Thought it was quite interesting that on the two occasions in the last two series that an apprentice candidate has 'quit' the process- that it coincides with the Fired candidate in the same episode being unable to appear on you're fired...

Seems a bit convenient to me.

Yes, once they knew that Mikai wouldn't be able to make You're Fired, they got the candidates from that team together for reshoots.

The clip of them sitting around the table and Alex quitting was filmed recently, not during the task which was months ago. They then edited that footage in to the episode and had Alex appear on You're Fired.

I mean is that sarc or what you think?

I assumed it was just coincidence! But it did seem quite convenient for them that they had someone else to slot in.

I wondered why Mukai refused to come back for filming - presumably they would have paid his fare, and being on YF is part of the contract? He wouldn't have needed much time off work.

I think YF is pretty pointless without the fired candidate, and Aleksandra's contribution didn't really merit a whole programme.

Mukai looked pretty bitter about his treatment, I dare say we'll hear more about it.

I did feel the guy got a raw deal, made to look like a supercilious prat throughout, but I'd bet my bottom dollar he's an affable bloke you'd enjoy a pint with.

Mukai seems quite cold and arrogant to me

he was just being out-camped on the handbag front by Dillon.

Flying Mukai back from Tokyo (and paying his hotel bill) would probably cost the same as an average episode of You're Fired. Say three panellists at £500 each and £1,000 for Rhod. Obviously I'm guessing the fees and ignoring studio hire but it's probably in the right ball-park.

But the point is, he shouldn't have been in Tokyo

If candidates have to agree to come back for YF, I guess his attitude was 'So sue me' on the same basis of lack of budget.

They can hardly expect people not to get another job in between being 'fired' and the filming of 'You're Fired'.

I thought Karthik was a goner for sure with his catchphrase 'I nearly sold a £1000 handbag!'

The series was shot about six months ago. That's a long time to expect someone to ignore job opportunities given they have been booted early on. He may've left his old job to do the series anyway so it would be even more unreasonable to expect him to hang around the UK just to do a few minutes on the follow up.

They would have probably identified the date he'd be needed to appear months ago too.

To Mukai's credit, this does seem to show he is interested in a business career and not being a D-list celeb.

Yeah, they always seem to be lucky that they always have another candidate who happens to have to left the process the same week and is available. Coincidence, but lucky for the YF team!

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you OP.

Yeah, i'm sure Rhod Gilbert has done the whole series for £1000 an episode. Dream on.

You are also ignoring the costs of the cameramen, the sound engineers, producers, makeup, door staff etc etc etc.

That is about the going rate.

No it's not, don't be stupid. Rhod Gilbert can fill venues doing comedy and earn tens of thousands of night, why would he do You're Fired for £1k?

What about all the other costs? What do you reckon that adds up to?

I thought candidates were given jobs within Lord Sugar's companies from the end of filming until the broadcast of the show?

Only the final two.

You are right that stand-ups make fortunes touring. This is in part because they do telly on the cheap to raise their profiles. However much You're Fired pays, it was not enough to retain Jack Dee, Romesh or Dara.

Present some facts then if you are so sure of yourself.

Or you? For what it's worth, google finds this from five years ago talking about £1,000 a show. If you want to double that, fine. I'm not going to break into Rhod's accountant's office to check. It is not that important but has escalated from a throwaway comparison between the costs of YF (cheap) and the cost of flying Mukai back from Tokyo (say, three panelists but even if it is only one or two, the point stands)

http://forums.chortle.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=39769

You seem to have a different interpretation of the word 'facts' to me.

Never mind, we'll move on.

I presume you're part of the production team, otherwise how could you possibly know this?