I doubt the producers during the selection process are really looking for the candidates with the best business acumen and potential. I think it is more likely that they are looking for characters that will stand out in reality TV terms. It's the same reason I suspect why some of the donks aren't voted of really early and are kept in purely to cause carnage for ratings purposes (e.g. Karthik). Also I am sure like others have already said that the editing process can make competent people seem incompetent and vice versa.

It's always been an entertainment programme but at least originally it was a bit more believable that there were some talented and capable people. Now it's clearly just all about who can be the next famous apprentice candidate off the production line.

Some of the comments from the first episode were even more cringe worthy than usual. It was like a parody, I expected to see Harry Enfield or Paul Whitehouse playing one of the characters.
Last edited by Mr_Bee : 22-10-2016 at 16:31

The thing is a lot of this years candidates seem to be lacking in personality as much as they are lacking in business skills.

I cringe every year when I see its the best on offer, god help the worst

One thing that might be affecting the level of candidates that apply, and I think we can see it on Dragon's Den as well, is that now it is quite easy to get started in business.

Entrepreneurialism is encouraged at universities and design schools; prototyping is easier with 3-d printers; manufacturing is cheaply outsourced to China or elsewhere; Ebay and Amazon provide sales outlets and can handle payments and deliveries; low interest rates mean that investors are more willing to back new companies.

So we now see more and more candidates who have taken that first step but are now stymied as to how to climb to the next level. On DD, a lot of pitchers don't need investment so much as mentoring, and for the Dragons to make the phone call to the boss of Tesco or Wyckes or whoever.

On the Apprentice, it means there are many candidates with micro-businesses where either they are the boss or even a sole trader, who have absolutely no experience of teamwork or even of consulting or listening to other people.

We see the results on the tasks. Dictatorial project management, sulking minions, and very little sign of a workable strategy.

Communications Entrepreneur = Carphone Warehouse salesman.

What you need to remember is that first and foremost it's an entertainment show.
Take it for what it is and you'll enjoy it more, these candidates are clearly idiots but that's where the entertainment comes from.

The interview process will get to the bottom of the embellishments.

Yes - I loved The Goon Show when I was young.

This takes me back