The Apprentice isn't really my cup of tea so I haven't watched it, but I did a google search on James and the first quote I get from that show is him saying "Is gun crime a big issue in America?"

Was he a polarizing character on The Apprentice? From what I've read (which isn't much) he seemed to be a bit of a prat on that show... yet he's so nice on CBB. I wonder where the editing skills lie.

He was a pratt, a bit clueless but likeable. He made a few hilarious moments, I would recommend the series!

He wasn't horrible on The Apprentice but it was a much more competitive environment so he's coming across much nicer on CBB.

It's a totally different show, you don't really get to see the real side of people on shows like that like you do with Big Brother.

He was an immature and ignorant idiot. But Lord Sugar took a liking to him as james seemed to remind him of his younger self i.e. A bit rough round the edges but hardworking and full of ideas.

He was out of his depth on The Apprentice, but gave it a good go.

I largely agree with janet but would go a bit further. For me he was totally incompetent and a completely selfish and obnoxious twonk.

I thoroughly recommend watching the coach tours episode to see just what a joke he was!

I've been thoroughly surprised by him on the show - I like him. I guess he was one of those who went on it to try to be famous, which quite a few of them are now it's lost much pretence of serious business. I was amazed this pilchard got on CBB, but somehow it's worked for him and imo he's done well so far, so fair play to him

The wheels on the bus go round and round! i agree the coach tour episode is certainly worth a watch. Total cringe for James.

I too have changed my opinion of him via BB, he seems a lovely chap, albeit still on the 'lot to learn about life' side.

Is it the 'good looks' (inverted commas because he looks like a nearly handsome 14 year old to me - from the nose down is seriously out of proportion; awful mouth and AWFUL speaking voice)?

He is NOT nice. He is one of the biggest bitches and stirrers in there. CONSTANTLY twisting what people are saying to start arguments and bitching sessions. Horrible little man.

Have to agree here Patsy, will say he is better on BB than he was on the other show but there isn't really any other direction he could go. He was hugely disrespectful of woman on The Apprentice, pretending he was joking but meaning it ...

Personally, I don't see why he was chosen for Celebrity Big Brother. He was a reasonably noteworthy character in his series, but he's nowhere near as memorable as the likes of Katie Hopkins and Luisa Zissman. There have been many, many people like James over the years, three years from now no one but Apprentice addicts like myself will remember him.

If I'd chosen anyone from last year's Apprentice to go on, I'd have chosen Sarah Dales. She wasn't on for very long (fired in Week 4) but I'd say she's easily more memorable than James. I'd have chosen her because she was completely bonkers (check it out on YouTube if you didn't see it) and she seemed to be living on Planet Sarah most of the time. Unlike James, she stands out as a candidate who has been completely herself, and not similar at all to any past candidate.

I think the people that produce The Apprentice have noticed over the last couple of years that it pays to have some people who want to be a "reality star" along side people who seriously want to work with Alan Suger to continue high intrest in the show.

James just so happened to be one of those who played the "character" game, and so far it has worked as he has landed on CBB.

Being that both shows are different maybe James can change the way he acts based on what is required of him to win (have not wacthed much of CBB to judge him). Or maybe he listened to how people viewed him on The Apprentice and decided to water it down a bit.

Yes I watched the Apprentice... He was awful on there... Though the nature of that programme means that all the contestants play-act a lot, even more than on BB... It's all about presenting an image on the apprentice, nauseating bravado, he was a complete tool. There was a hint of misogyny to him too.

He seems a lot less 'on' on CBB, I'm finding him one of the more likeable housemates. In fact he seems... Nice!

So I suspect one personality for one of the shows was an act. I hope (and think) it was the apprentice one.

I took your advice and gave the show a go, and surprisingly I'm really enjoying it. I've watched the first four episodes and James seems nice enough, but like you said, they're all more aggressive because of the nature of the competition.

It's quite a gentle series last year.

The one with Luisa the year before was amazing

In the first few episodes, I thought there was a strong chance he'd win. He was confident, self-made, strong willed - everything Sugar normally goes for. However, as time went on, he became more and more whiny and argumentative, especially with the women, and his lack of business knowledge became increasingly evident. In his last week he was hopeless, not securing the big money hot tubs and pretty much alienating his entire team in the process. His forcing several innocent tourists to sing constantly whilst in a hot, fairly airless coach was pretty much a form of torture

Don't forget 'toiletgate'

He was a bit of a wally sometimes could throw his toys out the pram every now and then but his tender side came out more than once on the appreciate which for that show is saying something.

He's basically a himbo

I thought he came across very well on You're Fired. Ultimately, I think he's a good bloke - just a bit of a handful at times.

Yes I liked his you're fired episode he didn't mind laughing at himself.

I think this is the link for the start of 'the wheels on the bus go round and round'. And this is what the guy's 'famous' for!:

https://youtu.be/FPZ7JgCSCsM?t=1454

<edit > it may not be the start after all, but you'll get the gist! There's more either later or earlier, and I'd recommended the whole episode, but you'll get the idea

His series was quite tame however there were quite a few characters who left early including Steven, the blonde girl who was all about tits and teeth and James. The wheels on the bus episode was his most famous moment. He was actually very good at what he did, which was selling, but I don't think Alan liked his constant comparisons he made between them.

I think he was edited to appear a lot more obnoxious but in general the contestants are encouraged to act that way on that show.