The Apprentices are going to a Finnish Sauna dressed as Mumins

[dillite]

Perhaps whilst there, they can get some of that famous Finnish education because they sure as hell need some.

Tbf I’ve not had any thoughts of prejudice in any previous series, just this one.

Fired :
Shahin, Kenna, Souleyman, Lubna, Riyonn, Iasha, Jemelin.

Not fired :
Dean, Thomas, Pamela, Lottie, Ryan, Scarlett, Carina, Lewis, Marianne.

Looks a bit bad.

There was also a winner of Arabic origin (Yasmina - can’t remember her surname) and Susan Ma.

They just seem to keep the one or two potentials and the hideously behaved ones (for good tv). Tonight’s firee came over as quite nice but not nearly as entertaining as the two numpties they kept.

I'm not saying there is racial undertones generally btw - Sian won last year and she was non-white (I think?) but this year it looks remarkably pronounced.

Music to advertise Finland m.youtube.com/watch?v=dACRUFfmMeo

Why is someone on the floor???

The ethnicity of the contestants fired so far have been swirling around on Twitter for quite a while, and surprisingly the Mail picked up on it last week after Iasha was fired. I genuinely didn't think it would also happen to Jemelin. It's quite surreal really.

I agree that generally those that have been fired, yes they are ethnic, however they have been poor candidates. But I think that's the point. How rigorous was the selection process in ensuring a strong calibre of applicant was selected across ALL ethnicities / races? To me, it feels like a case of the casting producers deciding that they needed x amount of minorities and then not really caring about the suitability and calibre of that applicant, as their only objective was to make sure they appeared diverse

There is some deadwood biding their time either for entertainment or just jammy not to have been in the firing line-up at the right moment (and I really though Dean was going to be fired for his prowess at being PM despite the win, I think he thought so too ).

No one that's been fired so far has been a serious contender for reaching the interviews/ final stages. Jemmelin, like Marriane and Pamela is competant, but not really shining out as having particular clear talents to be worthy of getting to the late stages. Ultimately you need the personality to cut through the competition and be heard and respected by the candidates that you're both working and competing with, and the personality to be serious potential to work with Sir Alan which is where candidates like Iasha have struggled.

Lewis is looking stronger with time. Scarlett and Carina look to be the strongest of the women. Thomas has the personality and sales ability to ride out a lot of boardroom experiences (and better to be in there for what you did than what you didn't do). Lottie has had the intelligence and drive to get herself a long way through, but I don't know about a clear enough business sense and suspect that she'll meet her match in the interviews. Dean and Ryan-Mark are on borrowed time. Pamela and Marriane are competent but not really shining out and would need some good wins and their wits to make it beyond interviews.

By the boardroom, Jemmelin looked defeated. There could have been potential to defend her ground, but she had a previous poor performance, poor planning and arguments with Ryan-Mark stacked against her and it looked like she knew it. She has a lot to be proud of though.

Ha ha @Howmanymorecantherebe.
It's the Chief Executive of the Finnish tourist board having shot himself after seeing those ads.
Well spotted.

Right team lost. Despite both teams not focusing on what they were told to focus on Marianne's team were most off target!!

They were supposed to sell Finland in summer. Yet they focused on pride already in Finland!!

How hard was it!!! Show that Finland in summer is sunny and hot, has beautiful countryside and fabulous food. Film people relaxing in the sun with gratuitous shots of trees, add continuous on screen reminder it's Finland.

'Winning' team were almost there (no thanks to Dean at all) Music I admit was difficult - so I agree that their music didn't say Finland just generic lets-go-party holiday destination but what music springs to mind when you think of Finland? Metal?

Probably some bog standard classical would be better

I agree it does seem to be all the white candidates not fired. You could argue it is just coincidence. All but one fired so far were incompetent fools. But the fact that each week it's been baffling as to why it wasnt a double firing (or even a triple) this coincidence doesn't wash.

Scarlett seems to be the only one with any sense. Along with the one whose name I can't recall (was working with Thomas).

Thomas could be good but he needs to stop being a parody (and stop the Bewitched-style nose wriggle).

Does anyone else think Marianne always look peaky when in the boardroom? Think the bright red lipstick makes her look unwell or somehow terrified!

Does anyone else think Marianne always look peaky when in the boardroom?

I thought she looked botox'd. She could smirk but that was about it.

Hadn't noticed the ethnicity of the fired candidates but I agree with a PP who said it may have more to do with having a balance of minorities from Week One with no consideration of calibre.

Also agree with a PP who said we've reached the point where there are 2 or 3 good candidates and the rest are entertainment fodder who won't make it to or through the interviews (sorry Thomas & Lottie but your time is up).

I love the way Lottie behaves when RM comes back into the house. It is clear that they are the only ones to like each other. RM reminds me of my cat, he's just full of disgust and the way he tilts his head out of arrogance.

@Howmanymorecantherebe

I thought RM was going to cry, when he ended up in the boardroom.
I think he never takes the leader role, as iteans he can pass the buck .
I hope Sir Alan just says he is team leader, so he can't wiggle out of it.

Why is someone on the floor???

It looks like R-M - perhaps that is his technique to his coat over his shoulders.

@Downwind haha! Like Jamie in outlander putting on his kilt

I've done some sleuthing and RL comes out of the door so can't be him on the floor! I'm well into this!

RL?! RM *

Perhaps it's RM's humility that's on the floor?

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4953463/the-apprentice-viewers-spot-mystery-man-lying-on-the-floor-in-boardroom-blunder/

It was a member of the production team who pressed play on the videos apparently.

Ah that is disappointingly boring :-(

Still a bit weird though. Was the remote out of batteries!!

Yeh, 21st century and still needs someone to physically press 'play'. Uh huh.

Re Dean, he's the one with the 'at the end of the day ....' bollocks in the skit meet the apprentices. His inexperience (understandable given his age) is really obvious.

Thomas will win I think.

Anyone else think that entire episode was engineered so Big Al could deploy his 'Ive got a Helsinki-ng feeling' line?

Honestly, my rectum is in spasm from how arse-clenching that was.

Dean is leadership material, at least where I work. Does fuck all, fluent in corporate wankspeak, takes the any and all credit.

Ryan-Mark I actually felt for a bit, he was shouted down by Smartprice Nicola Sherzinger, whose leadership style had echoes of North Korea.

Thomas becomes more of a Del Boy for the millennial generation every day. What he lacks in business acumen, he makes up for in sheer enthusiasm. Bosh!

Lewis, at this stage, seems the only credible candidate, but is he too much of a pushover? Their logo looked like particularly uninspired 6-year old knocked up up in Wordart.

At least Lottie got less air time this week, proving that not all my prayers go unanswered.