One thing I've noticed, particularly this year, is how important Nick and Margaret were.

They were often hard, but sensible and most importantly nice and helpful. I find Karen and Claude just kind of bitter and nasty, Claude less than Karen. The wit and humour seems to be gone.

Anyone else feel like this?

Karren does seem to criticise a lot, which is what I guess she's there for, while Claude's become more lapdog than bulldog!

Bring back Nick and Margaret!

I do feel as though Karen and Claude are treating the whole thing a bit too seriously (I suppose that's what they're there to do though) and as above, Claude is playing a yes man to Lord Sugar. Unfortunately though I just can't imagine them getting 2 people like Nick and Margaret again, they were essentially like lightning in a bottle.

Just proves that Nick and Margaret really were indispensable.

Bingo!

If you look at the first 4 or 5 series you will see very clearly that Nick and Margaret were a key part of the charm of the programme, offering a challenge to SA, some humour and clarifying muddles with a sardonic smile and a beautifully raised eyebrow.
Claude and Karen are simply pale replacements, lacking any appeal.
This show is increasingly dreary

Nick and Margaret always added humour and lightness even when critiquing, Karen constantly has a face like a smacked arse and Claude is just underwhelming.

For me Karen and Claude lack the gravitas and stance of Nick and Margaret, and the humour. These were two highly experienced professionals and really brought insight and some amusement to the process. This team is not particularity energetic and motivating.

I never liked Nick much, but Margaret was fantastic. I remember she and Kristina in series 3 even seemed to get on well.

Karren just sneers 'Shambles,' 'Disgrace,' and 'Wimmin in business are cringing at this.'

Claude hasn't done anything significant yet.

I liked both Nick and Margaret but Karren Brady has acheived far more in her life and by her standards has very right to say "shambles; disgrace ; cringing etc "

Because it is.

Sure, and in that case, a more insightful critique than that would be interesting. I don't need Karren Brady to tell me that since t-shirts cost more than balloons, selling more t-shirts would make more money.

That alone puts you one step ahead of the sub-team that concentrated on balloons, so it might not have been quite as obvious to all viewers until Karren said so. A question not explored on You're Fired is whether the balloons were attracting the shirt customers: in other words, should the team have maintained the mix of products rather than shutting down balloons?

Another crucial fact that Karren didn't point out is that things that cost less are cheaper, so people are more likely to buy cheaper things than more expensive things, as then they have more money left over.

I think they made a killing on the balloons and probably couldn't have sold enough t-shirts to match balloon sales. However, Karren couldn't prove this so she snarked about their focus on balloons, because she doesn't like to acknowledge good business decisions.

At those sort of shows, the majority of buyers are looking for the cheap portable items that they can buy and take away with them on the day.

This is particularly true if they are a family with kids where they usually buy all the kids the same thing to maintain the peace. The walking balloons were an excellent choice for that market - the family with 2 or 3 kids would happily buy them all a balloon at a fiver each, but would balk at Tshirts all round at £12 (or was it £15) each.

The balloon team were into a winner there - choosing something cheap and family friendly - lovely though the Tshirts were, they were just too expensive at £25 a throw for the adult ones.

It's all very well for Karren to sneer at the choice, but I doubt that the shirts would have sold any better with another item - and as they sold loads of the balloons - in fact that was what probably ensured the win for them - they made the right decision!

Nick and especially Margaret brought class to this once great show. Was never the same after she went.