark but he's one of the two most polished salespeople in this process (the other being Solomon) and he's been set up as a pantomime villain on the basis of only moderately tactical behaviour.

As for Daniel having the psychological advantage over him? I don't see that at all.

Daniel's realized that Mark plans his attacks rather than confronts people naturally. It's like he's playing a game all the time.

In terms of the forum, I think Mark sets himself up for a fall by being so critical of other candidates, as the natural reaction to that is to be very critical of him. What goes around comes around. Especially when it's combined with an ego.

Is he more critical than others I really hadn't noticed that. They all seem to do a fair share of that.

As for Daniel getting the measure of Mark in view of Sugar I saw Sugar finally smile, laugh even at one of Mark's put downs of Daniel. I think Sugar is fine with Mark which makes sense a he is such a sterling candidate.

this is as accurate as you will get on here

But Daniel is a really bad candidate. His pitch during the second task was awful, he never sells despite claiming to be the greatest salesman of all time and his branding was terrible this week - yet he is completely deluded and believes he is the greatest at everything. Why shouldn't Mark, who is far better business speaking, be against Daniel? They clash, but Mark is hardly bullying Daniel. Daniel is just as aggressive and dismissive towards Mark as Mark is towards him.

What goes around comes around?

Do you know what? I really don't think Mark would have been at all worried what this forum thinks of him. He's trying to win a competition, not gain popularity with a bunch of fans.

Yes, yes he is a really bad candidate. There's only one thing worse than a bad teammate, and that's a teammate who keeps putting himself forward as being great at everything, only to let the side down time after time. Overpromise and underdeliver - that's Daniel's motto.

Daniel can be pretty aggressive, as well as emotional. And, let's not forget, he's not above lying in the boardroom as we saw when he tried to take sole credit for what Nick agreed was a team effort closing a sale in the coach tours task. It's not just that Mark is more articulate than him - he's simply a better candidate, even if he's not the most likeable person you'll ever meet. (And does Sugar care if he's likeable? I doubt it matters that much to him.)

Well, the edit seems to disagree with that though. Especially the end shot at the house, which seems to be about Daniel making a dig at Mark the last few times and Mark looking quite uncomfortable in response.

Why all these threads about Mark?? Because the edit is speaking to us (the viewers).

So, he will either get a redemption arc or it is foreshadowing the fact that he will leave soon (probably the latter, as the recap made it clear to point out that Mark got a warning from Lord Sugar).

And yes, Mark is indeed the better candidate but, unlike what the editing team seems to think, next week isn't the final.

It's the fact that Lauren really wanted to do it and felt she was suited to it and Mark deceived the team in order to be the PM.

Last week it was pass the buck so that he, as he claimed, could judge what some other contestant was made of.
This time he wasn't interested in that anymore and denied Lauren that same opportunity.

He's a slimeball for getting the PM role by using deceptive methods.

Lauren sat there and didn't do anything. She may have felt somthing about it but was communicated to the rest of the team. Marks "deception" is just one of numerous times Candidates have bigged themselves up to be PM.


Lauren basically didn't do anything all task (apart from say "Hey Mom...!) even when she had been specifically told to by Lord Alan. She sat back and did nothing, and was gone.

They've all lied / exaggerated in order to get on the process. Are they all slime balls or just Mark Hmm