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Apprentice - scraping the barrel

30 replies

Houseplantmad · 16/03/2023 22:26

What an uncomfortable watch tonight was. It was all about belittling and ridiculing the candidates. Baroness Brady didn’t do herself any favours - god knows why she agreed to be so vindictive to these (pretty clueless) young women.
None of them had a realistic business plan whereas five years ago the plans and businesses at this stage would have been pretty solid. It seems the bottom of the barrel for this programme has well and truly been scraped.

OP posts:
Woodywasatwat · 16/03/2023 22:33

Karen Brady has been a massive cow this time round in general.

Hotvimto3 · 16/03/2023 22:35

Shes a woman hating tory you know what. What did you expect.
The final five, whilst nice girls were useless and absolutely not deserving of being there.

Woodywasatwat · 16/03/2023 22:35

Sorry, that would be Baroness Brady to me.

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JustKeepSlimming · 16/03/2023 22:37

I agree. It used to be that the candidates were at least reasonably competent, and the tasks were achievable. By about week 5 I always had my favourite candidates and was rooting for them to win.

Now they seem totally useless, all blend into one, and are given tasks which seem to be impossible to do well on. I don't particularly like any of them, so I don't really care who wins.

They need to go back to fewer candidates, who are more skilled and less Bragg, and set them tasks where they can demonstrate some kind of ability. Let us see some actual talent and we might be more invested in the series!

CharlotteStreetW1 · 16/03/2023 22:39

Woodywasatwat · 16/03/2023 22:35

Sorry, that would be Baroness Brady to me.

😂

(I'm rooting for Marnie)

HundredMilesAnHour · 16/03/2023 22:41

This has been the worst ever series. The candidates are truly appalling and I have to assume that they just want to be on TV (and then maybe get some social media attention off the back of it). None of them has any business acumen. I feel like these last 5 women have harmed the public's perception of women in business. Do people really think that's how women behave in the business world?!

I assume that we saw very little actual interview material and more giggling on sofas in between was because their business plans were so poor that there was very little to actually interview so they had to fill the episode somehow (with giggling and belittling).

feelingthankful · 16/03/2023 22:43

Yeah, this series has been pretty shit all round. But Karen Brady was the lowest point of all in this week's episode

modgepodge · 16/03/2023 22:45

It was a weird episode. Usually the final 5 sit there giving each other evils in between the interviews and secretly rejoicing when someone comes back upset. This lot seem to genuinely like each other!! Thought the interviewers were as ever unnecessarily rude - yes the plans were mostly crap but give them a chance to answer rather than just ranting at them!

CassTheFox · 16/03/2023 22:50

It was really uncomfortable viewing tonight, I don’t know what Karren thinks it achieves by talking to them like total subordinates, it doesn’t come across as constructive in any way, it just comes across as bullying.

Having said that, all the final candidates were weak and the business plans all sounded awful, and now the finalists are one who calls herself “the Kim Kardashian of the business world” and one who’s business model essentially sounded like it’s based on being successful by not paying any of her staff…

carriedout · 16/03/2023 22:51

It is getting progressively worse, and all the businesses are so boring too.

Avatartar · 16/03/2023 22:53

If they’d spent as much time doing their business plans as they have on hair, make up and outfits they’d be streets ahead. It’s all appearance and no substance

fruitpastille · 16/03/2023 22:54

Such a marked difference with dragons den which has mostly credible ideas with the dragons being no nonsense but constructive (and often kind) as well. Having said that I'm also rooting for Marnie!

TomatoSandwiches · 16/03/2023 22:56

I had second hand embarrassment for them all, especially Kazza, sorry Baroness Kazza.

HundredMilesAnHour · 16/03/2023 23:00

Avatartar · 16/03/2023 22:53

If they’d spent as much time doing their business plans as they have on hair, make up and outfits they’d be streets ahead. It’s all appearance and no substance

So so true!!!!!

Moaning5 · 16/03/2023 23:06

They should do interviews in episode 1 to weed out the ridiculous business ideas.

Karen’s behaviour was disgusting, no need for it. Bring back Claude.

LaviniasBigBloomers · 16/03/2023 23:08

To be fair, how does one get so far 'in the process' when one hasn't even filled in all the blanks in the business plan template downloaded off of the internet?

NoSquirrels · 16/03/2023 23:12

It just makes me wonder if they only give them a stupid short timeframe to get a business plan together. Like, you get the call you’re through to the starting 12 and the producers say you have 3 days to submit your plans. Otherwise quite how can they all be so shit?

Marnie will win, anyway. They couldn’t find much wrong with hers.

pisspants · 16/03/2023 23:12

I really dont like the whole business plan concept. it just makes all the weeks before it totally pointless. Bring back the giving them a good job at his company so the whole process is one long interview, I say. If he's investing 250k, he could guarantee a job to someone for several years on good money. I'd much rather it was that way. All the weeks of being a good candidate and you're thrown out because of your business idea, or someone with a great idea doesnt make it through- it makes no sense.

newnamethanks · 16/03/2023 23:15

It's awful, it's had its day. Felt sorry for the women tonight, squeezed into sausage skin dresses, vertiginous heels and slathered with make up worthy of Dallas or Dynasty. As for the way in which the 'specialists' treated them, appalling. And what's with the Baronessing? Don't you call them Lady whatever rather than Baroness?although I suppose it adds to the general sad air of 1980s fantasy that permeates the show. It's dire Surallan, retire.

toomuchlaundry · 16/03/2023 23:15

Are they not allowed to use an accountant for their plan?

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 16/03/2023 23:26

I feel like these last 5 women have harmed the public's perception of women in business. Do people really think that's how women behave in the business world?!

Completely agree with this, but also felt it wasn’t entirely their fault, it was a weird episode all round. I’d prefer to see only innovative ideas go through (luxury hair salon in Belgravia? What year is this, 1983?) and ideally a mix of candidate ages in the final. It’s been a strange series, this one, too many tasks the same and no real standout candidates.

soddingspiderseason · 16/03/2023 23:38

It's become quite embarrassing to watch. There were no credible business ideas/plans amongst the final 5. The show urgently needs to return to having sensible candidates who can walk and chew gum, and who actually gave a decent business idea.

VooVooV · 16/03/2023 23:38

Moaning5 · 16/03/2023 23:06

They should do interviews in episode 1 to weed out the ridiculous business ideas.

Karen’s behaviour was disgusting, no need for it. Bring back Claude.

If it wasn’t all for ‘good TV’ only this series has actually been quite shit they’d actually use the business plans as part of the shortlisting process. (Problem being of course, they might end up with no candidates)

I agree with other posters, it should go back to him hiring an employee rather than a business partner.

Karen was totally unnecessary tonight. But most of those business plans were just abysmal. 🙄🫣

determinedtomakethiswork · 16/03/2023 23:45

They must have a large number of people applying to be on that program. Don't you think the producers would choose people with decent business plans and good business ideas? What is the bloody point of having people on the program who don't even include staffing costs in the business plan?

girlfriend44 · 16/03/2023 23:47

Can't believe anyones still watching this?