Looking at the candidates this year, I think many of them are in it for the TV exposure and not for a job with Sir Alan. As the show has become more successful, it has attracted the sort of media attention that gives Big Brother a run for its money!

Some of the candidates seem false, have obviously lied about their skills in business and play up to the camera at every opportunity.

I think the show is losing its credibility (although is still the best reality tv show!)

Well I think you have to blame the production crew for picking turkeys, some of them are clearly not up to the job, Lucinda, Claire, Lindi, Simon and Ian are obvious examples.

To be honest they have all been like this right from the first series.

They have their opportunity and when they get kicked off they milk the media side as much as they can and I can't really blame them.

The thing that has annoyed me this series is the fact that most of them are more concerned with making scapegoats of fellow contestants than actually trying to get on and win the tasks.

And the fact that Sugar can't see this, or worse ignores it by not firing the culprits is spoiling it for me.

I agree that that is a very annoying behaviour that the format of the programme encourages, being able to nail someone as incompetent and a target for firing is probably a more important skill than actually demonstrating positive business skills and that is bad given that the programme is about demonstrating competence not finding it, or trying to find it, in others. I suppose if you don't advertise what you have done and what others can't do or haven't done then you could find you might find some injustice coming down on yourself, but it does seem to be a bit removed from purpose of the programme.

The endless and cynical attempts by the contestants to bolster their position is nauseating, and more closely reflects political life rather than business life I think where people are constantly looking to avoid responsibility for failure and to cut down others where possible.

Yes.

The programme is becoming progressively more like so many other trashy reality shows.

It's a shame because I don't believe The Apprentice started out this way. I'm also surprised because prior to the current series, Sir Alan promised us there wouldn't be anymore fame-seekers like Katie from last year.

Sir Alan needs to fire the troublemakers from the start as a warning to the others, that way at least their attitudes to the tasks will be more driven, and we'll get less of the lookatmelookatme nonsense.

Alex, Claire Tranny Jenny and to a certain extent
Helene. But there are others like Lee, Sara, Lindi and Raef who are just about getting the job done (even if they don't always go about it the best way, lol). So was Shazah too, shame

I do think post series 1, less and less people are actually there for the job. I enjoy the show still, but it'll never hit the high spots of series 1 for that reason.

I think Sir Alan is pretty much under the control of the producers just like the contestants.

I think this series has showed signs of meddling behind the scenes to make 'good tv' rather than a decent program about an apprentice.

Still, it's entertaining as long as you don't beleive too much of it

At the end of the day he can probably tell from CVs and initial impressions which one of them he wants - even before the show has even started. The other fifteen are just entertainment fodder.