Which of any of the contestants do you actually think want the job and would commit to working for SAS long term?

My feel is increasingly folk are coming on the programme either to get "celeb" status or to get publicity/ exposure for their own businesses/ potential businesses.

I know her circumstances were unfortunate but last years winner Michelle only stayed with SAS a few months and has since appeared on things like "celebrity" scissorhands. First series winner Tim has left SAS to set up on his own, Syria is hosting tv shows so does anyone actually want the JOB on offer? Or just to get their mugs on telly??

Of this years candidates the only one I could have seen working long term for SAS and commiting to that would have been Adam who for all his failings came across as hard working and serious about the opportunity on offer.

Of the candidates left, cant see Tre working for anyone other than himself. Katie, whatever agenda she has going on it aint about being SAS employee. Simon comes across like a BB contestant clowning around. Lohit (who knows, but doesnt seem SAS's cup of tea anyway). Kristina, much prefers working on her own, cant see her being part of a team or taking orders from anyone. Naomi, too much of the touchy feely fluffy duffy stuff for SAS I think.

Unless SAS can get a credible winner this year ready to graft for him and his business and not try to blag their way into awards shows with their so called "celeb" status is the show ultimately pointless?

Thoughts please.....

I think that you raise a lot of good points in your thread. I so don't want it to be true as I love watching it.

I think that Jadine really wanted it. I think that she should have been given another chance. He doesn't seem to keep people who are missing their families.

Coming second or third on the show would appear to be best for the candidates who are after a career in the media as they get all of the publicity, and are then free from any commitments once they have been fired.

The winner on the other hand has to start working for Sir Alan, away from the limelight and publicity which could in the long run be worse if they are actually after a career in the media, but perfect if they aren't of course.

I really think you are missing the point of this programme.

It isn't about finding an employee for SAS at all.

It is an entertainment programme and has no other agenda whatsoever.

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Last edited by One and Only : 28-05-2007 at 00:34

I think your question is based on a false premise. The winner isn't supposed to end up working for Amstrad forever, but just for a year or two. Tim had it about right; he learned a lot, then left to start his own business.

I think you are being a bit unfair to Michelle. She did a few gigs for charity, of which Edward Scissorhands was one, but she wasn't a self-promoting publicity hound like, eg, Ruth who is still working in media now. Michelle genuinely wanted the job, but the job turned out not to be viable.

I can't see Tre getting a career in media, nor do I think the publicity is worse the hassle for him. Katie has had nothing but bad press and needs to win more than anyone. Simon wants it and probably needs the education. Lohit and Naomi seem like they would be the ideal apprentices, being most similar to past winners, and neither shows signs of being attention-seeking. Kristina is the only one for whom the accusation strikes me as remotely plausible, because she seems too good to win and would benefit from the post-show publicity.

Interesting thread.

Doesn't it depend on what being 'The Apprentice' actually means. Tim and Michelle were both able people but didn't have a business education so in that sense they were true Apprentices in business. Naomi, Lohit and Simon all seem nearer that category.

However, last week SAS said that he was not an 'educationalist' and amplified his comments to Nick and Margaret by saying he was tired of having to hold people's hands. He seemed to imply he was looking for someone who was more business savvy and would be able to take over from him. This seems to be an interesting shift. I haven't seen the US version but I did watch the Richard Branson series a couple of years ago when RB was looking for someone to be a CEO.

So - is SAS looking for someone who can be a 'Boardroom Apprentice' - someone more capable of taking over from him personally if and when he decides to retire or slow down? If so Kristina would seem to be the ideal candidate. I agree Tre would be a risk - he seems egotistical and fairly shallow. Also less able on the basis of last week's task.

Katie is very able but she is the victim of BB style editing which suggests she is either naive or looking for a career as a media baddie. However, I can imagine SAS secretly admiring her. He certainly seemed to be teasing her last week in a way we haven't seen before.

good morning everyone.

I know the winner of the show,shame i cant go down the bookies. I have a couple of friends that work at the beeb in shepherds bush.I cant believe it is not more known.

But i will not post it here because it may spoil peoples viewing. But if enough people request the answer i may think about it.I can tell you the posh one does not.But i think thats obvious.

If you post it could you please label the thread with 'spoiler' in the title.

I don't want to know the result and never read threads with 'spoiler' in the title.

Of course you do...


Perhaps your friends at the bbc could explain the format of the show to you - or you could read a few more threads on here. Welcome to the discussion, I see you're new here.

This thread has it backwards. ALAN SUGAR isn't interested in hiring anybody, he's just looking for free publicity and celebrity status. And BBC gets a hit program and the contestants get a free lunch and the audience incredulously suspends its collective disbelief.

I think there is a mix of entertainment and information going on, Sir Alan does seem keen to mix in messages about business whilst amking a show that is great publicity for his company and one of the most entertaining in recent years

I think he would like a worthy winner and believe Tim met that criteria, I still think Ansell should have won series 2 but might have been too similar in personality to Tim.

I think Jadine did. And possibly Simon and Kristina too.

Katie and Tre are obviously there for the exposure to. It would be ridicolous to believe that in a real job interview they would behave like that.

Im unsure about Lohit and Naomi because we have seen very little of them, but that seems to create the idea that they are there for the job, because surely they would have acted up more, so they could get the exposure. I hope this makes sense

Seems to me that most of the candidates who truely would have wanted the job, and not just seen it as an aside while boosting their image have already been fired. Out of the rest, probably Simon, and maybe Tre and Lohit. None of the others.

On another forum I go too, I'm sure I've read one of the fired contestants (I think it was Andy) say that there were only three or four candidates this year who genuinely wanted to work for Sugar.......

Adam and Andy were definitely two of them, and I'm sure Kristina was mentioned too. She's the only remaining candidate who actually wants the job, I think. Keep in mind my memory is a little sketchy though.......

Michelle was all over the media for weeks if not months, in newspaper and TV interviews and programmes, promoting herself and her story. I believe she did a book of her life story too.

Ruth, on the other hand went straight from the Apprentice into business, setting up her own company and conducting herself in a businesslike manner. Among the many offers she received was the presentation of business programmes on TV which she does very successfully. I know which appears to me the more 'self-promoting publicity hound' and attention-seeking.

I do not think Sugar ever wanted someone whose hand he would have to hold and teach them what to do. Rather, he always wanted someone with innate ability who could run with him and would have the nous to do that rather than expect to be directed and taught. He does not seem to me the patient, teaching and mentoring type at all. He is far too impatient and demanding. I think when he talks about handing over, what he is looking for,and has so far failed to find, is someone with fresh ideas, energy, originality, creativity. Such a person needs to be capable of something beyond his own familiar sets of knowledge, experience and mindset. Every organisation needs that.

The prize is a one year contract with Amstrad. Tim was offered a second year which he took. Things went wrong with Michelle for various reasons but I can see why Sralan didn't take Ruth on - she still keeps in touch with him though. I think Ansell would have been a better winner.

It is publicity for Sralan and his companies but as Amstrad don't sell that much these days and most of his money is made from property, they don't need that much publicity really. But mainly it is an entertainment show and on that level is a huge success.

I am not sure that the two go together. I am sure he doesn't suffer fools gladly (although I think this is a trait magnified for our entertainment) but I also think he is capable of nurturing talent too.


I agree every organisation needs that but someone with those rare talents and some rounded business skills would not need the Apprentice to get a job in a 2nd rate company worth £100k.